The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1865-09-06
The Spoiiation OF the Grave-A
Lesson From the War.

and South, we are beginning to get the ex-
preston Of individual opinion and to learn
more of the thoughts and feelings of the
Southern people than we could through any
other channel. This would be an inyalua-
bic advantage to as had we the wisdom to
profit by it, did we use the knowledge so
acquired 10 the interest of peace aud concili
alton. a#
It is not for our interest to imagine that
the Southern people are as identified with
US in feeling and spirit as they were few
years ago, that they rejoice in tie downfall
Of the Conederacy, and that they return to
the Union as the Prodigal Son to the dwell
ling of his father; it is not for our interest
to indulge in pleasing decisions on such mo-
mentions questions. Better for us to know
that the wounds, though skinned, still culver
at the slightest touch, than through igno-
rance Of that fact run the risk OF tearing
them open again.
AT the present moment there exists down
South, in conjunction with a settled resolu.
,iou to abide by the result of the conflict, a
feeling Of Justification which wise govern
erument would labor sedhlonsy to remove
by consistent course of just, enlightened
and conciliatory policy. If no counter
agencies are at work, time alone will do it.
But is the course pursued by some radi.
cal journals, published at the South, caleu-
lated to bring about an era Of good feeling?
Let any man of ordinary common sense per.
sue their editorials, made up in great
measure Of insulting reference to the past,
and still more insulting predictions as to
the future of cowsrdly sneers at Southern
men. aud tinmanly, contemplate trucu'ent
abuse of Southern women, and say if it is
possible for bitter fee .igs to sabside while
these pestient sheets continue to eSude
their venom. - gs
We have often said in these columns that
The conduct Of the Southern women was
such as to challenge the admiration Of the
world, and now we repeat it, with the deep
er feeling that springs from clearer knowl-
edge. We have before US at this moment
1. letter from Savannah, instinct with the
pathos and eloeuence that comes direct from
the heart. In it occurs the following Ias-
sage =" When the Catholic cemetery Of
this city was ordered to be levelled for use
less breaslwcrks, opr ladies, widows, and
orphans carried the bones of their dead in
baskets, sheets and boaes TWO MILES, and kept
them in their houses until places of inter
ment, secure from violation, could be
found
Is.
What an iacidentl History can not par.
alel it. Fiction has nothing to equal it.
Imagine groups Of women, young and old.
learned and unlcarned, high and low, hurry
ing forward to the invaded City of the
Dead, anxious 10 secure from desecratIon
the relics of those they loved, and then
back again, bending under the weight Of
their precious Burdens.
Think oft, picture it,
Now if you cam
Reading it we cease to wonder ct the hero.
ism Of the men, for who could be a coward
when such scenes were enacti1g before his
EYES? What man would not risk his life for
the living When women braved danger for.
the bones Of the dead? Who can read the
simple extract we have given even now
when all is over, without emotion? How
powerful then must such recollections be,
and what an extreme Of folly it argues in
General 10 furnish such fuel to feed the
smouldering fires ofdisaffection in the South.
The feeling evoked by such scenes, aud kept
alive by the remembrance Of them, are more
to be dreaded than ian army with Banners"
and these men are snem,es of the North, who
do not recognize this fact, and seek to OBJ
literate them by every means in their
lower. 800
or course It'll safe thing for journalists
to sheer OF ASecesh ladies' now, but the
world will not join with them, for hollow
and heal tless though it is said to be, it never
fails to approve and applaud generous deeds
or heroic sacrifices though it may be slow
to aid and succour those who are capable Of
them. Besides, Incidents lay hold on the
attention of the world, and We venture to
predict that that unparalleled incident at
the Savannah Cemetery will live fer many
generation in song and story, live to stir
with responsive feeling and to thrill with
electric sympathy many a generous heart,
aud to GIL with starting tears many an eye
that never looked upon the sunny Southern
land Truly, says our correspondent, 'could
the history Of this war be impartially writ.
ten, woman would not occupy acontenp,i.
be position in III" Yes, she has performed
many noble acts, many daring deeds; she has
done much, endured much, sacrificed much,
and risked much, but we question if there
is on record a more touching instance OIL
womanly tenderness, or more striking illus.
tration Of the love that iveth after death
than is afforded by this graveyard incident
when the bodies and bones Of our people
were thrown to the winds of Heaven and
the beasts of the earth, we gathered what
we could Of them and kept them in our
houses" -e..3 s s,.
Now we say that Government cannot
deal too carefully with people who have
such things to look back to. We say thai
a people whose memories are stored with
such incidents should be protected from
cruelty or oppression as carefully as a mag
aziue of gufpowder would be from spark
Of fire, and we say, moreover that all who
desire the perpetaity Of the Union, from the
private in the ranks to the President 10 bis
chair Of State, should discountenance these
raischeifmakiDg journals and frown down