The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-02-04
W. H. RAvENsCRAFT, N. D.,
County Health Officer.
TWO FAMOUS GEORGIA GENERALS


The .One 1iven All Honors BY the
South, the Other Almost ignored.
To the Editor OF The Republican.
1t rarely happens that any state of
of this great Union is called upon to
pass down to the grave. in SO short y
time, two of her most distinguished
sops, as was the case with Georgia, in
the coming of the memorable demand
to surrender her famous Longstreet
on the 3D., and her equally famous J.
b. Gordon on the 9th of this first
month of 1904. Longstreet died at
Gainesville, this state, and was quiet
ly laid to rest according to customs
and rites of the Catholic church, q
bare announcement of the event be-
ing about the measure of prominence
accorded by the public press of the
state. Gordon died six DAYS later at
his winter home, Biscayne, Fla, and
the same press is full, to repletion,
with all possible forms of comment
that can be made Mandatory. That
which comes to Gordon is scarcely
oYerdone, for he was lovable as well
as loyal man but why so little for
Longstreet These men held the
same rank in the service OF their see
ton, and both were eminently eff
cient and faithful. Longstreet, in
deed, held seniority iof rank, hayins@
been made a Lieutenant General by
the mill at Richmond one day in adj
vance of Gordon. There is plain
and all-sufficient reason for the differ
ence in sentiment toward the two :;
one was consistent, the other was not.
When the conflict between the two
sections was over Longstreet sought
favor from the general government;
Gordon from his own section. That
the former pursued course as hon
orable and reasonable, before the bar
OF his own conscience, as did the
latter, no one with unprejudicedm mind
will question. But the relation assum-
ed by these two men toward the gen
eral government on the one hand and
the pseudo confederacy on the other
put them both alike outside the limits
of ordinary political Judgment. 1t
was not wise, and in the eyes of the
people of their section, it was grave
offense for any one, more especially
for those who had been advanced to
highest rank in the military organi-
cation of the south, to change party
relations and accept office by appoint
ment under the general government.
This is.why such men as Longstreet,
Moseby, w. f. H. Lee and others,
men of unquestioned loyalty to their
side during the continuance of the
conflict, as well as of high qualifica-
tions and brilliant achievements. feel
no more the grip of the 'glad handn
among the people of their own sec
ton. To the world at large this seems
unjust. In the south it is fully JUS
tided. Impartial history alone can
give these men their due.
But aside from political considera-
tions there was that about General
Gordon.which powerfully challenged
the admiration and love, not only of
the people of his own section, but of
the whole country and of all lands
He was an eminently loyable man :;
his public utterances throughout the
country stamped him as a veritable
opposite of peace 1t was my priv
ilege to have some measure OF per-
sonal intercourse with the man, on
one occasion to stand on the same
platform with him, and to me he will
always be an admirable christiaaF
gentleman.
Georgia does herself proud in be-
slowing lavish praise and honors upon
her noble Lieutenant General John
Brown Gordon. But to me and to
the readers of THE REPUBLICAN it
seems pity that another, SO worthy
as was Lieutenant General James
Longstreet should be allowed to pass
to his rest with so slight measure of
public notice.
j. b. SHoUP.
Fitzgerald, Ga, Jan. 81, 1894.