The daily gazette., 1877-06-05
The People and the Army.

We reid Ia republican newspaper which
knows better, that "the democrats manifest
a remarkable hostility to the army" On
further reading we observe that, In this
connection, "the democrats" means the peo-
ple OF the South. Either term will do, for
The assertion is as true of one as It Is of
the other, and it is false Of both. The pee
pie of this country, without respect TO party
or to section, have always held the army in
high regard. They were proud of its manly
bearing, proud OF its achievements, proud
of it as a part of themselves. To be an off,
Ger OF the regular army has always been a
passport into society, a sufficient voucher
for good breeding. When Cur late civil
war was closed, the southern people had
lively Iecollectlons of wasted fields aud
desolated homes, but all this was summed
up on the debit side of the war account,
and it left no hatred OF the army. Where
there was unnecessary HARDSHIP and wanton
destruction by the army, this were attribu-
thd to the infl famed passions OF warning
men, instIgated by tricky politicians rather
han toy soldiers. Since Lees surrender
the Republican party has exhausted Its
ingenuity to make the army odious. There
could hardly be a crossroads squabble. a
local dispute among politicians Ill the South,
but the Republican party made haste to
"call out the troops" Ii the people OF II
soul hern state appealed to ballot-0ox to
rid them of thievlng caTpet-baggers, the
republican administration fixed bayonets
and proceeded to protect the thieves with
the federal troops. Uuriug the early years
OF peace the army was steadily and iapidly
Increased IN numbers, with no end but to
oppress the people oi the South. The
whole country was taxed TO support an un-
necessarily large establishment tor the ben
edt OF the Republican party. Tue people
rose against the army, not because they
were hostile to the army ITSELF bul because
they were hostile to the use Of IL as point
zeal machine directed against their liberty.
See what has come to pass since the troops
have been Withdrawn from interference In
southern affairs. Officers Of the army and
navy are teled by the southern people, taken
to their homes aud the warmest hospita'-
| ily Is iavished upon them, as upon honored
guests. Now that the soldiers are no more
to meddle with local selt-yovernment, the
| southern people have no desire for their re
moval. Many of the Off eIs have taken
southern wives, aud all OF them have estaO-
lished pleasant social relations where they
are quartered Before the corporal OF the
guard had been made the tool Of political
tricksters there was not town or city in
the country, but felt honored by the pres
ence Of detachment of regulars. TheiI
coming brought life, eayety and the society
Of manly fellows The Sonth was never
backward in receiving the federal soldiers
warmly-not even during the war Brave
opponents In battle, the southern people
are kind and generous in peace-Just lIBt
the people on the other size who though
that the end OF war ought TO be tine begin
ming of peace. We venture to say that nj
soldier stationed in the South will complain
OF his treatment to day. IL is only wheI
the army is degraded by unprnciped polit
icians, aud when it is used to overthrow
constitutional liberty, that it suffers i'll th'
country's esteem This is not the fault o
the people, but of unfaithful servants whl
assume the mastery. Bait. Gazette.