The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-12-21
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 81, 1890.
SHERIDAN AND KITCHENER.


The Washington Post is one OF the pa
pcr.s in this country that is always on the
lookout for an opportunity TO say some
Thing 1isparsirs and abusive Of England.
Why Americans and American news
papers should have his bent we have
never been able To understand All of
Americas interests and aspirations. SYM
sathics and ,eaninats should naturally
he towards 4 Inc IN common between the
Two countrles,<S17he great body of our
people descend from the English. We
have tbc same language and literature,
all that is worth having in our institu-
1ie.ls came from England's institutions
and both countries are the representatives
of those germs that grow out into Justice
ana fair play for all So it is, however,
that there is 4 certain SCI of people and
newspapers IN the United States that ale
always on the lookout for an opportunity
90 carp AT England and the English, and
The Washington Post is leader N this
company
OF late certain parties have been print
ing AN analogy between what Lord kitch-
''-''-I
Sheridan did in the Valley of Virginia
during our Civil War, and this has led the
Post into an outbreak against England
and u defense of Sheridan. in the course
OF its article il says:
The :nsinuation that General Sheridan
committed III the valley such brutal enor-
mites Kitchener is committing
in South Africa is, however. utterly UNI
warranted by the facts, and surviving
Confcdcrates acquainted with the Cc:-,iiS
OF that campaign Will sustain us in this
proposition heartily a. VIII their former
Union antagonists. Sheridan riyaSed the
Shenandoah Valley purely military
lines. HIS mission was 10 end the war,
and he sought this contamination by
purely military and legitimate methods.
He DESTROYED everything that could pos
.sibly contribute TO the support OF Il hos
tile army. All stores OF forage and food
supplies We're removed or ohlitcrated.
That was war. II was not ignoblc or bar
Darous war. 1t WAS really inspired by
humanity. Tor it is better 10 Subduc ar
enemy by depriving him Of the means OF
warfare than by sacrificing l:te- To com
pare Sheridan's policy with that OF Kit
chener is little snort or sacrilese. Sheri-
dan did not persecute women and chill
dren. He did not burn the dwellings of
helpless l3on-c0mbat9rti deprive item
of food and shelter. drive them in herds
~ wretched prisons or leave them to
starve amidst the aSlcs of their ruined
and desecrated homes. lie WAS a soldier.
q. warrior, not n monster and a beast
The argument, instead Of being with
Sheridan and against Kitchener, is all
with Kitchener and against Sheridan. and
we are making no attempt 10 defend Kit
chener either. for We know nothing Of the !
facts. But there is no longer any sem
hlance OF a government III the Transy2al |
Da Vet and his associates are low
euerillas pure and simple; all organized |
MAR is ended, and the predatory bands
that are roaming over the country are
nothing more now than any other land
OF laWless desperadoes. AS we have said.
we make no defense Of what Kitchener
is doing because we do not know what
the facts are, but We can easily under
stand that very severe measures may be
necessary and may be justified 10 put an
end 10 Irregular guerilla warfare such !
as Is now going CIT IN South Africa.
But when Sheridan devastated the Val
'ey the case was one of two hostile gov
ernments contonding with one another,
and she,,idan's deyastations Of the Valley
was nothing but cold blooded, barbarous
cruelty put into force and effect IN rio-
aation of every principle of civilized war
fare. lie showed, in DON'T it. that ne
was Just exactly what the Post says he
Was not, 10 wit: monster and a beast.
and that he had not one OF the clements
of the soldier and the warrior
When the Post undertakes TO villify
the English again ii had bet,er select its
illustrations with greater Judgment.
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ATLANTIS DISGRACE.