The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-06-14

ting drunk; they take that for granted, and only
concern themselves to know whether he gets CROSS.
drunk or amiable-drunk. II the former, they have
some hesitation, if the latter, they consent to the
match thankfully" And here is the doom: "Their
slave-holding sodom will perish for the lack Of five
just men or q just idea" [Dr. R. deserted Sodom,
not caring to inquire whether four more just men
might not have been found-he left New Orleans
when it was in peril, after it had fed and clothed
and honored him and his for thirty years j ut
must be razed and got out Of the way, like any
other obstacle to the progress Of humanity. It
must make room for something more consonant
with the railroad, electric telegraph, printing
press, inductiye philosophy, and practical Christ
ianity.'
We have marked many passages all through the
book, but our space forbids our continuing these
running comments. Suffice it to say, that either
Mr.. DE FOREST was ignorant of his subject, knew
little Of Southern life and character, OF negroes,
and therefore should not have entered upon what
purports to be q minute portraiture or, il he is
not thus ignorant, the only alternative is, that he
wlfully and maliciously traduced the whole white
population Of the South. 1t is no excuse for him
to say that he disclosed weaknesses, wherever he
found them; that he inveighs against derelict
Federal Generals, speculating quartermasters,
time-serving, wire-pulling Black Republican Cover
nors, cowardly officers, and pothouse soldiers and
politicians. For the truth of all these allegations,
we are disposed to give him full credit instgated
as he no doubt was to the revelation by personal
motives. 1t is otherwise with the Indictment we
bring against him. He ignorantly or deliberately
falsifed all that We had Of best or noblest. With
the one exception Of Miss R., the heroine, who is
q namby-pamby, ignorant, pert and vulgar girl,
but meant to represent splendid specimen of
Southern society, every other Southern woman is
either female Satan, like Mrs. LARUE, else she
lis ''cursing and swearing" "scowling like fend,'
etc., etc.
Why the book was written, If it had any higher
aim than to put money in the authors pocke t, we
have not yet been able to learn. It cannot be to
do good, for we can see no possible benefit that
can accrue to any one from the perusal of this tale
Of conversion. But we incline to think Utilization
was the real object. sThe Yankees are q great
people, is the burden Of the song. New
Englanders, we are given to understand, fought
this war, and beat the rebels. Germans are never
named, and rishmen only once for the purpose Of
ajoke; and such fighting as these Barbarisns were
capable of Near Port Hudson there was Yankee
fort held by about one hundred and fifty men, in
cluding camp followers and negroes, and protected
by an insignificant stockade. This the moral, New
England, temperance hero Of our novel defended
successfully sgainst two brgsdes Of Texans, killing
twice as many men ss he comm anded, and also
capturing the same number.
50 The Southern battle yell Is full Of howls and
yelpings as Of brute beasts, rushing hariously to
the Fray while the "loyal" yell is all human,
but none the less relentless and sternl" Is not
this edfying to the little Sunday School children
in al Bsratrariap So again the story Of negro
and rebel aiming at, shooting and killing each
other, the last words Of the former being Godl'
and the rebel dying with "damnation" in his
mouth But enough. The Yankees have gained q
great victory they have not yet recovered from
the surprise, and they are now looking about for
suitable heroes, to place into the inches OF the
temple Of fame. !" Captain CoLBuRNE" is one Of
these Candidates. Whether or not his career is
either in whole or In part an autobiography it is
not our business to inquire.
The book is written with considerable "smart-
ness,n abounding in cynical and satircal remarks,
some Of them witty and pointed, although not
true. There is plenty Of epigram all through the
work. But we solemnly protest against having
New England provincislisms put into the mouths
Of Southern characters, and then,have some other
Yankee purist come, and put it down to "Ashan-
tee." Our educated people here never say: Feel
Of this = though the Professors Of WNsIow are
sometimes guilty oft. r'.