Daily Kennebec journal., 1875-04-08
PAYING THE REBEL DEBT.

Is it not little too bad for the Journal to at
tempt 70 impose upon its readers the long ago ex-
ploded nonsense about the assumption of the reb-
el debt by the general government. 1t must credit
its readers with exceedingly short memories if it
thinks they do not know that such a scheme as it
contemplstes barred out by constitutional amend
mcnts, and that before such thing could happen
the consent Of three quarters OF the States OF the
Union would have to be obtained. Such utterly
ridiculous and absurd utterances are hardly cred
table to the management Of the leading organ Of
the party in the Stste.-Lewiston Gazette
We are willing to credit the Journal with large
amount Of stupidity but we don't believe there is q
person connected with that establishment, from
"boss" to "devl," who is stupid enough to believe
one word Of this silly twaddle about purpose on
the part Of the democratic party to pay the rebel
debt, pay for emancipated slaves, and pension reb
el soldiers. s*s In vain do democrats deny any
such purpose, in vain do they point to constitution
sl provisions rendering it impossible; in vain do
the paid organs Of the administration persist in
itsrstng them. They know there is no founda-
ton for these charges and are guilty of deliberate
lying every time they utter them.-Maine Stan
ddrd.
It is very easy for democratic papers to
accuse rs of falsehood and misrepresenta-
tion. but not so easy to Prove it. Perhaps
they believe their assertions when they
charge US with speaking falsely. Perhaps
they honestly think that the assumption of
the rebel debt by the government is so
barred by the constitution as to be an i'm
possibility, and that if it were not the DEM
ocratic party never would take tho respon-
sibility Of fastening such load of debt
upoa the government. We have no doubt
that many northern democrats consider
the assumption of the rebel debt an absur-
dity, but not so the southern democrats
and the northern doughiaces who follow
their southern masters, lead. The south
ern democrats not only believe the scheme
right, but feasible. They not only claim
as JEFF Davis did in his recent letter that
the war on the part of the South was
struggle "fer State Rights and the su-
premacy of the Constitution, but they are
of opinion that if the southern States can
be united in support of the democracy they
can secure the necessary aid in the North
to carry out their plan.
Already there is scheme afoot and
publicly declared 10 accomplish this very
object. 1t is the scheme of Governor
Walker of Virginia. announced just pre-
vious to his retirement from the Execu-
tive chair of that State, in letter to the
legislature. Now when such men as Gov
ernor Walker, prominent leader of pub
lie opinion in the South and q member
elect of Congress, boldly moves for the
assumption OF the debts Of the rebel States,
it is rather harsh to say the least for DEM
ocratic papers to accuse us of lying when
we assert that such step is in the demo-
cratic programme, and not very sensible
for them to pronounce the scheme absurd
when it is brought forward by Mr.. Walker.
one of the ablest and most influential DEM
ocrals in the country. This subject was
recently discussed thoroughly in an able
article in the Chicago Tribune, the major
part Of which We copy for the benefit of
those who are Ignorant of the plans and
purposes of the democracy, and liable to
be deluded by the statements of democrat
ic papers in this part of the country.
just before Gov. Walkers retirement from the
Executive chair Of Virginia, be sent letter to
the Legislature, in which he submitted, for the
consideration of the whole country, two PROPOSE
tions, distinct in character, but harmonious in
their general result. These propositions were l..
The assumption and payment by the United
States Government Of all the existing legal in
A
tionsl smeadment prohibiting the creation Of fu-
ture indebtedness by the States. These two pro-
positions he urged in an elaborate argument, and
upon this platform be sought and was elected to
Congress, in which body be win probably become
= leading and directing mind among bis partisan