Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-02
cnIrIcisM or LoNGsrREEr.

The Philadelphia Evening IeiestaPn'
which had earned the reputation OF being
exceedingly cautious and conservative
and despite its Republican prociivities'
exceptionally generous and fair In deal
ing with the South. has OF late grossly
stultified It's record In this respect. III
deed a wonderful change seems TO nave
come over the spirit Of It's dream. he-
Gently IL spoke OF tie celebration OF 'he
birthday OF General Lee as
"pass.ng fancy" Now. II bhndly
and wildly plunges into the Gettys-
burg controversy as the champion
OF General Longstreet. and so utterly
ignores facts and logic as to give
emphasis to the apothesm that fools
rush in where angels fear to tread.
The Telegraph starts out by declaring
that this Supplemental attack" upon
Lougstreet-the criticism called forth by
the claims he makes in his book-fuily
confirms the view taken by Lonssreet
for the past quarter OF a century, that his
political offences are objectionable. Tnere
never was a more bare-faced perversion
OF the truth than the assertion conveyed
in this declaration. While II Is true that
Longstreet's political course after the
war was gall and NORWOOD to every
man who was loyal to the memory OF
the Lost Cause. there was never an hour
when the services OF the commander OF
the First Corps OF the Army OF Northern
Virginia TO that cause failed Of hearty
no no xtroc HcnnmnrfI
cally, no one denies; but in the heat OF
the bitterest OF this denunciation. none
ever essayed to dim the fame he had
50 justly won on so many hard iought
fields. 1t was only when he attempted TO
glorify himself at the expense Of Lee
and place upon the shoulders OF the great
Confederate commander a responsibility
from which the latter maGnanimously
shielded him, that his military short
comings were brought before the public
and became the object of severe criticism.
But even after this. the hold Longstreet
had as a soldier upon the southern heart,
and the desire to do honor to him as as
brave an officer as ever led brigade. d.
vision. or corps to battle, was shown in
a most memorable manner. No man ever
received a grander ovation than was ac-
corded "Oid Pete" on the occasion OF
the unyeIlng OF the Lee monrment in
this city. Rev. DR.. j. William Jones sums
up the situation admirably. when he
SAYS that General l.onGstreets political
views-however they may have been de-
plored by his warmest friends-have had
no more to do with this controversy than
the views of the Khan OF Tartary, and
that there has been no disposition TO at
tack General Longs.reet's military re-
cord. except so far as he himself has
forced II by unseem!y and unjust at
lacks upon the reputation OF our great
commander. Robert f. Lee.
The Telegraph. in its fervor, so far for
gets Itself several times as to disclose
that it has taken up the cudges for
Longstreet as a politician, rather than
as a soldier. 1t refers to the fetish Of
Leesm." sneers at what 1t terms the
effort 10 make Lee the greatest military
leader of his time. and advises that the
men Of the South OF to-day, instead Of
seeking TO g.orify Lee, Davis.
Stephens. the Johnstons, or any Of the
leaders who brought about the fateful
contest" and participated in it to the end.
should turn their faces to the light and
seek to build up in the hearts and minds
Of the southern people true principles.
and u purpose to follow after patriotic
ideals
The effort OF the Telegraph to
beiittle Lees military reputation is
scarcely less than farcical His place
among the great commanders Is establish
ed. The world has given him a position
as soldier that cannot be successfully
assailed. Not month a go President l..
b. Andrews, Of Brown University. Proyi-
dence r. l.. VINO is regarded as eminent
authority in certain historical lines. rank
ed Lee among the greatest military lead
ers OF modern times. AS TO the matter
of building UP in the hearts and minds
OF the southern people true principles,
and a purpose to follow after patriotic
ideals, we resort TO another New England
authority to find the declaration that
hereafter the country must look to the
South for patriotism. II the Telegraph
means by turning our faces to the light
We must turn our backs upon Lee and
his contemporaries, and prove recreant
to the memory of the cause they and
those under them covered with i'm
perishable glory. we tell it plainly that
day will never come.