The Portland daily press., 1868-03-23
Am ovation TO seGersen Da,,..

We copy from the New Orleans Republican
the following particulars of an affair which
has already been briefly reported. If any
pre- of were needed that the people of the South
are still unrepentant, this display of open 10y
atty would establish the fact beyond question.
If anybody believes that the government Of
the Southern States can be entrusted with
safety, to say nothing of Justice, to the hands
of disloyal men, argument would be wasted
upon him. All reasonable and patriotic Amer
leans must agree with the Republican that
these States must be reconstructed upon the
Congressional plan; and until they are recon-
structed, ruled by the strong hand of militia
ry commander "who knows his whole duty
and has the patriotism to do it." After ex-
planning that for many years the fire compa-
MES of New Orleans have been accustomed to
parade on the 4th of March the Republican
proceeds as follows: etfr a--
During the past five years the fire compa-
MES of New Orleans were forced to respect the
flag and government of the United States in
this city, but they made the parade of yester-
day carnival OF disloyalty against both. For
merly, during the period we have named /,
nearly every company on parade bore the
United States flag, but yesterday out of thirty
companies we noticed but six that honored it
with place in their ranks, and these, we un-
derstand, we're composed mainly of persons of
foreign birth.
When Butler, Banks. Hurlbut, Candy, and
81 ar;dny> -~-...-.--..dad this town the cheers
which were yesterday given hundred times
| by company after company for Jefferson Davis
aud the playing In our streets OF the Bonnie
| Blue Flag" wonld have led to the arrest and
| imprisonment of the guilty parties; but now
and strange 1t ls-the commander Of the
United States soldiers in this fifth military
al,o hxv<I hoor
with cheering for the arch rebel and traitor
1t was strange cps ctacle indeed. Who
would have thought three years ago that on
| the fourth day of March, 1868, the fire COM
| panies of New Orleans would be found in line
| in front OF the st. Charles hotel cheering for
| the chief of the great rebellion? But such
| was the case. One company after another
passed in front of Jefferson Davis, the head
| and front of that rebellon-which has deluged
| our land in blood, and with uncovered heads
gave cheer after cheer in his honor "Presi-
dent" Davis addressed his friends" not in
words for the crowd was too great and per-
haps the time was not suspicious, but by plac-
ing his hand upon his heart and making re-
peated bows. Again and again was he called
out upon the balcony, and again and again
was he cheered, showing that between him
| and those who had assembled to do him honor
there was still the most cordial sympathy.
During the afternoon our streets resounded
with the mnsic of "Dixie" and the Bonnie
Blue Flag" and were dsgraced by curses louo
and long against the Congress of the United
States and praises of Andrew johnson. At
ter several of the companies had sufficiently
honored Jefferson Davis, they passed in front
of General Hancock's headquarters, took off
their hats, and cheered for Andrew johnson
and General Hancock. ~ 15an q asg IN
Was it for this that Andrew johnson sent
Major General Hancock to this military dis
trict? 1t would So EN- so. L. it to enable the
ds.oyal in this city to publicly honor the chief
of the rebellion that the Congress and people
of the United States now pay major general
of their armies to live and command in New
Orleans? We believe not but, nevertheless,
the ears of loyal men still ache. and their
cheeks still blush with the sights and sounds
of yesterday.
Let the people of the country understand
that rebellion and treason are yet seething in
the breasts of the former rebels of the South;
and with few noble exceptions their profess
ions of loyalty and submission are but empty
words and let them also understand that now
more than ever before the immediate recon-
structon OF these S ates on the congressional
plan is an absolute necessity. And above all,
let the President, and Congress, and General
OF the Armies of the United States under
sand that thidallying with rebellion and trea-
son may lead to results before which the July
massacre will 81 TX into insignifcance. Until
these States are reconstructed they must be
ruled by the str ong hand OF military COM
mauder who knows his whole duty and has
The patriotism t. do it, i1f