The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1875-02-19
Harper 5 Weekly, January 50.l
PTaSilGHt Grant and HiS ASSailaHiS.
BY "EUGENE LAWRENCE. "

Ten years ago the armies of the peo-
pie were closing around Richmond, and,
amidst general clamor of rage and des-
pair from all the adherents of slavery
and rebellion, the patience and the eour-
age of Grant and Sheridan were steadily
sapping the last defenses of treason. No
pretext had been left untried, no threats
nor open defiance spared, to draw them
off from their approaching victory. The
opposition press teemed with calumny
and detraction, and opposition leaders
encouraged resistance at Richmond, and
labored to stir up riot and disorder
in the North. There were great meetings
held to denounce General Grant, to cut
off the supplies of the army, to menace
the administration, and to shake the
credit Of the nation. The most noted
Republican paper in New York, under
some occult influence, began to speak of
compromise even TO the perpetuation of
slavery. There was doubt and even des-
pair in many timid but still patriotic
minds. Many noted opposition leaders
now in office, plainly desired the success
of Davis, and the revival of that bari a .
rous and cruel aristocracy which had
driven the Southern States into a ruin
Gus rebellion. Is secret association had
been formed, with agents in most of the
Northern cities. pledged to excite a
counter-revolutien, and resolute TO bring
fire and sword into the heart of New
York or Cincinnati. There were threats
of assassination, and men prepared for
any desperate extremity. And the most
bitter and dangerous foes of Lincoln and
Grant were no longer the perishing aiid
dishaartened ConfedrriteS within the
lines OF Richmo@d lat their aGti'e AL
herents without, who laOort-d To divert
the nation from the support of is armies
i'm the field Yet one sure reliance Gen
eral Grant found never tn fail him
amidst the 0lamor aud the ualumnies of
a thousand assnilants: the people felt
that he was their truest friend. They
had watched his conduct with approba
ton; they gave their treasures and their
lives lavisIIly TO his support. Richmond
fell,amidst the acrlamations of the work
ingmen of Europe and America, the Re-
public was saved, and the progress of
the New World assured
Never was 4 victory more generously
used, or fallen rebellion more tenderly
treated. TO the generous but misguId-
ed Lee and his soldiers, the vietors strove
to seem only brothers Ia arms. NOpun-
isllnent awaited ile most active and
guilty iusurgent; no painful retribution
such as European governments are ac-
customcd TO impose in similar events
The nation turned at once TO heal the
woes of civil war 10y an unbounded
charity, to feed the starving South from
its own diminished resources, TO build up
its cities. TO revive its trade, renew its
productiveness, and q forget that a mo-
mentary strife had divided those who
were still the members of IL common
family of freemen. Nor las this liberal
and natural policy ever been departed
from through the brief period that has
fed so rapidly 10y since richmond fell,
and Grant restored the vigor OF the Re
public There las been a constant effort
on the part Of the GeuerI Government
to win the rebcilious district to a better
spirit by forbearance and almost excess
sive moderation. Ii has locked on pa
tiently while IL violent aud mischevious
minority i'm almost every southern State
has violated all iha dulles oi good citi-
zenship, and driven away knowledge,
progress, and reform; it has been forced
to see without redress the rights and
lives OF its supporters placed in peril
from The Ohio TO the Gulf; it has watch
ed silently while ''banditti''-- for no
name can be more appropriate TO such
deeds and such men and troops of as
sassins for nearly ien years have covered
Kentaclly aud TeuueSsee with deeds of
violence. established purr tyranny in
Georgia, and filed Louisiana with a sue
cession Of horrors. ia the latter State
only has the Government iuterfered. and
have made the case Of Louisiana test
case for all the Southern States. For the
points involved in this matter are exact
ly those that were supposed 10 have been
decided NJ Richmond. Portions of the
State. ~ Gensrai Sheridan plainly
shows. have falien into the hands of
real ''banditti." =" The ruliians of Shreve-
mort seek to control the Government. -
The Shreveport Times inspires their
movements. and If the national arm was
withdrawn. Louisiana would be an indie
pendent community ruled by IN. mur-
derers of CouShatta or Grant Parish
In other words. the question raised in
Louisiana I, whether 4 hand of rioters
may seize upon State government by
violence and intimidation, and defy the
United States officers when they insist
upon obedience to the law.
'.Perlidy and cruelty" says great
historian, ''are the distinguishing traits
of a barbarous race" OF the cruelty of
the dangerous classes at the South the
last ten years have given fearful proofs;
Of their perfidy it should be the first aim
of sensible men to beware. They pro-