The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-06-26
LITTLE PHIL.

military districts had. been changed,
and Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi
and Alabama thrown under Gen. Sher-
idan. This arrangement, we are told,
has been Nude with the view Of keeping
the troops better In hand should they
be needed In the Indian war.
The feelings of apprehension, disgust
and bitterness with which this an
nouncement has been received here,
though accompanied by u statement
which implies that IL has no political
significance, Is the severest condenna-
tion which could be pronounced upon
this man and upon the Administration
which he serves.
We are FREQ people, the citizens Of o
Re public In which the military is sup
posed to be subordinate to the civil au-
thcrity, and yet the simple announce
ment that o certain officer In the army
Of the Republic Is to assume command
In the district Of which Louisiana con-.
stitutes q portion, awakens the appre-
hension and excites the passions Of
every man In the State.
That such Is the case is not due to the
fact that Sheridan fought against the
South during the war, nor that he is q
Federal officer. The people OF this State
would cordially welcome any Of the
brave and chivalrous officers who fought
against them, and who have since recog-
nized their manhood and their rights.
The disgust which the announcement
that we are to have Phil Sheridan
created, is due to another cause.
IL is due to the facts that, when
placed In authority over helpless
people, he displayed all the cowardly
brutality Of a rufIian and none Of the
high and noble chivalry OF the true
soldier; that he made the national flag
terror to those to whom it should have
been protection that he acted as the
shameless tool OF an Infamous Admins
tration and disgraced his uniform by
domineering over the people OF Louis
lana, and sustaining the carpet-bag ad-
venturers and thieves who infest the
State and disgrace civilization.
This people cannot forget that when
the Constitutions OF the Uuited States
and Of Louisiana were to be ruthlessly
trampled in the dust, and the legal Leg
islature OF this State broken up by
armed violence, Phil Sheridan was se-
lected and sent here to do the Infamous
Job. They cannot forget that when
usurpation composed Of perjurers and
robbers was to be sustained over the
people, and in violation OF the laws,
Phil Sheridan unblushingly and un-
shirkingly stepped forward as the
champion OF the thieves, denounced the
bost citizens OF the State as banditti
and coolly, in time OF profound peace,
IN Republican government, proposed
to the government that those citizens
should be tried by military commits
sion composed Of rufIlans like himself,
and inspired by the meanest and most
cowardly partisan motives, and shot like
traitors. They cannot forget that Phil
Sheridan has forfeited oil claims to the
title OF citizen and gentleman, and that
he is simply ruf1ian and the dirty tool
Of partisan Administration; that In
the past he has trampled upon the
laws; overturned the OWL authority;
insulted the people, and that he is ready
and willing now to perpetrate any out
rage that may be necessary to prolong
the domination of Radicalism In Lou
isiana.
Phil Sheridan Is the second officer in
rank In the army, and Phil Sheridan.
ruffian and brute, is disgrace to the
80 Ar,~ he
history Of his career is written, the most
conspicuous acts OF his life will appear to
have been the slaughter of camp Of sick
Indians, composed chiefly Sof women
and children; the dispersion OF the
Louisiana Legislature in 1876, and his
proposition to hang or shoot at his own
will and pleasure such citizens Of free
State as might suit his pleasure.
The people Of Louisiana have heard
with deep regret and genuine appre-
hension that this man is to command
the district in which they live, because
they believe that his command here
means that the elections are to be in
terfered with and o cowardly and |
brutal campaign of arms and hand
cuffs made against them for the
purpose Of sustaining q combination
OF political adventurers and thieves
In office. When the announcement that |
an officer OF the army Of the Republic 10
to have command in q certain district |
arouses such apprehensions In the
hearts Of the people, what must have
been the record, and what must be the
character Of that officer? Must not
the world, without knowing him or his
previous deeds, judge him to b
ruff1an and brute, q disgrace to his
flag, contemplate soldier. and an
infamous citizen? Il
ST. LOUIS.