The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-03-20
Permi.,ion to XIII a Few More.
PORTLAND.

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Permission to Kill n Few More.
We wish the anti-Ku- Klux movement at
Washington had some leader who possessed a
larger share of the confidence and respect OF
the people than Gen. Butler does. He is
clearly right IN his desire to stop the flow OF
blood In the South, and we believe that Inc
bill presented by Mr.. Lynch the other day'
the one matured in a Republican CAUCUS
ought to have become a law. But Gen. D"'
ler's advocacy of it was rather that OF man
who has personal ambition and personal am
mosities tn crafty than that OF patriot ana
nb;,anthon;st whose eye is single to the good
ofhis country and the safety OF Its citizens. |
Unfortunately for the measures which he ad- |
yocates Gen. Butler invariably causes a COM
plete forgetfulness and disregard of the mat
ter in hand by diverting attention to himself
and to his disgraceful antics. When he takes
hold of a subjec., whether it is the Ku-Klux
outrages, the finances or the Alabama claims
Ii becomes Immediately merely matter of
hard names and grimaces. Honorable MEM
bers prepare themselves not for discussion
but for scene. More time has been spent by
the House since Butler was member IN at
tending to his personal explanations than In
attending to any one matter of necessary leg
isiation, There is hardly member in the
House on whom he has not attempted to las
ten nickname. He came near causing Cox
to be known as 'Sho fly" instead Of Sunset,
and Farnsworth as "the man with more
beard than brains," but he has not TO our
recollection carried through any one of the
measures that he has made distinctly and Pc
culiarly his own.
ALI this is unfortunate, but it seems to us
that those Senators and Representatives who
have concluded TO investigate the murders
that arc every day committed South of the
Potomac instead Of preventing Or Furnishing
them are sirguiarly nsensible to the claims
Of their fellow citizens of the South to the pro-
lection of the COVE -nment. 1t is no longer
possible to say that more evidence is needed.
No sane man doubts that every week adds its
list of martyrs to that long and bloe<y
roll of those who have persisted in the
cause of freedom and equal rights what
more proof do they want? Who has under
taken to dispute the solemn assevera-
lions of Senator Warner aud Representative
Buck of Alabama, who speak of crimes com
mitted before their own eyesp Who has dis
credited the statements of the Senate investi-
eating committee that recently reported after
the careful examination of multitude of
witnesses belonging to both political parties ?
Do they not believe the expelled Mayor OF
the Mississippi town, who has just been forced
to take mp his residence in New York? Do
they not believe that the Posi- Office depart
nent has been forced to suspend mail service
the violence inflicted on its agents? No truth
was ever established by greater amount OF
evidence than the fact that there is substan-
italy a state of civil war aud of revolt against
the government in several localities in the
Southern States. To think Of permitting
this state Of things to 60 on till next Deem
Der, to see ii it will not reform itself, or If the
insurgents will not return to reason and to
their allegiance, is preposterous. 1t is true
that the States where these disorders exs,
have now All the rights and immunities OF
other states, and that whatever is doue mus.
be accomplished with more scrupulous refer.
ence to the constitution than was necessary
In restraining like outbreaks while the nor
NAL relations of these States with the Union
were suspended. But if there is no power in
"a the government to protect its loyal citizen;
from prescription, outrage and death, then the
Republic is a failure, and its affairs ma, a.
well be wound mp. 1t is of very little conse
quence to peaceable, law. abiding, intensely
s loyal citizens, who will tomorrow pay fol
their devotion to the Republic with their lives
that there Isl constitution that guarantees
them CIVIL and political rights. What those
members who favor postponement of active
measures propose is, in effect, that the Ku
Klux shall have the opportunity to com.
nit more murders while Congressman con.
slider the subject at leisure duringl theil
summer vacation. All through the sui
try months, while these uufeelng pubic
servants are refreshing themselves alter theil
& labors and viewing the subject as one of mere
ly speculative interest, their brethren in the
South will bear the sharp crack of the rifle OF
be driven from their blazing homes to seek
safety in more hospitable regions. We hope
the ghosts OF the murdered men will haunt
the men who are so insensible TO their softer
inus,