The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1865-09-27
Am Infamous Outrage upon the
Character of a Great Man.

There are men who become so identified
with their native land that they seem almost
lpart ard parcel; so much SO, indeed,
that one is often puzzled to say whether
the man sinks his Individuality in the coun-
try, Or The country finds form and express
sion in the man.
There are men whose name and fame are
the property of their fellow.citizens; whose
1 reputation cannot be attacked without in
isul.ing an entire people aud outraging the
common sentiment of mankind.
| There are men SO enshrned in the hearts
of their feiow-ctizens that blow aimed at
them inhicts pain on every member of the
community. and sends a thrill throughout
the length and breadth Of the land.
There are men whose fame isso pure and
whose characters are so elevated that an
imputation flung upon them is an asper-
sion upon virtue herself.
| These are truths which no man will pre-
tend to dispute. and yet it is clear, from the
action of the Military Commission inspired
by Secretary Stanton, that some men over
look them, or forget them, or disregard them
an tcio.
How else can we account for coupling
the name of Robert 3. Lee with an accusa.
ton OF nlurder!- with conspiring to starve
Union prisoners to DEATH! Well may the
astounded world look on in wonder at the
pranks that are played before high heaven
in this Republic. at the absurdity Of our
| crimes. the malice of our biundess.
Robert E. Lee an assassin! Was this
charge got up to insult the people North
and South +? To make the nafae of Amer-
ca synonyme for basaneli? To Draw
down upon as the contempt Of the nations?
Gould the men that framed the indict-
ment against Gen. Lee have believed the
charge they made. We know that the Gre
drlily Of vice often rivals that of Innocence,
but still we venture to say, that not a man
on that commission believed this. We
would not do them the injustice of suppos
ing it possible. A man might have a he 1T
black enough to believe anythirs, but we
never saw o mind mudded enough to believe
this.
However, it is of very little Importance
whether these men believed Or disbeleved
their own accusations. What We have
to do with is, the fact that wanton outra re
has been offered to the South by these men;
that the name Of Robert e. Lee was but the
feather on the arrow that sends the shalt
surer home; that the attempt to brand him
with disgrace sprang from the desire to
humble the noble section whose worthy rep
irs entative he is, and that consequently it
was prompted, not by q Blind, perverted idea
OF duty, but by q criminal desire to stir up
bad blood between the North and South,
TO widen the chasm that divides them, ard
to make Union impossible henceforth and
forever. That any action Of theirs could
lower General Lee In The estimation OF his
country and the world, that the hero worship
of which he has been the object could be
checked by them, that tie moral status Of
such man was dependent on the finding Of
a military court, wonld take greater fools
than they are to believe, and therefore We
the more confirmed in our belief that it was
the section, not the individual that was
aimed at, not the representative Of the
South, but the South, through its represent
tatives, that was to be degraded. Right
glad are we that, in carrying out this object
they flew at such high game lower would
not have done. Had it been any Other, the
animus would not have been so apparent.
Lee is just the man they cannot attack with
out hurting themselves; they can make no
effort to degrade him that will not recoil on
themselves; accusations flung against him
are sure TO rebound, and the Tan Or men
who assail his character are certain Of
Blasting their Own. Let them do so, the
country cares bit little. II they still have
a shred of character to lose, the sooner it is
blown 10 the winds the better. Trey have
signalizsd their exit off the stage in a fitting
manner There has been an unbroken har-
mony in all their acts from first to last.
Metropolitan Record.