The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-19
AMNEsTY-sCHURz AND BUTLER.

From the N. Y. World.
The question of amnesty for political Of
fenses, which has been for the last few
days the engrossing topic in Congress,
is simple in principle, but complex and diff
cult as a subject of immediate legislation
The principle is presented with admirable
conciseness and in fit language by Senator
Schurz in his resolution, which he supported
by a speech of great ability and eloquence.
But his resolution is a mere declaration of
sentiment, not an act of legislation-a vesti-
bule, and not the ediice. He proposes that
amnesty shall be complete and absolute,
throwing a broad mantle of charity and OBJ
iyion over all offenses committed in the late
civil war. But Mr.. Schurz has framed no bill
to carry out this wise and magnanimous
policy; and, if he had drafted such bill.
there is not the slightest probability that it
could pass at this session. OF course, all
Democrats in both houses would gladly vote
for an act in the sense of Mr.. Schurz's resolu-
tion; but he is just now regarded as. black
sheep in the Republican flock, and is in ad-
vance of the average sentiment of his party
His resolution and speech will have q good
effect in educating the public mind, but will
bring no immediate relief to those who are
suffering under disabilities.
the House there is pending a measure
of actual legislation, less comprehensive in
its scope than Mr.. Schurz's resolution, but
quite as liberal in it's intention as anything
this Congress is likely to pass. The fact
that General Butler is its author should
weigh nothing either for or against it. 1t
ought to stand or fall by its merits, and its
adaptation to present possibilities. General
Butler is a man of very marked peculiarities
of individual character; aud where nature has
given decided warp or twist to a mans
mind, it is idle to quarrel with her decree.
(Which of you, by taking thought, can add
cubit To his stature 2n Amono Our notahili
ties, Mr.. Greeley, or Mr.. Beecher, or Brig
ham Young could not possibly be different
from what God has made him; aud a catholic
spirit Will judge of life as it does of litera-
ture. Nobody would willingly part with
Falstaff, or Lear, or Hamlet, or even Cali
ban, although the character of none of
them is defensible ON sound ethical princi-
pies. Nature delights in variety. Socrates,
and Diogenes, and Bunyan, and John Ran
dolph, ali of whom were great oddities, have
their place in the universe as well as the
Washingtons, the Wilberforces, the Sir
Matthew Hales, the Fenelons, snd other
models of moral symmetry. Melancthon had
more regular character than Luther; but
Luther Is more interesting aud piquant as
being an original. General Butler belongs
among the originals; and it is idle to yex
ourselves or vituperate him because he
is not different from what he is. He is
one of those peculiar characters which
Shakespeare delighted to paint; and future
students of our annals will regard him with
the curious interest we take ia Harry Hot
spur or Owen Glendower. Eccentric char
aeteIs are piquant and suggestive: and as the
thistle cannot be transformed into a lily
stalk, our wisest philosophy is to admire the
infinite variety of nature, and gather what
good we can from all her diverse produc-
tions. We cannot expect General Butler to