Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1862-10-25
BRIG. GEN. STEVENS.

Tie morbid ulcer who edits the Overland
Press, d. L. Kendall, denies having libelled
the late Gen. Stevens. We repeat the pre-
else words to which We took exception, and
leave i, for the public TO Judge whether he
has not libelled the dead. lie charged Gen.
Stevens with sometimes proving false to his
friends when by SO doing he promoted his
own ends,' and Of accommodating his po-
litical views to suit the current of events. "
lie also charged that Gen. Stevens was only
an Actiug B,igadier General" whenhe fell, he
"laving been reiectedb by the Senate" Even
with his brazentacedness, the author of that
article dare not deny this, while the record
stands against him, in black and white, in
his issue Of Sept. 22d, now that we designate
the particular papers in which it may be found
Now we ask, in all candor, can the express
sions quoted be construed in intent to mean
anything but disparagcmen: Of the illustrious
dead An obvious dodge is attempted, to
free the writer of that article from the odium
which public opinion attached to him. I'm
mediately after tho article appeared in tue
Press, We took occasion to utter our solemn
protest against the accusations, as unfounded
in truth and solely dictated by malignity.
Not till three weeks afterwards, when most
of the copies Of his paper had become en-
tinct. does he pretend to make denial. nor
to accuse us Of misrcpresenting him. The
fact is, the Press man, acting upon his nat
ural instincts, raised storm about his ears
which he was exceedingly anxious to allay.
In happy contrast to the article Of the Press
we quote the following address prepared by
Prof. Bachc, who accompanied Gen. Stevens
On His expedition across the continent, and
Who was most intimately acquainted with the
deceased:
NV FRIENDS: How soon we arc called upon
again to mourn and publicly cAprcss the feelings
which move US. One Of our old associates, q
leader among us, rs he was iu the armies Of his
country, has persisted upon the field Of glory.
The colors Of his regiments in his ccnchcd hand,
he has died the brave love to die, he had ex-
pressed his wish to die. His whole mind was
given to the enthusiastic rasemcnt Of his
frcns NJ tho instant thc dkoth shit n;crced his
temple.
How little like are such scenes to those in which
we best knew Gen. Stevens in this Office, and yet
he would net rn,,ar such ";rcumstonccsi lie wa,
M, ono of ,ho.c vho lad h., Ionl;r,r m mt hy
example.
AS VIC knew him in the Coast Survey Office, so
lie was in every position Of life-so in action in
civil life, so in the field. o..
farm near lndorer Wassachuss,t. his hod;,v
frame had hecn hardened md hi. sn;r,
had shared in the nroceas 40 that cner.
~ and merto, nower dovo,"~sd N = rs,,-Ln,
fame. Uc was nrenarcd for Wcst Point onlv NV
the Instruction aconired at the common school
,nd vnt wos ca rrd that nv tbc sYerc;so of
tho focultje, viii, which nature had endowed him
and which labor had shoned. he was nrenarcd suc.
cc,sfuJlv 20 conc With many older. many better
instructed, many more accommodates than him scIf
and to west in the hardy academic struggle the
palm Of The generous West Point strifeSthe first
place In a DISTINGUISHED class. M. fr,endsh;ns
were many and ardent, and he was admired as
he cultivated. and which circumstancos aided him
10 cultivate, did not prevent the warmcst attach
ments nor interfere with an intrinsic modesty
which only disapDeared when the ardor of an en-.
thusia.tic and impusivc character carried him be.
vond his ordinary self.
lie selected the Engineer Corps of the army as
affording him the best opportunity of usefulness.
laborinr by study and practice 10 prepare hmself
for any career which might offer I'm the future
he was distinguished in tho war with Mexico.
hrcyctcl Captain for meritorious and gallant ser,
vices at contrcras and Cherubusco, and Major
far chcpultcpec. In ls4o he was selected by the
Chief Engineer, Gen. Totten, to gil an applica-
ton for an officer in charge Of the Coast Survey
Office, and with words Of commendation which