New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-11-22
Was the War Fought In Vafnf

A Savannah gentleman writes 06 follows
to Hon. John w. Forney, of the Philadel
Phis Press:
MY DEAR SIR ought before this to
have dropped you line in reference 70 the
short but interesting acquaintance had
the opportunity of forming with you, and
your kindness to me and my companion, Oh
our recent visit to your city. But the truth
is, when / thought of doing go it SET N ed
like the intrusion of an act of politeness
upon one who was fighting, might and
main, in the midst OF a great Oattle. to save
his country and his friends from impending
disaster. And, indeed, SO you were en-
gagged, and fear, from the turn the battle
has taken, much evil is to come upon our
people. That your great State has been
sound and still stands firm on the side of
rational liberty and the rights Of man is q
source of consolation to all good men
Oh! what a spectacle for the world
it is to see the people of the
United States going back on the men
and heroes who recently stood between
them and the utter overthrow of their gov
ernment, their freedom and the free insti
tutions won for them by the devotion and
valOl Of their fathers. On! what a specta-
Gle to see great people thus turning their
backs, like towards, upon the very virtn 5
and the very principles which ennoble
human nature and form the pillars of civil
lied society, and in their stead e.evating to
the highest posts of honor and power the
very men and the very qualities which
stood idly by in the hour Of danger or fought
to bring ruin upon the land. Such q scene
reminds US of the ostracised Aristides be-
cause he was virtuOus; the crushed Cicero
because he was eloquent and wise, and the
ingratitude which the blindness of man.
kind has inflicted upon nearly all heroes
who have devoted their lives to the cause
of human rights and happiness. Oh! what
Q spectacle, what q feast is this for des-
pots and all enemies of the republican
form of government; and how does such
caprices enable them to laugh to scorn the
efforts Of freemen to uphold and perpetu.
ate institutions of their own construction!
But above all, what spectacle is presented
in seeing Q great and numerous people
turning their backs upon . caste Of people
who have served in their midst with fidelity
for generations; caste of human beings
who have added vastly to the wealth of all;
tor the truth is, the poor negro and the mad
and wicked prejudice against him have
comprised the capital by which the Demo-
cratic party have debauched the ignorant
and vicious whites, and placed the people, as
q whole, where, as Mr.. Evarts says, "they
can stand neither the curses Of God nor men,
by leaving them, the negroea, q
prey to the rebels" These people, unlike
the Indians, we're forced to come among
us, and we can not, now they are free,
trample them back into miserable and
cruel slavery and stand the curses of God
OF men which such policy brings upon
us. Yetsuch is the spectacle presented, and
such an attitude We are placed in before
God and man by the recent Democratic
victory, if victory it shall prove to be. Will
it be any excuse, any extenuation of our
national crime, that noble and good men
have again and again protested against this
fearful wrong, this fearful crime! l trust
not Let us, therefore, not give up the
cause of truth and justice. Let your pen
and your votes still plead the cause and
rights of down trOdden humanity. Let all
good men everywhere plead this cause until
it shall no longer be said that the American
people take delight in trampling down
their greatest benefactOrs-in giving Joy TO
the enemies of their liberties, or in turning
back into cruel slavery the 100000
of men whom their better sentiments
and the mercy of God released from that
horrible condition. There are examples
where the master class have destroyed their
slaves. The most notable one in history is
til 1t of the Spartans and the Helots. But
in this case, be it remembered, contempt.
rary with the slaughter of the laboring
class disappeared the glory and the very
name of the Spartans themselves; while the
Atheniane, who were merciful, and often
emancipsted and educated their bond smen,
tiourished through centuries, and filed the
world with the renown of their virtues.
Even the Spanish races on the American
continent have long since learned that God
does not tolerate cruelty and oppre ssion
upon those who cultivate their fields and
hair Nc nil
may be the drift of the mad and prejudiced
let not God fearing men 20 back
on the principles OF Justice and mercy.
Savannah, Georgia, November ID, 1876.