Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-02-19
N-HO GAINED TIL LIC7ORT :

To tie Editor ofMe Hennebee Jo4r.al
Rejecting upon the recent events in Congress,
when the Numbering embers Of treason again
brightly glowed when member from Texas, and
another from Kentucky let fly their long suppressed
feelings in no unmistakable language, when in the
United States Senate member, Bayard of Della
ware, standing in his place declared, That Gen.
Sheridan was not fit to breathe the air of tree
republic" when the next House of Representa-
tives in the National Congress, viii contain eighty
five members who officers Of the late, so
called, confederacy, while but twenty-five who
fought for the maintenance of the Union have
been elected to that body when the popular
branch of the government is about to pass over to
the hands of those who ten years ago were in
armed treason against the life OF the nation and
their sympathizers; may we not well raise the in
quiry, "Who gained the victory in the late con-
test :"
Twelve years ago, what would have been thought
of the man who had predicted this state of things
SO soon: He would have been regarded as either
a mailman or fool, yet to-day, whoever will
stop and look about himself will find all this tran
spring.
While Northern dough-faces have been going
up and down the land shouting reconciliation and
amnesty Southern democratic politicians have
been laughing over sach pusillanimity, and cum
ningly plotting to gain politically all they lost at
the surrender They now mean to overthrow the
political system of the country, for to-day the
spirit of Frank Blar's celebrated Broadhead letter
of '6S, is burning in the bosoms of leading men,
bers of the democratic party, North and South
They openly declare, in conversation, that the
negro never ought to have been enfranchised. and
that the reconstruction laws passed since the war,
are wicked and fraud.
Add to all these things the fact, that more than
four thousand have been killed and wounded. in
| the single State Of Louisiana during the past
| eight years, because they were Union men, ant
| voted the republican ticket, while the assassins
their murderers, go unpublished, and it seems tc
me the time has fully come for loyal people tc
open their eyes.
Where are the "Boys in Blue" OF '6S lie,
them hunt up the old capes and torch-lights, foi
they are again needed. Yop who fought with
Phil Sheridan. when he won in the cause Of liber-
ty some of the proudest victories ever known in
warfare remember that the same man and party,
that declares SHERIDAN is not fit to breathe the
air of the republic" would from the same spiri,
Danish the last Of you from the land, if they
could
"Let US have peace" which can only be achieved
by showing to all dsloyal elements, that while we
are willing and magnanimons enough to forgive
all past offences, before surrender the future
to those so recently in rebellion, we must have
some guarantee by way of good behavior and re-
pentance, that all laws of the land shall be main
tanned inviolate, and that every citizen Of every
nature shall have equal rights under said laws.
The loyal people of the country have large
majority upon their side; no one for moment
will doubt that.
The ballot must now finish the work, which it
can successfully accomplish provided the masses
appreciate the situation, before it is too late, as
once in our history, has been the case. Having
psrdoned those who participated in the wckedest
rebellion the world ever saw, is it anything more
than justice, now to demand good behavior from
them for the future No more Ku-Klux. No
more armed White Leagues. No more numbering
Of men for political opinions sake. Whosoever
tails to comply with all the laws of the republic
let him feel the strong right arm Of the govern
Inent in the most speedy manner
Feb 18th, 1875. AUTHORIZATIONS.