Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-08-26
MONDAY. AUGUST &c. 1919.
Something about Reconciliation.

Something abOuI Reconciliation.
Nothing in this presidential campaign, per-
haps, is more fraudulent than the ''liberap talk
about reconciliation. They never say and sell
dom attempt to say precisely what they mean
by it, They talk it in generalities and require
us to believe that it is something that would
operate upon the whole country in a magical
way, if Horace Greeley should be elected presi-
dent. This talk proceeds on the assumption
that the ex-rebels, copperheads, and Greeley, are
all longing TO love and embrace everybody else,
and fill the whole country with justice, gentle
ness, forbearanee, and patriotic aspirations
while the republicans are inspired by nothing
but vengeful haired. Every reasonable person
knows how different all this is from the truth;
but, truth is liable TO be very inconvenient for
the Greeley canyassers. 1t would too frequent
ly spoil their arguments and shame their. pre-
lenses. 1t is surprising, however, that any one
who has observed the conduct OF our govern
ment towards the rebels, since the war, can have
the aEdacity to accuse the republicans OF lack
ing forbearance and generosity.
1t was grand thing to conquer rebellion and
treat the conquered traitors with a generous
forbearance which is unexampled in history.
Have any of us failed TO observe what the Eg-
Topean governments do under such eircum-
stances? Have we forgotten how the English
treated the rebels in Hindustan, where rebellion
was an effort to throw off English despotsm
and restore the country to native rule? or have
we failed to notice what befel the conquered
communist rebels, in France2 Yes, it was grand
in our government to be inspired by nober seuti-
ments, which made it incapable of such venge-
fu rancor as caused England and France to be so
barbarous and bloody, in the cases TO which we
refer. There have been no executions, no trials
for treason, no attempt to nfct vengeance in
any way; on the contrary, the conquered rebels
have been allowed to live in peace; and most of
them have nov been restored 10 the full priVi-
leges of citizenship. If mad partisans choose
to dishonor the good name of their country, by
trying to misrepresent all this, or by keeping it
out of sight, SO much the worse for them. Their
falsehood can not change the fact, that our gov
ernment, in dealing with the subjugated rebels,
has steadily pursued the policy OF forbearance
and reconciliation.
1t is not easy TO see how good will can go fur
ther in that direction, unless we become so
weak as to give them control of the govern
ment. This, nevertheless, is what the "liber
ais appear to mean by reconciliation" but
the men who so lately sought to destroy the
government, do not now show the spirit of
reconciliation by elamoring for control of it.
AT any rate, the loyal people OF the country
cannot rightfully yield to this clamor. 1t is
forbidden by every interest of the country. Let
us have peace and goodwill but not restoration
Ofthese men TO supreme control of the country.
NJ: Greeley's method of Cancellation" is TO yield
whatever they demand. He would have allowed
them to break up the Union, without objection.
He would have yielded to them in order to Sc
cure peace. What he would do now in the name
of reconciliation, is not difficult to imagine;
for we have already some knowledge of what
p they would demand if they could be restored to
power by electing him president. Col. Savage,
one of his Tennessee supporters, said in speech
last week, that the Greeley movement "means a
rapid countermarch Of the American people to
carry the government back to where it was
when the war began" His ex-rebel and
copperhead supporters all talk in the same
strain; and, in this talk, we can see what they
mean by reconciliation.
There is nothing anywhere to obstruct COM
plete establishment of reconciliation and good
feeling, but the rancorous obstinacy with which
the men represented by this Col Savage refuse
to respond to the generosity of the government
towards them. tits preposterous to talk of ''re-
storing" reconciliation and good feeling, for
these were much more needed before the war
than they are now. What did Mr.. Buchanan's
administration do to secure them? The mood
of ex-rebels and eopperheads, which now binders
the harmony and right feeling which should
exist, is nothing new. 1t caused the rebellion;
it has fought against all reconstruction, which
did not allow it 10 dictate every measure; and it
is rancorous now because it cannot rule and
have its own way. No political device can
change it, although ii may be kept alive and
strengthened by giving it hope of getting con-
troll of the government, Time and experience
alone can effect the needed cure. There was a
time when it was more lordly and violent than
il is at present; there will be a time when it
will disappear; but, it is wicked nonsense in
one of our Greeley exchanges to say, the repub-
liean party has failed to change these men and
transform them into angels. "They have been
at work seven years and have not done it,
This is stupid nonsense; it is contemplate non.
sense; it shows no just appreciation of the
means necessary to change these men and
make them good citizens; it is nothing more
than fraudulent pretence.