The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-06-14
GENERAL GORDON's Address on
GRANT AND LEE.


an address in New York city. taking as
his subject Generals Grant and Lee, and
the mart they performed in the late war.
| General Gordon did so much and such
splendid service himself during the war;
that IL is hardly possible for him to
do ANYTHING now which would excite the
dlspleasure OF the Southern people; yet
We feel bound 10 warn him that he Is
treading upon very dangerous ground
here. IL is not possible 10 make an adj
dress in New York city upon Grant and
Lee that will not be Missed. IL 1t is such
an address as the Southern people would
expect on that subject from General
Con don. At the same time. the people OF
the South would not ask General Cor
don 10 speak OF these two historical
characters in New York city as they
would expect him TO speak OF them If
he treated the subject at all. 1t would
be asking him to gratuitously wound the
sensibilities and feelings Of people who
had invited him 10 speak in their own
home. and the people OF the South are
not Of the kind TO ask that General
Gordon has undertaken a most dangerous
and an impossible task. and we hope
most sincerely that something will occur
to divert him from his purpose.
The feelings and judgment OF the people
Of the South towards General Grant,
while friendly in the main, are not such
as would find welcome in a Northern
city. To begin with. the estimate placed
on him here as a soldier is a very differ
ent one from that placed on him in the
North. The South does not rank Grant
high as n soldier. 1t comedies 10 him
courage, pertnacity, and logged resolu-
ton. but 1t finds in his career no evil
dences Of that genius which enabled Cen
eral Lee to penetrate the designs Of his
enemy, and 10 make himself always
stronger at the critical point Of contact
than that enemy. II, therefore, General
Gordon should compare the two comman-
ders as military men solely, the COM
parison. II II at all represented Southern
feeling and opinion, would dsparage Cen
eral Grant to the proportions Of a pigmy
alongside Of a giant and this would be
something very different from what his
audience expected, and very offensive to
1t at the same time. General Gordon |
will be walking on the thinnest Of ice !
when he comes to that part Of his dis
course. If he represents the case as /
IL is understood here. he will give mortal |
offense TO those whom he is invited TO adj |
dress. II he states the case as they would
like to hear it, he will raise a hornets
nest about his ears in the South. Of which
he will never hear the last buzz.
The people Of the South remember with
a gratitude that is very nearly affection
ate the loyal spirit in which Grant de-
manded that the Government should live
up 10 and observe his parole Of General
Lee and his army. Nor have they for
gotten the kindly and affectionate IN
terest which General Grant manifested
after the war in his old comrades Of the
regular army, who had cast in their lot
with the South. and were ruined and
left desolate when the war was over.
They also remember that in 1866 he made
a tour through the Southern States and a
report Of it 10 President Johnson, in
which he aimed at allaying the bitterness
Of feeling towards the South. which it
was evident our enemies were preparing
TO infuse into their future treatment Of
us. But they can never forget that all
their humiliations Of the days OF recon-
struction were imposed upon them under
acts Of Congress sanctioned and approved
Of by General Grant. and enforced with
cruelty by his orders during
the eight years that he was President.
Their memory goes back always to the
eight years Of his administration of the
Government as a period OF Indebtedness.
misery and insult without parallel in the
history OF nations General Gordon can
not discuss that period before an ap-
proving Northern audience in a way that
will satisfy the people of the South.
Finally, If he shall compare the char
lcters of the two men as men in a way
hat satisfies us down here. we fear his
reception would be one that he would
not recollect with pleasure. He must
represent the one as the type OF the
christian gentleman. patriot and soldier.
ieferential with interiors. superbly con-
ldent and restful with equals. passion
'tely dominated by duty, overlooking with
marty for all men. lie must represent
he other as kindly in nature. but easily
'"erVed 10 wickedness by politics, Of
omething that seemed like convictions
'hul party behests demanded change.
Democrat, if anything but a Republ-
an IN practice. and ready TO defy the
Institutions Of his country. to undermine
hem, or evade them. as occasion might
equire. If he treats the subject from
his standpoint he can make no COM
arison-it must be a contrast
We are sorry General Gordon has un-
ertaken this task.
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THE WAsHINGTON DISASTER