New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-09-13
4HATREDo AND "PENI7ENCE."

We wish that Mr. Seward would be a little more
cautious in the use Of words, when he goes from
the dinner table TO the balcony to make speech
Nobody, as the Secretary very well knows, "hates"
the Southern States becdHse they are applicants for
pity and reconciliation" This assumption that a
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 rebellion of mobs and
murders, is not necessarily actuated by any love Of
revenge when he seeks for future and permanent
security. We presume, if we may use personal
illustration, that Mr.. Seward does not " hate a" the
assassin who sought him to slay him in his bed-hat,
like good Christian, he has forgiven the red-handed
knave; but this, we take it, does not alter Mr..
Stewards views of the extreme improperly and in
convenience of midnight assassination.
In another place, in the same outpouring, the hon
orable Secretary told his enthusiastic auditory that the
Rebels are "pentent." Have they set up q stool Of
auricuar confession in the State Office Has the
State Secretary assumed ghosy functions If so, we
greve that we cannot congratulate him on his peni-
tents for too many of them seem to be still an
audacIously bad lot The essence Of penitence is an
admission of wrong-doing. There are Rebels in
plenty who for personal considerations and the dear
delights Of conformation will admit that the nsuuec-
tionary South made a mistake, was betrayed into a
blunder and, metaphorcay speaking, put her foot
into it, traitor who has only reached this stage of
reconstruction may be Rugged and kissed by those
who have a stomach for it, and who think, as Mr..
Seward does that it Will pay to play the amiable re
soft.hearted and the iorgiving; but Mr.. Seward
knows, as we'll as we do that penitence like this
argues no change of heart and is security against
future secession tantrums. a wrong-doer may be
very sick and sorry and not in the least pentent If
Mr. Seward does MT believe this let him ask Brother
Beecher.
In playing the game Of my policy" il is pretty
hard not to bunder. Mr.. Seward. without doubt
means to say only the most beautiful things OF his
Southern penents-such as " See how sorry they
are Mark their sack-cloth and ashes Observe
how vigorously they gnash their teeth !" with other
aapdoodle Of a Ike soapy nature. But the sharp
Secretary has not taken into account the naamma.
tory nature of the Southern heart. He may find that
the oheyaers do not relish being thus told that they
"pentent," and that they are applicants for PITY
and reconciliation" The stes loyalists have
demanded Of them humiliation like that which is
suggested by these loose phrases. Mr. Seward makes
them all suitors IN torma pauPeris-pOor devils in
their shirts with candles in their hands and halters
about their necks singing in SAD chorus Have mercy
upon us, miserable offenders" We fancy respecta-
BILE Rebels, if there be such, will hardly thank the
Secretary for such strange and laundering beney-
olence. But, bless YOU he couldn't help himself
As matters stand, he must either say these things
say nothing and the power Of holding his tongue the
Secretary, with all his wisdom, has not as yet
achieved