Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-08-11
GENERAL FITZ. LEES VIEWS.

Not alone to the fact that he is nephew
of General Robert E. Lee, but to the recol-
lection of his gallantry, was it due that
General Fizhugh Lee, now democratic can.
didate for Governor of Virginia, became
centre of interest. OF medium height and
broad build, rugged cheeks and courtly
manner, he was the picture of an American
man, Words would not answer him to ex-
press his satisfaction at the warm reception
given him and his fellow Southerners at the
hands of the North. He said that when he
was riding in the funeral procession will,
General Gordon, as an aide to General Han.
cock, he was filled with emotion upon Sec
ing picture of General Grant with the
inscription below :-"Let them have their
horses; they will need them for their crops"
THAT line brought Appomattox back to
me like some sad dream" said General Lee
TO Herald reporter. 1T was touching
coincidence General Gordon and were
the two remaining corps commanders OF the
| three who were with General Leo when
Grant gave utterance to that magnanlmous
sentiment. General Gordon saw the in
scription the same moment that did and
our eyes instinctively met as We rode by.
| IL w
| was ready to use my handkerchief. You
can't imagine what those words implied.
| In the confederate army every man had to
supply his own horse, while in the Union
army everything was supplied by the gov
eminent"
General, what do you think this demon
stration means?" asked the reporter, re.
ferring to General Grants funeral.
1T means that the Union is now more
firmly aud inseparably united than it was
tN enty years before Buchanan's administra
tion The war was he inevitable culmina
ton OF differences That had TO be settled by
blood. Before the war there was always
talk of breaking up the union and secession
whenever any issue was brought up for na-
tional arbitration, and the South would in
variably threaten secession if her whims
were not gratifed. Of course, Immediately
after the war wounds were fresh and there
was little show Of any disposition for recon
citation But, notwithstanding this fact, q
reconciliation would have have been effect.
ed had it not been for the policy Of the ad
ministration succeeding Mr.. Lincoln's. The
government then sent men down South to
rule us who were unprincipled and unfair,
aud the colored man was placed in our Leg
islatures to make laws for US. This was too
| SEVERE u oud InO StuNh ISlt
that she was being belittled. II was putting
thebottom rail of the fence on top. The
people got so they didn't take any interest
| in the government nor the country. Any
insignificant little carpet Dagger would be
sent down there and boosted into Congress,
and our own men would be thrust in the
shade. am strong democrat and talk
strong democratic principles, and Pm going
to add that this was done for no other pur-
pose than to perpetuate the republican par
ty in power.
"But now, God be praised, all that is gone
| by. That was the work of politicians, and
the South has found out that the people OF
the North-the body of the people mean-
had no hand in it. Old issues are eradca-
ted in the South now. The colored man is
no longer regarded as an usurper, and
| he feels that he will not be returned TO sla
very. We don't want men to represent liz
who will constantly wave the bloody shirt.
| The people have come TO love the North for
the grand, magnanimous, fraternal treat
tncnt they have received since the war, and
they have been longing for this grand op-
portunily, which has at last been afforded,
tn express their hearty good will for the
Union. No man has done more, and
neither has any circumstance nor series Of
circumstances to propltiate the feelings Of
the South and bring about this grand mil
lennium than General Grant. The suffer
ings of General Grant awakened the sympa-
thy of the whole South, and the whole
South is now glorying in the treatment its
old commanders are receiving. just think
of it. Here are General Buckner and Gene
raj Johnston and General Gordon and Gen
eral Wade Hampton and myself, all rebel
leaders, being made the lions of your city,
and we are all OVERLOOKING in gratitude in
return We came here TO make up. The
South has sent us here to make up. There
is no divided North and South now. 1t is
the Union forever. The South feels that it
is part of the country once more, and
takes an interest in the prosperity of the
whole undivided land. The South ia al
ready reviving."-N Y Herald.