Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1868-09-16
The RebeIliOus Spirit in the SOuth--a
Sensible View of the Question.

The RebeIliOus Spirit in the SOuth--a
Sensible View Of the Question.
From the Philadelphia Ledger. Qndepend-
ent)
What wonder is it that many plain,
good people in the North and West
believe that the rebelliOus spirit still
prevails, only waiting for another OPP
portunity to break out afresh? They
are told so day after day, and week
after week, by those who are put for
ward, or who put themselves forward
as the representative spokesman of
the old slave States. This comes to us
from conventions, from meetings, and
through the partisan press. The ut
terances on these occasions are of the
most mischievous character, damag-
ing to the people of the South, and
eXasperating the people of the cOun-
try. They are naturally looked upon
as showing the temper of the great
mass of the Southern people, and the
inference very naturally follows that
those who show such n spirit of glOri-
fication over the events of 1861 to 1863
will not be slow to repeat them if the
chance presents itself, and they are,
therefore, not to be trusted.
They boast of the achievements of
the rebellion, they apOstrophiZe the
rebelliOus flag, they declare that the
lost cause" is to be Tesurrected, they
speak lightly of numbering the
Northern Huns" they declare that
their former comrades in arms are
ready TO rise again when the signal is
given, and they deal generally in q
grand round of the same style of ex-
asperating OratOry that fired the
Southern heart" before the rebellion,
and which at last fired the Northern
heart also.
Now, as we have already said, we
believe that n majority of the South
ern people are not truly represented
by these scandalOus proceedings, but
unfortunately for their peace and quiz
etness, and for the tranquility and
prosperity of the whole country,
there is no effective or emphatic repu-
diatiOn of them on their part.
Some of the more sagaciOus of the
Southern newspapers, it is true, have
deprecated such speeches and publi-
cations as injurious to the canvass for
the Presidency, and on this ground
have tried to muZzle the slangwhang-
ing speech-makers and editors.
BIT this Is not a satisfactory ground
to pat the case upon at all. What is
said and done is not condemned be-
cause It Is dOrOHg and bad iR itSeJ, bit
because II is iHlpOLitic. Now, although
this may go down with party men, it
will not satisfy those whom the
Southern people ought to be studiOus
to retain as their friends. 1t will not
satisfy those who desire to be geneT-
to the South, because they wish
to see the people of the South rescued
from the ruin of the rebellion, but
who at thesame time hold their coun-
try above party and will not associate
themselves with any movement that
keeps alive the spirit of rebellion. 1t
will not satisfy those thinking and
independent voters who are not blind
ly bound to follow the dictates of par
ty, and who in these days hold the
balance of power among all the par
ties.
Some months ago a number of the
military officers of the rebellion took
occasion to make pacific and emphat-
ic declarations to the effect that, hav-
ing been beaten in their effort to dis
unite the country, they would never
nor engage in politics, but confine
themselves entirely to their business
pursuits. 1t would have been well if
they had all been of that way of
thinking, and if those who made
such promises had kept them
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