New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-12-25
Exceptional asaguanimity.

Justice, or even common courtesy on the
part CT ex-rebel organs towards their political
opponents, and especially toward Southern
Republicans, is an event Of such rare and ex-
ceptiOnal occurrence as TO entitle il TO cordial
cOmmendation. 1t gives Us great gratfca-
ton to call attention 10 all such acts OF mag
nanimity, not only on account Of the SIM le
justice done to the object Of it, bu; as an III
dication Of an improved, or rather Of an mr.
PROBING, public sentiment at the South. |, has
not been long that an advocate Of the - lost
cause" published in Memphis, that hnt bed
OF rebellion, would dare to !u.,; b such an
uncquiyocal compliment. a IT, flowing from
the Memphis APpea!, one q; Ia, most violent
Of rebel papers, OF Hon. Barbour Lewis, the
Republican member Of Congress from the
Memphis district, even if il mad been favora-
BY inclined. We take great pleasure, there
iore, in copying the article, as well because
# is deserved tribute to a brave man and a
faithful representative, as because it indicates
better state of feeling there at heart:
Hon. Barbour Lewis has returned to the
city from Washington. We have not been in
the habit of noticing the exits or the entrances
Of M. Lewis from or to this city, wherein lie
has his home. The acknowledged leader Of
the Republican party OF V est Tennessee,
and the representative in Congress in the
interest Of that party, barbour Lewis had
nothing in common with the fppeai, which
was, and Is, the friend and advocate OF the
people of the South as against every political
organization hostile N its tendencies and re-
Srlt IN into -, h..
But no political prediction has ever or can
ever interfere with the estimate which the
Appedt set. upon the character Of man as
eXempiiiied and illustrated by his artiCns
Dealing and differing with Mr. Lewis in the
past as politician, We have now to speak of
him as man and citizen, as evidenced by his
conduct during the dark days OF pestlence in
| this city. These were DAYS to test the metal
of which a man was made, to prove the cold
or the dross in his character by the crucial
test OF a terrible, death dealing affection.
| When the pestienCe commenced its rayages
| in Memphis, Barbour Lewis was our political
enemy when it closed we were ready to take
his hand, to forget politics, and to esteem
suffering humanity in Memphis, utterly oblivi-
Gus of party ieuds and antecedent party Bit
| tcrncss. 70 his influence with the Govern
ment were the afflicted people of this CITY
indebted for the munitcent and timely aid OF
thirty thousand ratons and fifteen hundred
dollars in money. Besides this, Mr. Lewis
gave literally from his own private purse to
the suffering poor, and from the inception to
the close Of the plague SO cnergetcally and
efficiently exerted himself in behalf OF our
suffering people, and SO thoroughly and
heartily sympathized with their distressed
condition, that we have forgotten all about
| Mr. | n
Christian gentleman, with truly noble heart,
and one who is tried and true friend of the
people Of this city. In such spirit we well
come him back to his constituents; in such a
spirit we recommend him to our people, thank
ing him i'll their name for his generous and
Christian services in behalf of afflicted
Memphis.