New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-04-29
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Twas Rochefoucault, we think, who said
that there is something. MOI altogether dis
pleasing to even the best Of US in the mis-.
fortunes Of our nearest frieads. However
that may be, by common consent Of man
kind, the most despicable of human beings
is he who openly and wantonly rejoices in
and parades either the iraflties or misfor-
tunes, of his fellow men..-As innocence is
typifed by the dove, as nobleness is repre-
sented by the eagle, SO the defamer of char
acter--the bearer of evil tidings that should
never be known--is fifty likened to that
filthy bird whose eye, from its lofty flight,
can see nothing beautiful on the sweet
green earth, but quickens at the sight Of a
speck of carrion, and hastens to plunge its
beak and talons into the loathsome mass.
These thoughts are suggested by an
article copied, with editorial comments, in
the Bulletin of this morning, headed "The
Ship Island Mystery" an article based
upon falsehood, conceived in the very
spirit Of Aatred and malice, and written for
the sole purpose Of sensation and foment-
ing, were it possible, revolution and blood
shed in our already sufficiently distracted
community.
What are the facts of the case? More
than two weeks ago we were aware that a
eolored soldier had attempted to take
liberties with daughter OF General
Mower at Ship Island. This little girl,
but nine years of age, was sleeping in the
same bed with a younger sister and in the
same room, with open doors and windows,
with her small brother.
Whatever the purpose of the miscreant,
he completely failed. The indignant Off
GERS and soldiers Of General Mowers COM
mand were about to indict summary pun.
ishment npon the soldier, when the Gen
eral himself interiered, and, as the attempt
had failed, and no harm had been done,
magnanimously permitted the culprit to
leave Ship Island without injury to a hair
of his head. These facts have been con-
frmed by Col. P. B. Perkins, cousin to the
General, who has Just returned from Ship
Island. They were we'll known along the
coast and could easily have been obtained
by the contemplate Handsboro (Missis-
sippD sheet which originated the outrageous
story that the child inquestion was young
lady of sixteen that sentence to death
by hanging was suspended by the inter
ference Of General Mower that according
to the report the negro was killed inside
the fort, put into sack, and thrown into the
gulf, and that bloody knives and other
weapons were seen on the island, with
indications that they had been used in his
massacre.
Mark the following extract from this
Handsboro De,aoerGt, and republished in
the Bulletin:
While we look with horror upon transac.
tions of this kind, and believe that the
brute who would attempt the chastity of a
white lady could not be visited with too
severe punishment. or one that could be
considered cruel, under any circumstances,
yet we might be excused for thus thinking,
for we have deemed the negro as property
and our fathers before us, and we fought to |
the best of our poor ability to keep them as
property-the place that God and nature
designed them to keep, but General Mower
Ell I'd onl1le genus sought their freedom, and
by might of numbers succeeded, and taught
Sambo that he was as good as any body and
little better, He made councilman and |
watchmen and policemen and other civil |
officers Of them, and thereby inculcated the
idea that the negro was socially the equal of
the white man, and now General Mower,
after doing more than perhaps any one Off /
Ger of his class to instil this idea into the
Negroes head, has with vengeance felt the
application of his doctrine.
His lovely daughter, just blooming into
Womanhood, clad in the white, loose, tasty
habiiments of night, with her hair loosed |
to the winds of the gulf, reclines upon the
couch, and there in that position is deseera.
ted as to her person by the embrace, claw
ing, and feeling of disgusting negro. No
wonder he complains. No wonder the negro |
Is missing. But had it been some Southern
born lady who had lost a princely fortune |
by the craft, Legislation, and social teaching
Of General Mower and his fellows. 1t would |
have all been well. And had the negro
been troubled as in this instance, the party |
or parties, or persons even suspected Of |
breaking the law would be held to strict |
account, and so we want to hold General |
Mower. We again ask, where is the negro |
.AA"' YIN HAssSN t4e outrage upon the |
daughter Of sioRers
What excuse has the Bulletin for repub-
fishing as facts this foul trade, which could |
result only in furnishing the fame of |
brave and magnanimous soldier, and the |
still more precious reputation of his family |
Why, in its editorial comments, connect this
incident, which is liable to occur anywhere,
and most liable to occur at military post
like Ship Island, with the question Of |
social equality, the acts of Congress, with
Jefferson and Randolph, with Virginia and |
Appius Claudius, with illusions to posi-
BILE insurrection and revolution? This is not |
the time for such sentiments, and we be-
lieye that our neighbor will promptly make |
PREPARATION, so far as possible, for the great
wrong done to General Mower and his
family by this hasty and unseemly pub
licity.
From Morehouse Parish,
We learn from gentleman who arrived |
in the city yesterday nom the northern part