Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-08
PoULTxEr's CRITICISMS AGAIN.

The performance of Poultney Bigelow
in playing the universal scold and criti-
. cising everything and everybody connect
ed with the army is drawing fire in kind
all along the line Poultney is being she'll
ed, canistered, and fusilladed by press
and public. While. by accident or design,
Poultney has said some things that are
doubtless true. he has said many things
for which there is no justification and
which suggest an ignorance which is the
"domiDion Of absurdity," and the 'in-
satate cormorant' vanity that soon
preys upon itself"
Yet all the same we think that the
press and the public are a little too hard
upon Ponltney. They expect too much
Of him. All things considered, they do
not make proper and reasonable allow
ances for him. This we believe we can
demonstrate. In letter to the London
Times Poultney SAYS that many men per-
eonally admire General FitZhugh Lee and
like to have him again in the army, but
they do not quite understand why he
should have been crowded in over the
heads Of deserving colonies. merely be-
cause he happened to be Consul at Ha
bana. Then Poultney goes on to expa-
tate on how they do or don't do these
things in monarchical countries And just
here. gentle reader. stick pin, for that is
The keynote of the plea for dealing ten
derby with Poultney.
OF course, every American school-boy
who has studied our history knows-or,
Il he doesn't know 1t he ought to be
thrashed-that Fitzhugh Lee had claims
for high recognition from this govern
,nent, other than those growing out OF
the magnificent manner in which ne up
held the dignity and the prestige Of the
United States while he was Consul-Gene-
Ial at Habana. He had claims for high
military recognition from the government
based entirely upon his military record.
lie graduated from West Point, which is
pretty fair military school, as such
schools so in non-monarchical countries,
and received a commission in the United
States army. and that he was gallant
fighter in the Indian wars scars OF
wounds on his body prove. When the civil
war broke out he cast his fortunes with
his native State. entered the Confederate
army, and by his courage and ability as
a cavalry leader rose through successive
grades 20 the position OF major-general in
command OF all the cavalry OF the Army
Of Northern Virginia.
Bat Poultney was educated abroad. and
how could he be expected TO be post
ga on these little trivialties? Absurd as
his remarks concerning General Lee APP
pear. we should have regard for his edu-
catloaal environments. Then, too, we
ought TO remember that according to
Poultney's own account In some Of his
writings OF the past his most intimate
associates have been Emperors. Kings,
and Princes. and such like. 1t would, |
therefore, be unreasonable to expect him
10 bother his head-may We not say his big
hcadg--wfth investigating the records of |
Ordinary American folks like Fitzhugh |
lee. Wheeler. and others he has included |
ga his sweeping condemnation. Again. |
IL must be admitted that the meat OF as
sociation on which Poultney has fed |
abroad was naturally calculated to make /
him vain.
II has been intimated that while Poult-
ney's criticism of the condition OF our
regulars and volunteers and the lack OF
organization and equipment is TO some
extent borne out by facts there is be-
hind most OF his personal thrnsts a power
called jealousy that Is catering to
him and egging him on. There may
he something In this latter intimation
and poultney might do well to remember
that
10 check young Genius's proud career
The slaves, who now his throne in-
vaded,
Maae criticism his prime vlzier.
And from that hour his glories faded"
fes' there is some excuse for Poultney
1iis vanity Is either being played upon.
~ he doesn't for the most part know