Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-02-08
LIE CONING CONFLICE

Readers OF reports OF the H'le s'oi"y
proceedings in the House over the ciVil
rights bill find in them repetition oil
scenes in Congress previous to the re-
bellion. Again the bad spirit OF the
South. insolent, defiant, born OF slavery
and hating everything and everybody that
stands in the way of its purposes and
wishes. makes itself prominent at the cap
ital of the nation. After the demonstra-
tons of the last week from southern men,
hers of the House, there should be little
need of warning the loyal men OF The
country of the danger into which the
country is drifting. Admonitions upon
this score have hitherto been disregarded'
Suggestions OF second rebellion have
been treated with incredulity. The idea
that there is danger in allowing the dem
ocracy to gain control of the government
has been considered as one originated for
party purposes. The fell spirit of the
South has been covered up under pre-
tence of submission to the government
and appeals for sympathy and compassion.
The North has been kind forgiving. lib
eral. and now we begin to see the fruits
in the re-enactment in Congress of the
scenes which were the prelude to the late
gigantic war.
Can there be any doubt in the mind OF
any sensible man in the country, be he re-
publican or democrat, of the abyss to-
wards which we are tending through the
increase of that power in Congress which
attempted to take the southern States out
Of the Union Do loyal men realize how
great that power has really BECOME In
the next Congress it will control the
House. The rebel vote in that body Will
be majority of the democratic strength
it will control the democratic caucuses. and
the action of the democratic caucuses will
control the House; and SO the rebels Will
control the next House of Representatives.
Few republicans thought while lending
hand TO defea: here and there republican
representatives, that they were aiding to
throw the power of the government into
the hands of those who arrayed them
selves against it in the field of battle.
When warned they laughed at the sug-
gestion of danger. Now we hope they
see they peril 1t is not too late to re-
trieve the error which has been committed
if the republican party will face the foe
with determination. reforming their lines
throughout all the States on the basis OF
loyalty to the Union and equal rights for
all without regard to color or race. Plant
ing ourselves squarely upon tie princi-
pies of the civil rights bill and the integri-
~ of the Union, we shall defeat the rebels
with the ballot in 1876 as we conquered
them with bullets in the rebellion. But
there is no time to lose. We must organize
at once. In the coming spring elections we
must straighten our lines and show unit
ed 'front.' There will be no third party in
the field in this fight Those who are not
with the republicans will be against them.
There will be no halfway ground upon
which any party can stand. Independ-
ents, liberals, and neutrals must take their
position with the republicans or with the
democrats, and unless the signs Of the
times are exceedingly deceitful, they will
cast their lot with the republicans, under
whose banner alone can there be found
safety for the government and the rights
and privileges which it guarantees to
American citizens everywhere in the
Union.