Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-06-29
RETURNING PRODIGALS.

that We presume it is familiar to our readers.
-Four years since many Prodigal sons went
out of their fathers houses in our midst, and
wasted the goods which had been bestowed Oh
them, joining themselves unto the Rebel Con-
federacy or to the thieving, numbering and
burning Guerilla bands of that concern which
infested our borders, stole our property, burn
ed houses and bridges, and murdered our cltl-
zcns. The Rebellion is crushed to the earth,
these cl.iralrous Mieyes, burners and murder
ers have now to say like the Moor of Venice,
"Othc.los occupation is gone!" They can no
longer subsist by stealing, burning and MUIR
dering, like the Prodigal Son they say I'll
will arise and go to my father" but there the
similitude of the case ends. They do not say
Il have sinned against Heaven and before
thee am no more worthy to be called thy
son, make me as one Of thy hired servants :"
Such language and such sentiments suit not
the dignity and become not the character OF
your chirulrouS traitor, thief and mur-
derer. No they walk our streets, in their
rebel rags and pride, with all the impudence
Of their progenitor and prototype Lucifer, with
Hoses as loftily upturncd as though they were
offended by the rank odor ofthe Coafsh which
is 'inscparably present with them wherever
they go and constitutes the much the largest
portion of their nature. There is no evidence
to be seen in their brazen countenanccs or I'M
pudent walks and conversation of that repent
ance and humility which pressed upon the
Prodigal son when he sail IL have sinncd
before Heaven and in thy sight" Every act
indicates that it is only their impotence to con-
tinue the preparation Of outrages which have
sent better men than they are to the gallows
and the Penitentiary which restraints them. 49,
They remain as black hearted traitors and
rebels as ever, and would to-day, if they had
the Iower or opportunity. engage in their late
chire lrous and aristoeratic business of stealing
purses and watches on railroad trains or driv-
ing helpless women and children from their
burning homes.
There is no such feelings in their "snob.
bish" breasts as II am no more worthy to be
called thy son." no such sentiment as make
me as one of thy hired servants" finds lodg-
ment in their refined brains. No it is beneath
The dignity of your chioalrous mule stealing,
sncakiug railroad dcpradator to indulge in the
old fogy Christian ideas of repentance and
humility for past sins, but with all the hypo-
crisy of the old Pharisee they strut and twist
along our highways, displaying in their every
motion the feeling, II thank God am not as
these mudsiRs arc" The honest heart of
Loyalty is daily made sick with the disgusting
airs and impudence displayed by these ragged
traitors and their more gaudily bedecked cop
perhead friends in our midst.
Why is it that these reptiles are thus per-
mittcd to beslime the paths of honest loyalty?
Tile fault rests with our authorities civil and
military Those who tried, and those whose
desire was. to destroy the government, have
from the beginning Of the rebellion to the
present day received more attention, more con-
sideration and more protection from these au-
thorities than did or do loyal citizens. Court
and Cancellation for treason, snubbing and the
cold shouldar for loyalty, have been the poll
cy of the past and is not changed in the pres
ent. There is no straight forward or outspo-
ken Democracy to thunder in their cars, "by
the Eternal I'll hang you as high as Haman,'
the old Roman firmness is displaced by court
ly and arstocratic notions of forbearance and
magnanimity. 1t is questionable to take
your high-bred chevalier. who runs trains of
the track in the night and wakes up your
sleepy passengers witha pistol TO bis head and
"your money or your life and hsag or Peni-
tertiary him as murderer or highwayman
because he was on sneaking, cowardly e1-
plot. h,lping to destroy the Union, the idea
is perfectly vulgar. &c.,.
Magnanimity in great and successful ma
tion is very nice thing to talk about and may
look very well in print. Forgiveness is &
highly commendable and christian virtue
Both these things are highly desirable in the
proper places. Bot the man who would per
nit thief to enter his house and carry off be
fore his eyes his valuables without shooting o.
attempting to stop his depradations, would in
stead of being considered magnaninou
man, be, held craven, fool. He who woul'
suffer another to cut his throat, or blow GU
his brains without attempting to defend him
self, would be considered insane OF a coward
in despite Of the magnapimity or forbearanc
he could preach up. These creatures hav
pcrpetrated robbery, arson and murder an
have attempted the most horrible treason
they come back among us not repenrant an
BUNDLED but proud and boastful as ever unde
the civil or military power of the nation the
Hoped and attempted TO degrade and destroy
They come into the very community they hay
robbed and attempted to destroy With the
s,d satisfa .tion of victors under the magnil'
enent terms Of n'agaani,nity and forgiveness