National Republican., 1873-12-02
AN RRA or GOOD rKRIING.

In 4 political point Of view, the ouly note
worthy event In Congress yesterday was the
little episode In regard to Alexander ii. stc-
phcns. The presence Of that gentleman In
the National Legislature Is kind Of an an
achronlsm, aud II Is only natural that ycster-
day he should bc tho cynosurc Of the gal
cries. Twenty years ago Mr.. Stephens was
at the height Of his famo as public man.
In the bloody drama which closed nearly
third Of generation ago he was one Of the
central figures. Holding subordinate posi-
tion TO jefferson Davis, he made the second
Office In the gift Of the Confederate Govern
mcnt almost as important as the first. Tho
North felt toward him q kindness and an
affection that II felt for none OF his asso-
| ciatcs. We looked TO him as q friend,
| who, although rebel OF tho rebels,
an intense State Rights Democrat, was, never
| thcloss, one Of the best friends that the Union
| had In tho inner councils Of the rebellion.
| And when the rebellion camo 10 close In
| the flames OF the Confederate capital; when
\ the whole South was sullcn and dissatisfied,
brooding over Its fancied wrongs, the rank
and filc Of the Coutcdcracy planning local In.
surrection, shooting Yankee teachers, tarring
and feathcring Federal civil officers, the
leaders even more bitter and more rcbellious
than those they led, Mr.. Stephens was plead
ing for peace and reconciliation, accepting
as the phrase went 'the situation" and
bending every effort to bring the two section,
Of the country together upon the new basi
wrought out at the cost Of so much blood and
treasure.
Yesterday was the FIRST time In all these
years that the Republican party, through its
| representatives, had the opportunity 10 show
how II and they appreciate all that Mr.. Ste
phcns has done. Taking everything into
| consideration, the compliment was . rart
one. But Il was not, after all, o compliment
20 much to Mr.. Stephens as an expression OF
kindly feeling toward that section with which
| Mr.. Stephens Is identified. In the polltica
history OF the last eight years the North,
again and again, has extended Its hand to the
south In the same kindly spirit, but ovcry
overture has been spurnod. We have Of
fercd peace aud been answered with
war. Presidents and Congresses, prcssei
\ and public men, have been rnisundcr
stood aud misconstrucd. Buried and for
gotten In the North, the rebellion is rcmcm
bered and pcrpetuatcd In the South, breaking
out In fiery appeals In newspapers, In petit.
social ostraclsm, aud In hundred othe
small and unbecoming ways. The result o
1t all has been to drive trade and capital ava
from the rich and productive section Of ou
country which so sorely needs 1t; to keep tn
south impoverished and backward while tn
East aud the West have advanced with
marvellous rapldlty. How long this cendl
ton OF affairs Is TO last Is one Of the prob
lens Of the future. But the North has tb
satisfaction of knowing and feeling that tn
crime, for 1t Is crime, cannot be laid to 1t
charge. Mr.. Stephens is in Congress re
rcscntativc Southern man Of great abilit.
and genius. Through him tho North ycster
day again extended Its hand to tho South
Let US sec how the overture will be received