The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-05
LEAVE OUT THE NORTH.

Commander-in-Chief Goblin Says hat
the South would Whip Two SPANS.
Gen. J. P. S. Goblin, commander-in-
chief Of the Grand Army Of the Repub-
lie, has returned to his home, Lebanon,
Pa, after an absence of about two
weeks in the far South, whittier he
yer on departmental business in con-
nection with the Grand Army. The
General was interviewed Monday and
freely expressed himself.
Yes" said he, in answer to a QueS-
ton, Il made a tour over several States
that many years ago l visited under
different conditions. And 1 want to say
had 1 been the greatest friend the
South ever had I could not nave met
with a heartier welcome, been more
cordially greeted, had more attention
bestowed On me, been made to feel
more at home. Talk about bloody
Shirt there is not any. I eve heard
a muttering even in any place | went,
and every place I stopped in 1 met
with nothing but the most brotherly
treatment.
AT a campfire in Atlanta I believe
there were more Confederate buttons
than Grand Army insignia, and many
of the faces of the air sex belonging
, to societies similar to our Women's Re
lief Corps were present. AT Decatur,
Ala, 1 met with the same kind of re-
ception. Decatur I expected would be
hostile, for Sherman's army left it only
three houses standing in 1865. Now
there are two cities side by side-De-
catur and New Decatur-a population
of about 5000. We a a campfire
/ there, where also several splendid
speeches were made by ex-Confeder-
| ates.
while in Atlanta two large guns ar
rixyoJ 6ocfipa1 for nna CT 6afanca ar a
| point I've now forgotten, but our party
was invited by several leading citizens
| to AXE in the sight. We saw the guns,
but never in my life did I see more
| American flags h I did that day.
Loyalty shown at Decatur was not
wanting i'm other places, particularly
| Charleston. I say particularly be-
cause there I went around more and
| had better opportunities O. hearing all
| shades Of opinion. I was met by the
! Mayor and a committee of citizens, all
ex-Confederates, and entertained roy
ally. Fort Sumter may not be as pref
ty as it once was, but it looks far more
formidable. Old Moultre is still there,
Forts Johnston and Ripley, Battery
Wagner and Castle Pinckney, formerly
Fort Beauregard."
The General, replying to a question as
to the view entertained by Southerners
oo ~ IHC p1OUdDiIily VI wal UclWSCI
the United States and Spain and what
part the South would take, said:
You can leave cut Of calculation, Sc
far as men are concerned. all the States
north of Mason and Dixon's line, for ]
believe the South will furnish more
men to our army and navy than we
would need to whip two SPANS. They
resent the Maine massacre n hate the
~cowardly treachery that brought it
about, and they are only too willing to
avenge the heroic dead and the blight
ing insult. Added to this is a desire to
show us Northern men that the South
resents the imputation on its Ameri-
canism by the bare suggestion hat as
a section it is for peace at the expense
of national honor. I do not believe
that in all these United States are
more loyal, patriotic and brave men
han the Tigers of the C~onfederacy.'
"And I think, by the way" added the
General, that these newspaper fellows
are a little off in their loud declarations
that our coast is d~efenceless, and that
our coastwise cities are at the mercy
of any foreign Power. I have good
reason to believe that we can give IN
best ava Power af1oat more of a job
in levying tribute on our commercial,
centres than any n thinks. i have
the utmost confidence in our ability tc
eascily defend every port from Port.
land to Galveston. Our coast is not de.
~fenceless, and we are not at the mercy
Of a foreign army."-From the Balti.
more Sun.