The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-06-12

howl Of denunciation and rage" was
sent up against him by just such men
as now abuse him, and he was made to
bear the brunt of all the malignity Of
those who had not sense enough to dis
tinguish between patriotism tempered
by humanity, and fanaticism melted by
the desire Of a savage vengeance. tits
not surprising that this should have
been the case, when these same men
insulted the Northern Union feeling by
public harangues, going to prove that
Mr.. Lincoln was providentially muir
dered because of his notorious leaning
towards clemency, in order to make
way for successor who would give
the Southern people full measure Of
justice. Ha
In participating in the proceedings
which led to the release of Mr.. Davis,
Mr.. Greeley has only shown that con-
sistency which has characterised him
on this subject from the first. Apart
from his advocacy Of mercy to van
pushed foe, he has ever held that,
even if Mr.. Davis were guilty of any
crime, it was the business Of the Courts
to decide the question without delay
He has urged that the Constitution
guarantees speedy trial to the mean
est of criminals, and he has been una
bic to see why one WHO'S the represent
tative Of a whole people, and the en-
bodiment Of their supposed guilt,
should be treated differently from those
who live under the same government
and are amenable to the same laws
He has blushed at the conduct of his
government in keeping a prisoner in
close confinement for more than a year,
when he has ever been anxious for a
trial, and when the people themselves
are SO much interested in the satisfac-
tory solution Of the legal questions
bearing on the case. And he would
not give up his efforts to accomplish
his purpose until they were crowned
with complete success. Hence the
storm of indignation with which he has
been assailed.
Besides the animosity against Mr..
Greeley in the ranks of his own party,
it is humiliating to observe that his
political opponents are making the ef-
fort to reap some political advantage
from his course. They are pandering
to the basest passions of the Northern
heart, and would found, as Mr.. Greeley
says, ian enduring party on the hate
and wrath eDgendered by a bloody
civil war;" Nothing could more plain
" show the baseness and degradation
into which American politics has fallen
since the country passed under The
dominion of the Black Republican
party.
But Mr.. Greeley will triumph owe,
his enemies. With all it's corruptions
humanity has not yet fallen SO low that
its noblest instincts can be treated with
contempt by majority of the people.
Neither have baseness and meanness
the only clear title to advancement and
success under the government, as cor
rupt as it has recently become. The
time will come when his recent noble
act of generosity to the unfortunate
leader Of a lost cause, which has caus-
ed thrill of joy in the hearts of the
Southern people, will be applauded by
a majority of the people of the United
States. and when the contemplate ef-
forts of low politicians to make politi-
cal capital out of it, will be cited az
one of the most manifest proofs of the
degeneracy Of the age in which We
live. ~