The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-16

not think il "superAuous to point out
that the only valuable contributions TO the
discussion of the state of affairs IN
Louisiana have thus far come from the re-
publican members of Congress, and that no
democrat has made speech worthy to be
mentioned the same day with that of Senator
Carpenter. not over bright democrat might
retort that, inasmuch as the republican men,
bers had contributed 80 largely to the early
history of this fragrant State wrong 1t well
became them to be earnest aud lively In
bringing it to less disgraceful conclusion
What the people Of the country will want to
know is-now that Congress is officially
advised that no government having shadow
of legality exists in one of the States OF the
Union-what is Congress going to DO
about it3 Will it redress the wrong and
obiterate o precedent dangerous to all the
States, or leave it to tester in open derogation
of the claims of political justice2 The telling
speech of the Senator from Wisconsin Is
worthy of all praise. not because 1t was
brilliant, but because it unearthed the truth
and revealed to the public ''monstrosity" OF
incredible proportions. Time was, when the
country was still smarting under the hot blood
of a hateful internal war, that military and
reconstruction necessities were silently left by
the people to supplement the constitution
and the law in the framing Of measures
of government. Men began to believe
that in the order of nature and the
interests of nations and societies some period
should be put to the most exasperating wars
and that at last q great government should
be run in the grooves of craftsmanship, and
not wholly in the interests of party. It may
be very agreeable thing for the admins
trtion party to hold Louisiana in the dust
while usurpers degrade her citizenship and
plumber her substance; but it is none the less
crime against the general liberty. A true
craftsmanship never had 80 abused that State,
and so through common sympathetic interests
wounded the whole 1t is not because New
York is powerful in wealth and population,
and commanding in position and influence,
that the Louisiana cup may not be forced to
her lips. France went to sleep one night free
and woke up to find master. Despotism is
thief in the night, and her chains are forged
of circumstances, and sometimes under the
very eye of vigilance. We believe that the
key of the political situation just now is to
abandon the rule of partisanship and to enter
boldly upon the broad highway of statesman
ship in the administration Of the federal gov
eminent. Barbarian kings and conquerors
might have taught our leaders wisdom and
common sense on this subject. After
people have been worried and wearied and
torn by domestic war the first prepa-
ration Of peace is to bind up its
wounds, assuage its passions and restore
its strength. Rome comprehended this policy
far better than our christian statesmen of
this era. No sooner had she conquered
province than her first step was to bind it to
the capital by every tie Of pride, interest and
physical creation. The humblest barbarian
captive was allowed to hold up his head and
say, 81 am Roman citizen" and soon he
could march to the capital of his country over
one OF those marvellous stone highways which
were made the ribs of Roman strength by
that wise people, Rome did not need nine
years of passionate agitation and empirical
craftsmanship to compose the warm blood
and define the policies growing out of state
of war. If she beat an enemy, with the true
chivalry of craftsmanship she held out her
hand and said, "You have fought well let us
be friends!" And then, as before the breath
of clear norther, ranking discontents and
smothered enmities we're blown away, leaving
behind pure and generous atmosphere
most favorable to the healing processes of re-
construction. We suppose that none will
deny that the highest interests in this
country are to be found is ths resto.
ration of harmony as complete as
human nature is capable of among oil
these forty confederated States. Were it
otherwise the late war was both crime
and fraud. It was for the preservation of
that harmonious union that the United States
proclaimed to the world that it took up arms
This being true, too, the interest of New York
and Of Louisiana in the harmony Of the
Union are equal in effect, and differ
only in relative degree. 1t follows that,
until Louisiana is as free and as privi-
legged and protected by law as New York
is, the late terrible war was waged with
out effecting the result it was designed to
bring about Then, is not Louisiana stand
ing and disgraceful monument of the failure
of the craftsmanship and the armies in the
most fierce and destructive war of modern
times2 General Grant is surely right when
he warns his party that it has ''mon-
strosities" that it must UNLOAD OF it's
peril. Then let the republican Congressman
not halt at smart speeches The public de-
mands more and will not be satisfied with
less You must unrivet and knock off the
chains from the limbs Of o sovereignty that has