Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-01-03
CHASTITY VS.
ITORS.
A Sell-ExiIed Kentuekian who
Figured in the War.

nIACo ~ NAN VISA
There is no particular disposition in
Kentucky to rake up the unsavory
mess of scandal and tyranny left by
General Burbridge. Whether there
will be occasion for reyiying certain
disagreeable records, depends alto
gether on the outcome of the difficulty
between Dir. Joe Blackburn and Bur-
bridge. 1t would, however, be the
most ridiculous thing imaginable to
have the affair extended to the people
who experienced Burbridge's rule in
Kentucky, participating in the enjoy
neat Of his revengeia! acts on the one
hand, and covering in helpless terror
of his power on the other.
There is room for a good deal of in.
vective on both sides, but if Bur.
BRIDGES reign of terror is treated as 8
matter Of history, and with a view to
getting at the truth, the subject might
be made interesting, Grimes look ro-
mantle after the lapse OF time, and
Burbridge, in the colors Of a butcher,
6ould look picturesque. Blackburn
expressed the common feeling about
Burbridge, as held in the Bluegrass Of
Kentucky, if be was correctly report
ed. The impression about the man
has not been obliterated in that part
of the State.
Whatever be the truth about him.
his system was bad and cruel. His
s%ubordinates certainly practiced OK
tortion upon farmers and other citi
Eens, who were supposed to have
money, and it is charged that black.
mailing was carried on like a syste-
matized business, and il is not likely
the Federal government authorized
the commission of petit and grand
larceny. 1t is cetain that q number
Of gallant and true hearted young
men we're needlcssly and ignominou.ly
banged, under circumsta nces of cruel
ty and vindictiveness. The people
who suffered from it were inoffensiye,
in that they suffered the effects of the
merciless martial law while under the
protection of the government. The
spirit of justice did not exist at the
very time when its return should have
been most natural. Merchants we're
oppressed and individuals were in.
directly robbed Of their labor and in
dustry, and ever their meyer fruits,
for the benefit of the more polite or
the more vindictiye. Reason for a
time had fed, The horrible romances
Of that day had best remain untold,
unless the facts are related simply for
the truth Of history. They were times
such as are told of in the accounts Of
the French revOlution. The hooking
laughter Of a beautiful girl, as she
coquetted with a Federal officer, while
her former betrothed was being led by
with a halter around his neck, could
only have happened when the times
we're out Of Joint, There we're good
deeds as well as bad deeds; generosity
as well as treachery. Life.long friend.
ships were formed, as we'll as lasting
enmities made.
But the general intensity of feeling
over these matters has about passed
away. General RQrbridge is, however,
a violent man, and has attempted to
beat down the popular aversion to
himself by personal encounters and
brow beating. This is not the way for
him 10 restore good feeling. He should
not be afraid to have The histcry
Of his reign Of terror" entered into.
We are go far removed from that day
that We "a te~lnperately discuss it. II
the result will justify ~imprecation
which is more than likely, the Post
is ready to take a whack at him.
1t looks very much as If the per.
turbed spirit Of the man, crazed with
the blood OF his victims, distresser
him. lfmay be that he has ghostly
y%isitsnts, who harrass bis slumbers
like the spirits which appeared t
Richard IlI' before his disaster on
Bosworth field. Ifthey will not down
let us hear what they have to say. Il
there be widows and children now il
poverty, who yet mourn a murdered
husband and father, they have a right
to be heard. Martial law, and th,
claim Of mistaken judgment in troub.
lous times, will not excuse the exer.
else OF a personal or political resent
ment, when the victims were harm.
less citizens or soldiers, Of a contest.
ing power entitled at least to theiI
lives.
If the im%petuoHs expression of JoC
Blackburn leads to q complete dis.
eussion Of Burbridge's career, it il
likely that the General will have hil
hands full, and in the end become I
greater stranger to the State than he
50 willingly has been for so long a time
Joe Blackburn doutless knows whaI
he is talking about.