Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-30
Longstreet on Grant.

charleston News and Courier)
II was TO be expected that there woula
be some gush about General uraH' at
this time on the part of some oil the po-
utical and polite ex-Confederates' Is
necialIv those who have held or no"
hunger for fat Federal offices, but Gene
rol I.onrstreet avoided even the role OF
super-loyal gusher in the remarKaD.e
tribute TO his ante-beAum friehu anu pos'
bellum benefactor. wnicn ne gave ou' A0'
publication yesterday 60,
We have no wish 10 crticise General
Grants record, whether as soldier or
statesman. or citizen. from any point OF
view on this occasion. 1t is not SUIT
able occasion Criticism OF Generai
Ionestreet's uncalled for and inaccurate
laudations of his distinguished personal
and political friend, and of his sopho-
moric declarations on behalf OF eX-Con-
federate soldiers and citizens whom ne
long since ceased to represent in any pun
lie sense. are perfectly proper. Wheh
he saws. therefore. that Grants heart
went ont in sympathy for the brave men
and women Of the South during the DIS
tressine times of Reconstruction. people
I'm this part of the country, VINO sun nave
q vivid recollection of those times. ana
recall President Grants part in the re-
construction process. may be excused IL
they are surprised into smile expressive
Of some degree Of wonder. the splendor
of General Grants generosity to our brave
men and broken people, we are 'oiu
again "will cause his name TO be en-
balred in the hearts of our children and
cbildren's children with devotion as warm
&c orr southern sun" General Grant
acted like an honest gentleman ana
civilized soldier when he fed the troops
which surrendered to him, and allowed
the cavalry to keep the horses which
belonged to them and he enforced OBJ
servance of General Lees parole when
Johnson and Stanton sought to violate
IT. To call such action splendid gene
rositv'' on his part is somewhat or
reflection on his character and the I'M
pulses of his military and civil associates
and the people whom they represented.
There was nothing in his entirely proper
and not altogether extraordinary conduct
in the circumstances to embalm his name
with tropical devotion in the hearts of all
southern generations.
The southern men of this generation
have accepted the many results OF the
war; with such fortitude and enthusiasm
as they could cOnHldiu, anu nave hhIH-
rally accepted 1.-THE glorious flag Of the
Union" with the rest. We are not aware
of any disposition on their part, however
TO wrap "hearth-stones" or bricks In 1t;
while to say that 1--WE love it as we love
our noble women" is saying what is not
true and what is not nearly true, and
what there was no sense In saying.
General Longstreet was most particu-
larly unfortunate. however, in one of his
awkward illusions to mis- old friend and
foe. General Grant he went out OF his
way TO remark, appreciated the principle
that all governments derived their powers
from the confidence and respect of the
people," This curious perversion of the
familiar language of the Declaration OF
independence irresistibly suggests the re-
Election that General Longstreet would
have liked to say that General Grant zap
preciated the principle that all govern
ments derive their just powers from the
consent of the governed" but found the
quotation embarrassing In view of the
dead mans distinguished record of de-
structive opposition to that particular
principle.
Poor Longstreet!