The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-05-25
GEN. GRANT ON LOYALTY,

Tie editor Of the Lewiston Journal reports
with Gen. Grant At washington-that the
General intmatcd that il might have been bet
ter for tho country hail the war continued
aycar longer; and in his explanation, remark.
ell ~ follows:
There were some parts Of the country
where o,ir armies had never tro,l, particularly
Texas, which needed to feel the blighting
effects OF war to bring their people to real
izing sense of the enormity OF their crime
AMI The necessity Of n thorough repentance.
IL fund.-" said he, "lhat those parts OF the
South which have not felt the war, and par.
ticularly those which have been within our
lines and have therefore escaped the rebel
CONSUMPTION and taxes, are much less disposed
to accept the situation In good faith, than those
portions which have been literally overr,ln
with fire AMI sword"
Referring to the temper Of the Southern
people, he remarked thar they are much less
disposed now To bring themselves to the prop
or frame of mind than they were one year
since. "a year ago." said he, ''thcy were
willing to do anything; now they regard
themselves IA masters OF the situation. Some
III TIC TtDtt StUtTuS, HC uuttt, "V w
having molly and doing all they can to induce
the people to throw aside their old prejudiccs
and 10 conform their course to the changed
condition of things. Johnson and Dick Tay.
Tor particularly, are exercising good in
fiucncc but" ho added, "Leo is behaving
badly. lie is conducting himself very differ
emily from what had reason, from what he
said nj the time Of the surrender, to suppose
h.,. ..nnlI In nj tia, SAllfh q ennnhle
exercising tenth part Of the influence for
good that he is, but instead OF using il, Inc is
setting an example Of forced acquescence so
grIdying and pernicious in its effects as to be
hardly realized"
.'rhc men who were in the rebel armies"
said Grant, "acquiesce in the result much bet
tertl,an those who staid ut home. The women
arc particularly bitter against the Union ana
Union men," "Of course" he added, stherc
is some bitterness Of feeling among all classes,
bu, am satisfied il would soon die out IL their
healing men had not somehow got the idea
tina, treason after all was not very bal, and
thar the Southern cause, rs they phrase it,
will vet triumph, not in war, hut in politics.
.ln my Judgment" said Grant, ''thc tone OF
certain men aud certain papers ut the North,
il such as to do incalculablc mischief in max
ing the late rebels believe that they are just as
much entitled to rule as ever, and that ii they
will only stand by what they are pleased to
rall their rights they will have help from the
North" "This," significantly added Grant,
us only playing over agnin the incipent
STAGES OF the rebellion" lie was confident
that the large majority Of the Southern people
would smother their rcsentmcn;s and become
good citizens, IL these mischief makers at the
North (,hc Copperhea,ls) would only let them
alone. For himself. IL he had the power, the
first thing he would do would be to seize the
New York News and kindred sheets, which
ARE giving the South so dangerous IN idea Of
their own position and "rights."
"rroops,' said Gen. Grant, "must be kept
In all the principal points in tho South for
snlnc time tn come. This will be necessary
:" rprcss the turbulence Of n class Of the
: nth very 'langrm's tn all well disposed
I"'rsons, "ni alSo I" pr",ect the rights Of the
freedmen. who ARE looked upon with deem
hatred 10y vc'y large proportion Of the peo-
~ :.