Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-07-24
Gen. Ions SStTec;.

Gen. Longstrcet has been venting his
spite against his former comrades into
the credulous ears of newspaper re-
porter.
He disparages Gen. Lee, and shows
how, if Gen. Lee had been guided by
him, the result of the battle of Gettys
burg would have been different.
In the words of a distinguished sold
ier and brilliant wit, THAT any question
involving mental process and intelll,
gence should be hidden from Lee and
patent to Longstreet, is startling pro-
position to any who have knowledge
of the two men. We have biblical au
.hority for the story that the angel in
the path was visible TO the ass but in
visible to the seer, his master. But had
the humble, stupid ass, after having al
ways been kindly treated by his master.
turned around and kicked him, how
would the story have read then 2"
The question now recurs with accu-
mulated interest, and makes us reveri
10 the early days Of the great war be-
tween the States, when Gen. Long
street impaired to President Davis his
misgivings as to Lees fitness TO com
mand the great Army of Northern Nir-
ginia, and suggested that he (LongstreU
was the man for that high office.
How greatly he was mistaken the re-
cord shows.
Under Johnston and under Lee he
was brave and efficient commander OF
his rps, but whenever removed from
their strong and able guidance he wasa
Ii mentable failure.
He had, thanks to their fostering care
and wise guidance, won noble name
among a race Of noble men-but in his
mental AMI moral obtuseness he did not
know its value, and threw it all away
like the base Judean.
And it is now in order for re to re-
mind our people of what l know Of
Longstreet's regeneration.
| The first intimation of it was when he
said to me in 1S65-our President was
then in prison-"Maury, JEFF Davis and
the politicians made catspaws of you
and me and the officers Of the regular
service" l replied, with indignant
surprise, NJ uuiian ihAuopSO W."
have controlled my action after Virgin
ia seeded. Mr.. Davis obeyed our call,
and now suffers in chains for it.
Some time after that Longstreet pub
lished letter in the Sunday newspa-
pers of New Orleans, obscurely indicat-
ing his political views and purposes. 1t
startled our southern people, but so
highly was he held, because Of his great
war record, that all public comment
was suspended. The southern press
made no comment on it.
On the next day young Confederate
general went around and summoned us
Confederates to a meeting in Long
streets Office, to be held on Wednesday
evening. Some, out of respect to the
honorable record he had until then up
held, went TO that meeting. Out OF
seventeen generals of the Confederacy
then in New Orleans only four were
PRESENT. was not one of them. Dur
ing that meeting nothing was decided,
save to meet again in that same place
upon the following Wednesday. Upon
the intervening Sunday Longstreet,
grown bolder, published more ex-
plcit article, outspoken in favor of our
coalition with the Grant party of the
North. Then the vials of wrath of the
whole southern press and people were
poured out upon him and he was gen.
orally tabooed.
Soon after this Senator Wilson, of
Massachusetts, came to Louisiana.
Longstreet went up to Amite, met him,
came with him to the city, and sat upon
the platform with him as vice presi-
dent of a negro meeting in Lafayette
Square.
After that he went over body and
bones to the radical party, marched in
procession with the negroes and baser
whites, dined with them, and worst Of
all his vileness, he commanded the
soldiers to shoot down his former com
rades and friends in the streets of New
Orleans
And now, in the evening of his days,
when his thoughts should be turned to
repentance, he reiterates his senile as
persion Of Lee and Jackson, whose
great fame mankind will ever adore.
Poor old Longstreet! He ought to
have more sense!
DABNEY H. MAURY.
Richmond, Va, July II, 1898.