Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 30.djvu/200

 192 Southern Historical Society Papers.

fame. No commander of any civilized nation in the world up to this time has carried his contempt for manly feeling so far, as delib- erately, for the purpose of repression, long after the excitement of battle was over, to let loose the lusts of men upon the women that had fallen into his hands. In this, as in other matters, the Model Republic has been the bearer of a new revelation to mankind. The Northerners are fond of boasting that they have to deal with a larger Civil war than ever before in history, started into being in the course of a single year, and that they have made themselves liable for a larger debt than any other State ever contracted in ten times the same period.

To these just subjects of exultation they may now add the gratify- ing reflection that they have by far the most ruffianly commander the world ever saw or dreamed of. If anything can add to the atrocity of General Butler's proclamation it is the slenderness of the provocation that called it forth. Even if the ladies of New Orleans had been detected conspiring in favor of the cause for which their husbands and brothers are fighting, it would have left an indellible infamy upon his name that he had attempted to punish them by sub- jecting them to the foulest dishonor a woman can undergo. But the> have not been punished for conspiring. Their only offense has been that, " by gesture or word they have expressed contempt for Federal officers and soldiers." The Federal officers appear to be thin-skinned in the war of words they find it an unequal combat.

The scarcasms of quick-witted French women, re-enforced pos- sibly by the suggestions of their own consciences, have made them feel more keenly than they had felt before the bloodthirsty hypocrisy of their leaders. They feel even that derisive smiles are more than they can bear. If they are to continue to fight only with the same weapons, they are conscious that they may as well retire from the field altogether. But they have a weapon sharper than words, more cutting than sneering glances. They have an instrument in their armory which can tame the most taunting tongue, and quell the proudest woman's heart.

Physically they are the strongest, and, therefore, it is always in their power to inflict dishonor that dishonor to which every woman is liable of which no words can measure the hideous depth, and which no later reparation can efface. True, it is a kind of revenge which no man above the rank of a savage would employ. But what of that ? The Federals have already shown to the world that they have a special interpretation of the word freedom, as well as of the