The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-01-23

maliRned people, IN MS tWV NuiuWeS
only refers to two men with any degree
OF bitterness. Notwithstanding the
swelling flood Of anguish that must
have overcome him In the investiga-
ton OF subject fraught with so many
painful memories. One was Thomns b.
Atkins, the compiler OF the archives OF
Nova Scotia, whom he charges with de-
lIberately suppressing and distorting
facts, charges which he proves beyond
the peradVenture OF doubt. From
these incomplete archives the author
claims arose that horrible nightmare
"the lost chapter In the history OF
the Acadians, and has for many years
,clouded with obloquy the fair fame or
his ancestors. This mysterious hiatus
in the records of Acadia Richard re-
stores, partly from documents discov-
cred and verified traditions. The mem
DRY OF Lawrence. who was governor OF
Nova Scotia at the time OF the deporta-
ton, he covers with confusion, but not
vltuperation. He was the man solely
responsible for the woes that trailcd
his people in exile, and II Is surprising,
considering the offense, with what
temperate pen he paints character so
antlpathic 10 his tender theme. The
evident fairness and conscientious In
vestigatIon which the author exhibits
impress conviction on the mind of the
reader. His carnestness and simplicity
are the chief charm OF his intensely
interesting pages. In no instance does
he show vindictive spirit. He asks
only for justice-slnple Justice TO long
suffering and wronged race.
His honesty CLOVIS In every sentence
he pens. In his Introduction he tells OF
his unbellef in the reason given for the
deportation when he was told In his
youth that 1t was simply because the
AcadIans refused to take the oath OF
allegiance to the British crown unless
It was stipulated that they should not
bear arms against the French, their
compatriots. He could not conceive
that such q monstrous sentence should
be inflicted for so small an offense.
II was incomprehensible TO him. and
remained 30 until he unraYeled the
mystery that covered up the iniquity
OF the deed, and he had dug up the
motive for the disappearance OF the
documents, which were suppressed BY
Governor Lawrence to save his neck,
because II was proven that he carried
out an order which he was forbidden
to execute. He cxonerates the govern
ment OF Great Britain from all blame.
Lawrence, who was crafty and I'M
scrupulous, was house painters np-
prentice, and rose to power through
trickery, caused the deportation OF the
Acadlnns for the simple and sole pur-
pose OF plumber. though he concealed
this at the time by treacherous meth
DDS. He died in time to escape the
ignominious death he so richly de-
served.
While exculpatlng England from all
completely in the great crime Richard
turns more in sorrow than In anger TO
France. inmentlnE With pathetic regret
that the country had left her children
to the ignoble fate that overwhelmed
them. He mourns the forgetfumess Of
the court OF Louis XIV, and the flip
pancy OF Voltaire, who exclaimed when
Canada was lost that France had only
parted with "a few acres of SNOW.
How true is his lament:-.Poor France!
In order to retain n firm hold OF your
sccptrp, YOU had Invented the Sale
law. You would not be governed by
queens, and you have been ruled by
harlots You were rich and honored;
those women squandered your coins
and your honor. What havoc mas
wrought in you the wit OF your mad
caps? You are now striving to retain
tho privilege Of drying your fish on
corner OF this continent that once be-
lonEed 10 you; It would still be yours
with nil the wealth hidden under It's
acres OF snow. II you had less the wit
that evaporatcs and more OF the wit
that bears fruit"
What n reproach to mother from n
son! All the work OF couTtesnns-
| MaIntenon. MontnspAn, Pompndour
and Dubarry. AFTER me the deluge,"
exclaimed Louis XIV. And what a
delugc It was! The pike and the gull
lotine: the tumbril and the cannon. A
retributlon OF madness and blood. The
results OF that neglect was terrible
legacy to the Acadlans.
Here was peaceful people left naked
| TO their enemies. From pleasant plains
| and yernnl valleys they were driven
| out into the shadows and gloom. The
| comforts and Joys OF home were turned
to unassuaEcable sorrowa, and they
were doomed 10 the awful loneliness OF
expatriated wanderers AS though
| this was not cruel enough, children
were separated from parents. wives
from husbands, nil the ties OF klnShln
| severed, n people dispersed to distant
/ clImes. This was torture worthy OF
conception in he'll, a separation in-
flnItciy more cruel than death. The
auction blocks of negro slavery was
| civilization compared to this bar
/ barlsm. Almost every American colony
was turned into wailinG place for the
| homeless, stunned wanderers. Some
| doors were shut to them, many were
sent to England and other countries
| $4,000 OF them tisslpnted Ike autumn
leaves before the frosty blasts. Years
and years afterwards they were
running hithcr and thlther seek
ing each other, children. parents,
wives, Husbands. all trying to
rehnbilitnte families. Many. many
never met lgain. Seeking n haven OF
rest. a refuge for sorrowing hearts
| many of the exiicE drifted down the
| Ohio and past these shores whercon
sighed the trees whose tlmbcrs after
wards gave strenEth TO Fort Henry.
Longfellow In his tragic hymn sings:
II was the month OF May. Far down tho
Beautiful River,
Past the Ohio shore and past tho mouth OF
the Wabash.
Into the golden stream OF the broad ana
Ewift Mississippi.
| Flontcd n cumhrous boat, that was rowcd
by AcddiRn bontmcn.
Among the maids sat the pale md
gentle Evangeline, OF the village OF
Grand Pre-.
But what about the Acndinns. and
their origin? How many who are not
clOac students Of hIatory know OF the
| trials and misfortunes OF this loyal
people In distant cline, forsakcn by
their king and harried by eoyetous
enemies? What 10 now Nova Scotia
was discovered by the French and was
called Acadia. The first settlement
1 IL NJ In kn