The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-08-04
Mr. colfax-Who arc TRAITORS?

MI. SC4lliA- w LiO GA " = tssAS~A1
This gentleman made speech to his old
friends at South Bend, Ind, in the district
he represents, on Thursday last. We sup
pose that it was intended as his great gun
for the campaign-his very best effort at
elooucnce and argument. It is just such q
speech as we should have expected from
him. and shows that he ia about the small
est man in mental stature that has ever
been put before the American people as o
candidate for Vice-Prcsident. Nothing but
the violent temper Of the times could have
elevated him to the chair of Speaker OF the
House of Representatives. When party
shirt IL most bitter and relentless the
smaller race Of politicians take the dead,
because passion and intolerance are the
esrecial characteristics Of little minds land
when reason and deliberation are driven
into disgrace the man who has least reason
and most passion takes the lead.
Mr.. CoLFAx boils over with good feeling
for his neighbors and friends--those who
put him into Congress. We will not deny to
him q great deal of this kind of good im-
pulse and many social virtues. 1t ID not
inconsistent in poorly-balanced minds to
have a great deal of this local and house
hold charity and gentleness, while incapa-
bic of generous principles and liberal ideas
in reference to affairs of State and great
communities. Mr.. ColfAx, therefore, may
very naturally turn from the emotional
and fearful expression of gratitude and
affection within the limited circle Of the
South Bend bailiwick to indulge his bitter
and relentless feelings toward the people OF
the South, and to cry out now, when there IS
no treason, and he processes to desire
peace" that "treRson shall never rule in
this fair land of ours" Here we have
that peculiar sort of indoor and yard affec-
tions of the canine species which seem to
carry with them hostility and hate to all
outside-a very circumscribed and low order
of sensibilities.
Mr.. CoJFAx is fair sample of the Radi-
cal partisan. We would not charge him
with wilful malice, but he is so accustomed
to party traces, and SO accustomed to con-
sidcriDg party interests as being always
approved by justice, and imposing high
moral obligations, that he proceeds still to
brand southern people as rebels, not be-
cause they resisted the Federal authority
in the late war, but because they are not
Radicals. He knows that there is now no
resistance at the South. No man is in
arms against the Federal authority. But
yet, mere blinded partisan as he is, he con-
siders that q man who differs with him in
opinion is a rebel, and would deprive him
Of political privileges. We're that man,
however, to change his opinion, and agree
with Mr.. CoLrAX, he would no longer be q
rebel, but would become q patriot, and
would be worthy to take pot-luck with the
"happy family" of South Bend.
Mr.. CoLFAx is therefore fair sample of
the Radical party-an illiberal, contracted,
unforgiving man, whose passions have, like
- cork, kept him ailoat in these times of
storm and rage. He looks upon the Radi-
cal party as the Union, and its dictum as
the national will. Although there is no
war, and the whole South has surrendered
and submitted to the laws, he proclaims
that all who are not Radicals are rebels,
and must not be allowed to rule -.
True craftsmanship and true wisdom and
humanity would have settled it, that when
the war was over there was no longer any
rebellion, and that the republican system,
which gives to the people the right to
choose their rulers, should Immediately
take effect. But the party put in power by
the revolution could not see this-because
they we're neither statesmen, wise men, nor
humane men. They were merely small
and bitter partisans, like Mr.. CoLFAX, or
fools and fanatics, like SUMNER. They
ignored wisdom and humanity. They per-
verted the Constitution to make the South
Radical mot loyaD and by usurping all the
powers of the Government, and concen-
trating them in the legislative department,
became themselves traitors greater than
any that ever were in the South. Such is
Mr.. CoLFAx to-day. The southern people
are loyal to the Constitution, to repubh-
can government. Mr.. CoLFAx is not; and
the day is not distant when this Judgment
will be that of the people Of the United
States.