The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1875-08-27
[For the Telegraph"
IS Let us have Peace,

"Let us have peace" Yes, that's exactly
what we of the South all want, but just as
we begin to feel entirely " reconstructed,'
and to forget the late unhappy feud, some
thing painfully disagreeablo happens to
mar the good feelings. Just as we hope
the last spark of hatred is distinguished,
some rude hand, under the guise of eXces
sive "loyalty," ralSes away the dead ashes
and finds an expiring ember with which to
rel<indle the flames of luminosity.
Perhaps at no period since the war have
the relations between the North and South
been more pleasant than now; yet just
because Mr. Davis accepts an invitation to
deliver an address at an Illinois fair half
the State rises in fury and indignation at
the thought Of listening to the "arch-
traitor" speak!
This was weak, unjust outburst of
| wrath, a silly, childish paroxysm of rage,
| unworthy of any sane people, much less of
| a valiant soldiery. Mr.. Davis has repeat
| eddy advised the people of the South to
| become loyal to the Government, he
endeavors to impress them with the idea
| that it is more manly and chvalrous to
grace :ully accept the decrees of fate and
become true citizens of the United States
than to spend that time in regretting the
Lost Cause. Yet the old war-cry of "arch-
| traitor" is again heard i'll the land, Just
| because Mr.. Davis accepts an invitation to
| talk about horses, cows and turnips at an
| insignificant county fair! He is no traitor !;
| if he is, then we all traitors, from the
Ohio river to tho Gulf of Mexico: from
| Maryland to the Rio Grande In this
| wrathy Illinois indignation meeting refer
ence is made to the Northern orphans and
| widows made by the Has the South
no desolated homes, no backened walls,
| no chaarlaSS "Reminiscences % teSiify
| the horrors of war? Was all the mourning
| in the North? We're there no bright
Southern eyes dimmed by the weary
watching for the loved ones who came not :?
No homeless orphans, no heartbro!>cn
mothers Have these soldiers of the
Grand Army" forgotten the shrieks Of
little children, the piteous cries of mothers
| as they begged that the old homestead
might be spared? Have they forgotten
| that even our grave yards were desecrated
in their greedy march for buried treasure?
The North has far less to forgive than the
South; they have the injuries of four years
| to forget, while punishment has
| extended over period of fourteen years.
| Why will not those soldiers of the Grand
| Army of the Republic remember that it is
| cowardly, "barbarous to insult IL fallen
| foe?" That ono of the chief elements of :,
| true chivalry is the lofty generosity which
tho coftd,erer should ever extend to the
conquered? But Of those real knightly
| qualities they seem utterly ignorant: there
fore for such ignoble smallness as that
lately displayed in Illinois should feel
| nothing but whitening scorn and contempt,
| but toward the peace makers of the North
who forget and teach us to forget the pain
| full past, we will cherish the utmost
cordially and kndest feelings. Then let
Massachusetts and Louisiana " kiss and be
friends,'' let New York and Texas go arm
| in-ar,n to the great Centennial! We asUl
have peace between the honest and liberal
people of the North and South, even if the
Grand Army should go on - indignating"
till the end of time!
| g PLEASANT RIDERHoOD."