The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1905-05-11

Tide" and published by Mrs. james
Longstreet of Gainesville, Georgia. The
subtitle is "Gettysburg in the Light of
the Official Records; and that IS bat
tie in which Maine soldiers were promi-
nent participants and subject of which
the survivors can never tire. General
Longstreet, it hardly need be said here,
was one of the bravest of the Confed-
crate generals. In recording his death
Southern newspaper said of him: cot
all tine men who fought with conspicu-
Gus valor and proves for the Confed-
crate cause, there was none who pos
sessed more leonine courage or inspir
ed in his men a greater degree OF en-
thusiastic affection than this chieftain
whom Lee dubbed with the title of My
Old War Horse on the battlefield" His
bravery was further shown when the
war closed by his full acceptance of
the situation" to use the words then
current, and addressing all his powers
to the work of healing the wounds of
war and reuniting the sections. For
this he was ostracised in the South by
the irreconcilables, then in the major
ity-''an element made up principally
of women and of men who did no fight
ing" Happily that condition no longer
exists, and that it does not is due to the
efforts and sacrifices of such Confeder-
ate leaders as Longstreet, who sheath
ed their swords at Appomattox never
more to be drawn save in defence of
the Union. Brave men naturally re-
spect and admire their equally brave
opponents; and in these later and hap
pier days the men who wore the blue
and the men who wore the gray greet
each other with a fraternal hand clasp
and meet around the same camp fire.
The introduction to this volume is by
General Daniel E. Sickles, who says of
General Longstreet: Gotten adverse
res on the field Of battle, we became
good friends after peace was restored.
He supported President Grant and his
SuCCcsoOAo III tucll W1oo PollOy VI AOo-
toration Longstreets example was
the rainbow of reconciliation that fore
Swallowed real peace between the North
and South. He drew the fire of the If
reconcilable South. His statesmanlike
forecast blazed the path of progress
and prosperity for his people, impover
ished by war and discouraged by adver-
sity. He folded up forever the Confed-
crate flag he had followed with supreme
devotion, and thenceforth saluted the
Stars and Stripes of the Union with
unfaltering homage. He was the trust
ed servant of the republic in peace, as
he had been its relentless foe in war.
The friends of the Union became his
friends, the enemies of the Union his
enemies.
An eloquent tribute from one brave
soldier to another-men who were foes
in war but friends in peace.
Perhaps we should have stated before
that the author of this volume is the
widow of General Longstreet. She
says in the closing paragraphs of her
preface:
Il was writing for love of him whose
dear name had been attacked; to place
before his fading vision enduring ap.
probation of his valiant deeds as a SOL
der and high qualities as gentleman.
Providence decreed otherwise. While
the opening chapters were moving into
type, the Great Captain on High called
him hence, where he can at last have
his wrongs on earth forever righted.
THE warrior sleeps serenely today,
undisturbed by all earthly contentious,
the peace Of God upon him. And [
bring to his tomb this little leaf frag-
rant with my love, believed with my
tears, heavy-weighted with my woe and
desOlation."