The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-14
"Hatred" and "Penitenoe."

From the Tribune.
We wish that Mr.. Seward would be little
more cautious in the use of words, even when
he goes from the dinner-tabe to the balcony to
make speech. Nobody, as the Secretary very
well knows, "hates" the southern States because
they are applicants for pity and reconcilia-
tion." This assumption that man "hates the
South" because he does not blindly accept "My
Policy" is bit of pure copper, well enough in
Ben Woods mouth, but out of place IN the
Secretary of States. He who hates treason
heartily, whether in the shape of armed rebel
lion or of mobs and murders, is not necessarily
actuated by any love of revenge when he seeks
for future and permanent security. We pre-
sumo, II we may use personal Illustration, that
Mr.. seward does not "hate" the assassin who
sought to say HIM in his bed-that like a good
Christian he has forgiven the red-handed
knave; but this, we take il, does not alter Mr..
Stewards views OF the extreme impropriety and
inconvenience Of midnight assassination.
In another place, in the same outpourIng, the
honorable secretary told his enthusiastic audi.
tory that the Rebels are ''penitent." Have they
set up a stool of auricular confession in the
State office? Has the State Secretary assumed
ghostly functions? II so, we grieve that we
cannot congratulate him on his pentents TOR
too many of them seem to be still an auda-
ciously bad lot. The essence of penitence Is an
admission OF wrOng-doing. There are Rebels in
plGuIy VINO lot personal Considerations ana the
dear delights of conformation will admit that the
insurreCtionary South made mistake, was
betrayed INTO blunder, and, metaphorcaly
speaking, put her foot into it. traitor who
has only reached this stage OF reconstruction
may be hueged and kissed by those who have a
stomach for 1t, and who think, as MIR. Seward
does, that IL will pay to play the amIable, the
soft-heaIted, and the torgiving; but Mr.. Seward
knows as we'll as we do, that penitence ike
this argues no change of heart, and is no secu-
rity against future secession tantrums. A
wrong-doer may be very sick and sorry, and
not in the least pen1tent. III Mr. Seward doesn't
believe this, let him ask Brother Beecher.
In playing the game of "my policy" it il
pretty hard not to blunder. Mr.. Seward, with
out doubt, means to say only. the most beautiful
how sorry they are Mark the sackcloth anC
ashes! Observe how vigorously they gnasl
their teeth !" with other hapdoodle of lik'
soapy nature. But the sharp Secretary has no
taken into account the inhammatory nature o
the Southern heart He may find that tn
chevalers DO not relish being thus told that the
are 'penitent," and that they are applicant
for pity and reconcilaton.n The stiffest loya
lists have never demanded Of them a humilia
don like that which is suggested by these loos
phrases. MIR. Seward makes them all suitors 1
JoI1nd pdagperiS-poor devils in their shirts, wit
candles IN their hands, and halters about thei
necks, singing in sad chorus "Haye mercy upo
u.s. miserable offenders! !" We fancy respectabl
Rebels, II there be such, will hardly thank th
Secretary Tor such a strange and blunderin
beneVolence. But, bless youl he couldn,t hel
himself, AS matters stand, he must either sa
these things or say nothing and the mower I
holding his tongue the Secretary, with ali h,
wisdom, has not as yet achieved.