National Republican., 1873-11-22
GENERAL suCKLRs.

The New York World yesterday prints o
mean and cowardly attack upon General
sicllcs, our Minister TO Madrid. General
Slckles Ia the course Of his life has done some
things which we do not care TO defend. His
enemies will say that he has been guilty Of
grave crimes but In the record Of his latter life
he has washed them all away, and without in
the least rejecting upon any Of our other
Ministers abroad, we have no hesitation in
saying that he Is one Of the trucst Americans
and best Republicans who to-day represents
the American Republic at foreign Court.
We do not use the word Republican In mere
party sense. We mean by 1t that he Is an
American Democrat, devoted to the truest
and purest democratic feeling and aspiration.
And here Is just where the grievance Of
the World comes In. Mr.. Sicklcs was one Of
the numerous leaders Of the old Democratic
party who left that organization In the early
days Of the war because of Its treason and
in6delity to the principles and theories upon
which our Government rested. Gen. Butler
Is another. These two men the World, and,
following It's leadership, the lesser organs of
the party have since pursued with q merci-
less vengeance and a malignity of purpose
history. The copperhead organ Of
the Democracy cannot forget or forgive
that while Its editors were being imprisoned
for treason and disloyalty in New York city
Ben Butler was tanning the rebels Of New
Orleans, and Dan Sickles was leading q gal
liant charge at Gettysburg. These two men,
upon every occasion, IN season and out Of
season, have been singled out for abuse aud
denunciation, and all because they would not
stand by 1t when 1t was fighting the battles
Of the rebellion In the rear, melting draft
riots, magnifying rebel interests and sup
porting candidate for the Presidency upon
the platform Of the war o failure.
The World makes great and grave mis-
take now. There are few men In the country
who have given more substantial aid and as
sistance to tho cause Of republicanism at
home and abroad than Daniel Z. Sickles. II
was to him, Of all the foreign representatives
In Madrid that CASTELAR, and the republicans
Of Spain turned for counsel and assistance
when they came together 10 lay the foun-
dalton of their young republic. And 1t
is because of that fidelity and devo-
ton to truo democracy that Carlist Or
gans demand his peremptory dismissal and
Carllst mobs surround his house In Madrid,
threatening his assassination, precisely the
same as the organs Of the old pro-slaveyy and
royallst faction In the United States, so far
rs we could be royalists, are assasslnatlng
his character. These brutal, cold and
cowardly attacks will defeat themselves and
cover with ignominy their authors. General
Slcklcs to-day has the entire confidence Of
the American people, and not an American
who loves his country, and is jealous Of her
honor and reputation who docs not rejoice
that he is onr Minister at Madrid.
THERE is AN OLD PRovERB that kisses 20
by favor. II ought to be changed into
Justice goes by favor, at least In the city Of
was found guilty Of crimes the penalty Of
which was the penltentiary, amid the ap-
proving shouts OF all that Is honest and re-
speetablc in the republic. An upright judge
sentenced him to jail, but q generous sheriff
interyenes and sets him at liberty. To be
sure he Is under mock Imprisonment at his
house, where he Ia arranging his papers"
instead Of al the Tombs with the criminals,
TO whom he belongs 1t would indeed seem
In visw Of tho Stokes case, and score OF
others, that We have one law for the rich and
another for the poor, one law for the humble
rascals and another for the great ones.
TnE New York Tribune advocates an In
crease Of taxation "as the only plan by
which, under existing circumstances, the
currency can be saved from further deprecia-
ton and the country protected from repe-
tiiion Of the rulnous speculation and demor-
allEation which followed the war;" The ad-
Vice OF the Tribune reminds one OF the old
story OF the Fall To be sure there may be q
little sarcasm In It's suggestion; but Congress
might take II at It's word, and throw a little
plore OF the burdens OF the war and the re-
suits of tho war upon the stock-gambling
gentlemen In whose Interest that journal u
now conducted and by whom II Is owned,