The Placer herald., 1865-11-18
THE SOUTHERN WOMEN.

The presence of the Southern people IN
the city has it appears excited the ire of
some journalists and drawn forth low, un,
generous and vndictive comments. The
Southern women especially are the objects
Of attack which must be The correct thing as
it is the antipodes of "chiyaIry," and ap im-
itation in the field of journalism Of the tao
tics of some Of our Generals in the field Of
war. Attacking women, ind deed, bids fair to
become peculiar institution" Of the North,
for though all do not join in the hue and
cry against the Southern women, no loud 10.
dignant protest arises from the press against
the base, unmanly practice that is last bring,
ing disgrace on the profession Of journalism
1t is bad enough to maIign and vilify the
Southern women who dwell in their own
section, amid the ruin Of their househ old
gods; but to continue the practice and to
infuse into it added venom when the object
Of their denunciatons are here amid the
vc,ors, is meaner and more dastardly by far
The Southern women, it appears, are not
penitsnt, they are not humble, they are not
abased; they have neither remorse in their
hearts or peccavi on their lips, they would
rather tlout their conquerors than fatter
them, rather suffer than sue, rather listen to
the fouIest vituperatons of themselves their
motives and actions, than hear whisper
against the cause they loved with all mar
tyr's zeal and patriots devotion.
And what they do not feel they will not
feign; they do not profess sorrow, they will
not simulate penitence, they will not spolo-
gize for the past, they will not promise for
the future, and what appears to Grille" this
which they give expression to their opinions
on the policy Of the war and the vandalism
which accompanied it. If they could be
cowed into the courtesy OF even silent assent,
il they could be terrified into the dumb SEM
blance of acquiescence!
But that up here in the North they should
presume TO speak of their grand struggle for
independence, that gorious modern ep'c
every line of which was written in blood, and
which they wore themselves out in the vain
effort to perfect and fnsh-that they should
presume to speak of it with pride, and of its
defenders with affection, is objectionable te'
merity deserving grave rebuke.
What would these men have? What do
they expect from Southern women sojourn'
ing here? Daribes against the South! ridi-
cule of Southern soldiers? contempt of Con-
ederale resources? or whatl Do they expect
10 hear from the lips of Southern beauty
praise of Hatch and eulogies Of Butler? DO
they expect them to canonze and deify9
The Southern women, they say, are worse
than the men-more rebellious, more con.
temptuous more refractory. During the
war they were more bitter and determined;
now, that the war is over, they are more in
sultng and defiant than the men. Their so'
citallons and influence, their prayers and
remonstrances, lent strength and permanence
to the war, and their boasts and invectives
infuse an element of bitterness into the cup
of peace.
Such men cannot appreciate the feeling
that makes the Southern women cling to
lost cause, reverence an ephemeral national
iy, honor defeated heroes. They see not in
the earnestness that renders hypocrisy inn
possible, in the depth of feeling that takes
no lessons from prudence, and in the fulness
of conviction that scorns the idea of com
promise, truth and nobleness of character
that is the guarantee Of nations strength
and vitality. Where the women are true
and real; where they can be Jealous for
principle and enthusiastic for cause; where
their earnestness is not all expended on
dress, or their endurance tested in the pur-
suit OF pleasure, the nation is safe. n peo'
pie can become demorazed W hile the wo-
men are true; no race ever deteriorated until
the women frittered away heart and mind
and soul in frivolous pursuits; until they sac
rificed principle to pastime, and regarded
patriotism as a worn out fashion.
". Y. Metropolitan Record.