National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-09-29

that they act but from the highest motives.
whatever we may think OF their sanity or
consistency, how is it possible to doubt
their sincerity, or to question the fact from
an entirely opposite tsnd-point, that they
are not wholly responsible for, their opin-
ions, nor the acts which are their logical
ssquencef To believe otherwise would be
to believe that whole communities and
States have willingly and willfully de-
bauched themselves, and gloried in the
knowledge of their infamy and shame.
The dilemma in which the Southern Lead
ers are placed, if we do not admit that men
are not responsible for their opinions and
resultant acts, becomes still mere dreadful
when e look further into recent political
events. The men who left the Union in
such an open and honorable way, as. they
maintain by actions, If not defiantly In
words, because it was no longer fit for
them to live in, rejecting its Offices and
emoluments, and still common advantages
for liberty to rule elsewhere, have come
back in a body 10 assume their old rejected
places, and draw their old salaries with the
old regularity. They come back as of
right They profess no sentimental regard
for the country which-shall we be excused
by them for ssying?-permits them to re-
sumo their old familiar seats. They are
not borne in upon the tide of any Of that
feeling of loyalty to the Government which
produced their recent discontinue. They
would repudiate transportation. upon such
a tidal wave. They return, supported by
the same elements which they controlled
for the destruction of republican institu-
tons. In themselves, their conduct and the
elements of their strength, there is no
maukish disposition evinced to show any
love for the Union. If anything is con-
spicuous in their actions and boasts it is
the old desire and determination to rule,
To this principle they are still consistent.
1t is the cup to them (Which cheers
but not inebriates," we say, little doubt
fully. When the Clerks gavel, like de-
faint drum-tap, calls the next House to
order, the shsmed and Sinking score of
honored by the 'loyal North" may look
over to the eastern side of the Hall and see
four times their number of ex- Confederates,
in phalanx as solid as at Cold Harbor or
chickamauga, exhibiting no more sincere
love of the Union than thnn but flushed vet
with the consciousness ofvictory. rovaad
as any of the war. If those men, so view
ing each other, could clearly recognize
mutual, earnest desire to forget, in right
way, the past, and to join hands as COM
mon, unselfish lovers of q common coun-
try, there would be shout that would
shake the dome, and a thrill of peace
through the weary land which has not
been felt for long. long years. If we could
see that such q feeling was likely to rule
we should be content.
But there are no indications of such
feeling existing, with strength enough to
rule. The South is bagged by that portion
of the Democracy whose sympathies were
and are toward the rebellion, and the
South has to give up nothing in principle,
belief or elements of political support, to
train with that party as of old. Being ire
sponsible for its opinions, Cor how could it
seek and hold the offices it once spurned
and repudiated y though eminently con-
sistent in adherence to them, at the sacri-
fee of anything which might be supposed
to be the good of the people, it will go on
still in ways which are intended to pro-
woke rather than conciliate; and if allowed
to maintain, with the aid of the Northern
Democracy, the power which it has par
tally and shamelessly grasped, will yet
mold the Southern States more in the image
of the ghostly Confederacy than the shin
ing features of free and happy land.