The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-05

T,r,',.o -, sbts,k into bomb-proofs. When
,be oanse of the Rebellion was Ieaiiy iost
cause tbei were the Fret 10 aoKuo"ieuBe Snat
fact and since the war they nave, as elssSi
bet n better citizens, more tAorouguiy recon
ud 20 The Government, more anxious Tor
snooe and upion. The real maloontents OF the
South are the men who planned secession
dnTino the peaceful days OF Buchanan, aud
mbo avoided war when war came upon them.
General Lopgstreet was zsalous soldier; he
foueht for his cause with the conscience OF
man who believed in IL, and who carried his
life in his hands. He was the second in COM
mapd when Lee surrendered. o. He might have
followed the example OF Lee, crept into a sort
of retirement looking upon reconstruction
with apathy, and saying nothing towards
pscifoston and reunion, aud so retained in
the South a commanding popularity. He
took higher ground. Although he knew that
the step would bring odium upon himself he
promptly embraced the principles of the Re-
publican party, and gave all the influence Of
his illustrious name towards the fullest and
most perfect restoration of the Union. or
all the Rebel commanders General Longstreet
is the most unpopular with the Rebels OF the
South. His unpOpularity, however, is only
for day; in another generation 1t will be
seen how truly wise and great he has been.
Now, what shall we do with such man
Senator Cameron thinks we owe him punish
ment, isolation, vengeance. President Grant
believes that by appointing him to an Office
in New Orleans he gives the best pledge to
the true men of the South that he means to
deal generously with them, and welcome
them back into the Union. Senator Cameron's
policy is simply that Of passion. President
Grants is the highest statesmanship and wis
dom. The men who fought with General
Longstreet are our brothers in many respects,
our kinsmen, our fellow citizens, the men
upon whom we must depend in future wars,
the leaders Of many large communities in the
South, who are, for veal or woe, to be our
fellow citizens, under the protection of our
flag, and to undergo all the duties of citizen
ship. If we follow the policy of General
Cameron we only isolate this large community,
and say to the Southern people:-"The crime
of rebellion is an objectionable sin; you live
with us, but you are not of us; you are aliens,
and you have life itself only by mistaken
mercy" The President says:-"The past is
buried with the past: in war we showed ven
geance, in peace we show magnanimity. Now,
if you will come back to us in good faith We
welcome you as our brothers and our fellow
citizens"
This is small Office. We presume, so far
as the mere gathering of the customs is con-
cerned, General Lopgstreet is a better man
than nine-tenths of the people of New Orleans
who will be acceptable to Governor Brownlow
and General Cameron. He will do his duty;
he will serve the country, and no public inte-
rest will be injured by his holding this office.
That is the practical consideration. A higher
thought is, that by the confirmation of Gene
raj Longstreet, nothing remains of the Rebel
lion but bitter memory. The duty of the
present is peace and loyalty. If you intend
to keep the dark memories alive you will in
woke the vengeance of the Government; if you
mean to forget the past and accept the re-
sponsibility of the present, assisting the
restoration of the Union, and giving to the
Constitution and the laws a sincere and ear
nest support, then you are our fellows in
citizenship, and share with us the blessings of
the Union. Senator Cameron can do no
wiser thing than use his great influence ia
impressing this lesson upon the South, 1t is
a short-sighted policy that would rebuke Pre-
sident Grant for nominating General Long
street to an Office. We can hardly think that
the Senate will refuse to confirm this selec-
ton, and our only regret is that it has moi
been done as promptly and cordially as the
nomination was made.