The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-04-28
Learning a Lesson.

The weakly, sentimental and bastard phi
lanthropy which has been so unwiseiy advo'
Gated, and to which we have heretofore allu-
ded-that Of granting pardon to those who
have plunged the nation in war-has received
a check by the death Of ths President. from
which it can never recover. Not only he.
cause the nation has been fcarfully aroused
from its sense Of security. but because the
Chief who now directs the Ship of State
knows better than his lamcnted predecessor,
the fendrsh hearts Of the nations internal
enemies. and because of this knowledge, when
peace comes it will bring, as it must IT it be
worthy, security for the iuturity as well as
indemnity for the past.
We have watched with anxiety and alarm
the gradual creeping over the people, or
rather portion Of the people, of dispose
ton to show clemency to the instigators OF
treason. forgetting the enormity of the crime
in the JOY of its suppression. While under
ordinary circumstances Of war such a feeling,
il rightly tempered, would be thing to be
cherished, with the present foes of the Re-
public it is to the utmost highly dangerous
and designating. It's chief supporters are,
first, all persons Of doubtful loyalty to the
Government: and second. those who have
failed to understand the rebellion and the
determination Of its leaders. The same
blinded clemency and the same stupidity in
dealing with rebels, has been tried in its full
ness, and VIC paid for the experiment a thou
sand million dollars, thousands and thou.
sands Of dear precious lives, and two years of
direful war with all the woes 1t brings. Such
was the policy during McClellan's reign.
How far, o Cstiline. wilt thou abuse our
patience? How long shall thy frantic rage
battle the efforts of justice? To what height
mcanest thou to carry thy daring insolence
Alas. for our degeneracy ! alas for the
depravity of the times the senate is apprizcd
of all this the consul beholds il; yet the
traitor lives. Lives! didI say? he even comes
into the Senate; no shares in the public DELHI
crations: he marksusout with bis eye for de-
struction; ,chiie zoe. boldin our countrys cause.
think zoe hare sufficiently disehargsdor duty to
the State, If ice can bat escapehis rage and dead
w darts. - Such, such was the virtue Of
this republic In former times, that her brave
sous punished more severely iactious citizen
than tho most inveterate public enemy.
The singing, scathins words Of Cicero
which made traitor to tho Roman State
tremblc, may ring in our ears for the public
good. After four years Of the most cruel,
bloody war that modern history records, u
war waged against the life of tho Republic
with all the implacable hate OF which the de-
mons in hell are supposed to be capable, we
prove ourselves unworthy the great sacrifice
we have made to preserve the nation, If we
Tail to appreciate the fendsh spirit o! the
rebellion. and secure ourselves against its rep
ctition. And, pray, what security have we.
50 long ~ the instigators Of the srca, crime
live to again mark us for destruction? Who
shall say that these men will not foment
another strife, and again raise their parrici.
dal hands against the government Treason
must be made odious, and to that end trai.
tors must be extirpatcd and their property
confscated.