Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1871-03-23
AMNESTY-PERSONAL SECURITY.

IN fOSSo ssNhANsA
a decided majority in the House for
a sweeping measure of Amnesty,
while the deliberations in caucus in
dicate an equally decisive prepond-
erance of life and liberty at the
South. These majorities are very
differently constituted, but they are
both essentially right. 1t is exped-
lent that the disabilities imposed for
completely in the Rebellion of six
to ten years ago should be removed; !;
it is essential that the rebels of 1871
shall be suppressed and their out
RACES punished. There is no con-
fiict between these two propositions.
Men who are now deporting them
selves as good citizens should not
be denied the common rights of citi-
zens because they were wrong long
ago; while men who do wrong now
should be made to desist at whatev-
er cost. A wise and strong govern
ment may well overlook bygone er-
rors, while it is imperatively bound
to give present protection and secur
ity to its loyal and peaceful suppor-
ters.
Mr.. Elliott, one of South Caro-
lina's n ew representatives, asserted
on Tuesday that the Ku-Klux dis
turbers of the South are "the "very
class of men whom it is proposed to
'relieve of their. political disabili-
ties" In the absence of proof, prob
abilities are entitled to weight; and
Mr.. E.'s naked assertion does not
suffice to prove that the midnight
riders and raiders in masks and null
tiform disguises by whom the South
is now disturbed are the ex colonies,
ex-legislators of the old slave
holding regime who are alone ex-
cluded from office by existing disa-
bilities. If Mr.. E. had asserted that
pears and water-melons are generally
stolen by clergym en- and deacons
fifty to eighty years old, his mis-
take would not be more obvious than
it now is.
The truth of the MATES tells
against Mr.. Elliott's position. The
Ku-K -Klux are generally wild young
sters, badly trained and naturally
reckless Of moral and legal re
straints, but often sons, or nephews,
or cousins, of those who are exclud
ed from Office by their part of the
raiders excuse for their crimes
They see those whom they most re-
spect and honorproscrlbed for acts
which they esteem righteous and
patriotic, and they are impelled
thereby to revenge themselves on
those whom they regard as the abet-
tors and upholders of this injustice.
Mr.. Elliott's speech will confirm
many in this malevolent and mis-
chievous impression. These Mig
gers around u.s." they will say,
''prosess all manner of good will
"and kindly feeling toward there
"White neighbors; but that fellow
''ln Congress betrays their real AMI
"mus. Only give them power, and
"they would disfranchise all who are
"not Black. Mr.. Elliott, we donbt
not, is well-meaning; but he has
done his race lasting harm by his
first demonstration in the House.
His allusion to Gen. Farnsworth as
a sympathizer with the Rebellion was
exceedingly injudicious and unfor-
tunate.
Congress ought not to adjourn
without passing general measure
of Amnesty and an efficient Ku- -Klux
suppression act. Each is needed
and would prove signally beneficent.
But if Amnesty must still be wait
ed for, the need of legislation aim
ed at the Ku Klux becomes still
more urgent and imperative. Am
nesty would do somewhat toward
disarmlng and dissolving the Ku-
Klux; its failure will embitter thous-
ands, and thus infamed the spirit
which keeps that organization alive,
active, and formidable. We entreat
Congress not to adjourn without
having accorded all the security that
repressive laws can give to the i'm
periled loyalists of the South.-N.
Y. Tribune.