The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-07-21
Occasional Correspondence Of the Gate CITY.
FRoH WASHINGTON.
New York ktots-.The Mission
sIephsns--Ths Csnqusxts Of the
WASHINGTON, July Is, 1868.


IL has been long time since / last
wrote to the GATE CRY. but my silence
mas not been tearfully regretted, l dare
be sworn. Hence need make no apollo
g'ss, which Is very consoling, seeing
don I know how to do it.
believe it is the Father Of History
himself who describes with the blunt
simplicity Of primeval taste 40 abomipa.
o'e religious custom OF the Babylonisns,
which required every native woman of
the country once in her life to attend the
temple of Venusand prostitute herself to
a stranger. Herodotus goes on to say
that such women asars Of superior rank
DO not omit even this opportunity Of sep
aratlng themselves from those OF inferior
statios i; thsss spprvsoh ,tbs temple in
splendid chariots, accompanied By train.
OF servants, and place themselves near
the entrance, whilst the greater part,
crowned with wreathss Of Aewen, seat
themselves in the vesGbule, and more
modestly swsit thesignal Of the strangers
who shall choose ~ ssiey their bodies in
this consecrated horror. The civilization
OF our American Babylon is somewhat
different. Crime is not accompanied by
pride, and pomp and circumstance. Mr..
Fernando Wood does not lead the mobs
he instigates; "Brother Ben" seeks not
notorieiy nnder the glare Of the robbers
torch and the fash of the assassin's dag
ger; Bully Brooks appears not bodily Ut
the head OF troop of rsgamufins and
even Hosatio Seymour must eat his Fourth
OF July speech. though with many gag
ging grimsce, rather than take part in the
horrors which ara but the natural fruits
OF the doctrines be has proclaimed. We
have no temple wberea. to consecrate our
crimes, and, not veiled by superstition, they
appear as they pass from doctrine into
performance in their natural darkness
and deformity. Vice is q monster of such
hldeous msn. that to bs hated needs ouiy
to be seen. They who like the teachings
OF Fernando Wood and bis set, whether
10 New York or elsewhere, can now en-
Joy the spectacle OF their pra ctice TO their
hearts content. Riot, robbery. aranr nil
'hee, rape murder, The feroclous mutila-
tion OF the dead-snarchy like the anarchy
OF heli--it is very pleasant picture
ta contemplate indeed, and eminently
peaceful T. ! commend il to the candid
study of such Democrats especially a.
have been deiuded into believing that
they can oppose The Government in times
OF intense excitement of ell the bad pas
sions OF bad men. without themselves be.
coming alders and abet,ers in the destruc.
ton OF our country and the wiping ont of
freedom everywhere.
do not have doubt that the late al.
legged peace missiou' OF Alex. H. Ste
phens was In fact intended as a terrific
war mission. His note. is will be recol-
lected, was dated the 4th instant, time
when the amiable people of Richmond all
supposed that Lee was playing everlasting
smash up in Pennsylvania, and Hook
er's army" all cut into little bits of pieces
SO thinking, aud. as i do not doubt, en-.
tirely cognizant of the fact that their
Northern friends would rise in their be-
half in case Of Lees success in the Kew.
stone State, the Rebel Cabinet most prob
ably supposed that, during the terrible
panic at Washington. Mr.. Stephens could
Tighten the Government ints zach terms
as he should dictate by all sorts of blood
and-thunder threats as to what Lee and
his friends in the North would do. Hap.
PLY, Mr.. Lee vas not having things all
his own way in Pennsylvania, his friends
10 the North did not rise. and Mr.. Ste-
phens turned tail and went home with =
fiea in his ear, madder and wiser man.
1t is impossible under the circumstsn ces
as they we're supposed at Richmond to-
exist, that Stephens should have come on
any peace mission, except to dictate its
terms. He really meant to threaten all
sorts Of bloody war if We should n not agree
to do the bidding Of jeff. Davis. 1t was
slightly ridiculous, considering what had
actually taken place.
The escape of Lee across the Potomac
is q somewhat lame and impo,ent con.
clu-lon of,hs brilliant campaign Of Meade,
provided it shall there end, Of which We
shall know more anon. Meanwhile, the
conquests Of the month are enough tc
I teiadden the hearts of all our loyal people
In prisoners they foot up as follows:
haAd-'s canpairn. 80 fsr................... 10 oO
sicNs"uft, '..'-'....,.''........ 81 1T
ro. na' ~ ~ %,
Helena ......s........s.. ...................... 1O
1 m