New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-04-20
NEW ORLEANS, THURSDAY, april 70. 1871


PLAIN TRUTlls.
Some friend has sent Us NE hrst num-
Der Of paper called Fair Play, published
in Fulton, Galloway county, Missouri, in
which we find the following article. It's
truths are quite as applicable to this
latitude as they are to that Of Missouri:
Lengstreet has been sittingat dinneretable
with some negro BARRIERS and euch things in
New Orleans. A Southern paper speaks of
poor Longstreet a. having been ''once .
gentleman"
The above paragraph, and many Of .
similar import, have been going the rounds
Of the ''so-called" Democratic papers for
several years unchallenged.
We desire in this, the fiz8t number Of
Fair Play, to enter our i116iknaat protest a.
a rebel soldier and officer against the in
famous persecution to which General Long
street has been subjected at tho hands of .
thousand and one tad-pols editors who
never served day in the confederate army
in their lives, and who never wore and
never will be, if they live thousand years
and improve all the time, worthy to un-
loose the latchet of the shoes" Of General
Lees "Old War Horse"
The facts are that General Lolgstreet was
one Of the ablest, most consummate gen.
erals in the confederate service.
If he was second to Lee, johnson or Jack
son, either as gentleman or a. an officer,
he was second only in position, and NOT in
merit. As patriotic, as devoted TO the South
as others Of them, he maintained hopeless,
heavy warfare until the South surrendered.
And then, like evefy other confederate off-
Ger and soldier who ives worthy Of the
name, he surrendered in just = good faith
as he had fought, and most pnquestionably
he did right. If there was any objection to
his taking Office under the federal govern
mept, that objection is NECESSARILY one Of
personal feeling, not of principle. General
Longstreet, after having spent his whole
fortune and four of the best years
of his life in defense Of his own gov
ernment, and Of that theory Of govern
ment which he believed to be right,
found himself at the end Of the war money
less and friendless. He found, Also, as
many Missouri rebels found, that the oath
taking Democracy, who were very willing
to put him ON exhibition to aid in building
up their own political factiods and personal
ambitions, had NO further use for him ex-
cept 90 far As they could make use Of him
for. their own benefit; and that their pre-
tense Of Southern sympathy" instead Of
accruing to the benefit of those who fought
the war through, was simply the dishonest
stock in trade of horde Of Democratic
politicians, who, themselves fortified against
the wrath of the federal government by
impregnable bastions Of political perjury,
were ready to denounce him. and every
other rebel that refused to bow to their die
tations, and suffer public exhibitions" Of
themselves for the benefit Of the followers
Of Pontius Plate, the modern. "Democ-
racy."
He saw, also, that many Democrats"
who would join in public charities for the
credit which it gave them with honest
Southern people, would have left him to
starve on their doorsteps rather than to
have showed him fair play in politics or
business.
This infamy has been going on unrebuked
long enough. We have no more faith in
that pretended Southern man who would
attempt to detract from Longstreet's most
honorable and hardly-earned fame because
he accepted the results Of the war in good
faith, and took Office under the federal gov
ernment, than we would have in the religion
of Democrat who would publicly deride
Jesus because he suffered himself to be
cruci6ed instead Of destroying his enc
mics.
1t is high time that this persecution Of one
of the most able, faithful and honorable
officers Of the confederate army should
cease. 1t is cowardly. infamous and the
Democratic editor" who perseveres in it
ought to be considered as beyond the pale
Of manhood and decency.