The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-10-02
Southern slandsrsrs.

Oh the first page of this issue we pub
lish letter written to, aud pnblished in,
the New York Times, by Wiu6eldS. Bird,
of Eutaw, Alabama, together with some
comments upon the same and its author,
by Capt. T. w. Coleman, of the same place,
taken from the Eutaw Wig and Observer.
The letter of Winfield S. Bird is calcu-
lated, aud perhaps was intended, to keep
alive the passions of the war in the North,
published as it was in journal of wide
circulation aud the recognized leading
Republican organ ofthe country. To those
whose feelings prompt them to let by-gOnes
be by-goues, aud to hope and long for re-
cancellation between the North and South,
the letter reads like the emanation from
some scalawag who prefers notoriety to
truth aud justice. By those Republicans
whose stock in trade is simply to cry out
orebelsp "traitors," Southern bulldo-
zers," &c, the letter was hailed with graf
ifcation, aud from the Times it has been
republished by other Republican journals.
Readers Of the Sentinel viii recognize il
as the one published in that paper few
weeks ago.
Mr.. Bird's cgotism in the 6rstparasraph
should almost have condemned his letter.
No gentleman, with due sense Of propriety,
would allude to his own "honOrable" fami-
IL and speak Of enjoying 'the respect OF
all Southern men, in the public prints,
when nothing dcrogatOry had been allcgded
Of him. Besides, as a rule, when a man
has nothing bat harsh words for his own
section and people, it is safe to presume
that the fault lies with himself and not
with his people. But, in the eagerness OF
the Radical press to obtain something to
arouse tho passions of the war, in order to
pcrpetuate their rule, this mans letter IS
gladly caught up and widely circulated.
Mr. Bird, when he wrote for the New
York Times, did not suppose that the peo-
plo Of his section would ever hear Of 1t.
But the editor Of his home paper saw the
article, and at his request, Capt. 7. W.
Coleman, who knows Mr.. Birds history
thoroughly, has answered it, and has done
it well, the editor in separate article en-
dorsing all that Capt. Coleman says. Capt
Coleman did not send the letter of to some
paper thai had no circulation in Alabama
but published it in the local journal at
Dir. Birds home. Unlike Mr.. Bird, he
did not draw upon his imagination for facts
and publish them to other people for Po
Iiiical ends, but circulated what he wrote
among Mr. Birds ueigbbOrs and acquain
tanees, who we're familiar with the mar
and his career
We commend to our readers Capt. Cole
mans letter, which efeetually disposes o
Dir. Bird aud his utilization of his sec
zion; yet we doubt If he really stated all h
knew concerning him. Enough, however
Is given to show what manner of man h
Is. If the truth were known, it would ap
pear, wo presume, that all the letters from
the South to Northern journals, concerning
the fraud aud shotgun policy of tia
section, were the emanatious Of such char
aeters as W. S. Bird, or even worse.
The Sentinel last week alludedto tho An
vocArE not giving Mr.. BeltzhOovsrs pen
sion letter to the public, and intimated tina
VIC were purposely Withholding truth 70
partisan ends. Yves the imputaiion an
hurI back the insinuation withtenfold forc'
BIr. Beltzhooser pronounces the letter
forgery, and be certainly ought to kno'
whether or not il is. The Seatiaei, how
ever, publishes it as q genuine letter, mol
withstandiDg Mr. BeltzhoOver has rePudi
ated il Withholding truth for partisa
ends may be the .Ssntinefs policy, but il
unfair and unjust to measure other journ
OILS By its standard. The ADVOCATE &c
knowledgcs no similarity with it in an
particularly.
The Ssatinel published W. 5. Bird
letter, and il il desires to publish tbs trut
and not mialead It's readers, as would II
pear from its remarks upon the ADvC
GAZE for not Publishing the BsltzhOOve
letter, lei il repabIish that Of Capt. Cole
maa. Il is genuine as IL appears 10 th
ADVOCATE, for We took il from th
Eataw Why and Observer Whe
hIr. Birds letter appeared in the Semi
nef Il was cut out and sent to the edito
Of The Wig and Observer, by gsntlema
ofihis city who knows him. The editor, "
.. Monroe replied that the article wOul
b answered BY . prominent citizen .
Iiataw, ard W give that answer to-day.