National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-04-13

ever, that Southern citizenss less honest
than men of his kidney, have abandoned
their promises and pledges 70 bury the
theory Of secession out Of sight and TO &C
cept as the main conclusion Of the war sn
agreement that the General Government
shall In the future be acknowledged as su-
perior TO State authority. Instead of faith
fully keeping those promises, we find the
political leaders of the South, who &C
cepted them as the terms of their surrender
engaged in efforts to restore State rights
clauses in their State constitution, This is
simple perfidy. 1t is treason renewed and
doubly disgraceful, because it is linked with
the crime of ingratitude. But this is net
all. Mr.. Wallis presents only one side Of
the case. He might have said that in Bal
timore and everywhere throughout the
South, ex- Confederates hold that to be dis
loyal is 'to pass into the communion OF
the saints, and to be loyal is ''to forfeit in
"the act the prestige Of the loftiest and
"purest life" He cannot deny that in his
own citv and State respectable citizens who
entertain sincere convictions in opposition
to those of the majority are subjected 20
public and private ostracism and to political
and social persecution. In other sections
of the South they are assassinated for the
same reasons, and intimidated to the extent
Of being deprived of the enjoyment of the
rights of citizenship.
1t Is natural that the defeated party in
such contest as our civil war should be
overwhelmed with bitter memories and feel
keenly the results of disaster; but II was to
be expected that a proud, heightened,
chivalrous people, such as the ex-Confede-
rates claim to be, would consclentiously
and scrupulously observe the letter of the
obligation incurred by their surrender.
But above all things it was to be expected
they would abstain from the malignant
SANDERS of such men as President Grant,
General Sherman and General Sheridan, of
which they have been so profusely guilty.
We repeat that no respectable '1oyal" au-
thority has ever debased itself by traducing
the character of General Lee. On the con-
trary, every Christian virtue claimed for
him by his followers and admirers, with
every element of leadership and soldierlY
ability, has been generously conceded. He
had no opportunity to show his capacity as
a civil leader, but even that has been ad-
mitted, and to-day, while the Northern
people pointedly regret his acts of treason,
they yield to him warm acknowledgment
of the honesty of his convictions. When
Senator Ransom, of North Carolina, paid
the most feeling and eloquent tribute to his
memory on the floor Of the Senate, not one
word was uttered in contradiction Of that
eulogy. On the contrary, the acknowl-
edged leaders of the Union party remained
quiet in their seats while the rebel chieftain
was exalted, and while former rebels as
sailed the character of the President,
threatened his impeachment, and charged
him with the grossest corruption. This
was simple magnanimity, respect for the
dead, and generous recognition
Of the woes of the vanquished. At the
same time the Union press of the country
deVotes space almost without limit not only
to praise of Gen. Lee, but to arguments to
show that as an American soldier his life
reflected credit upon the American people.
How is it with the Opposition? The South
ern journals are filed with lying statements
and scandals, not only about Grant, Sher-
man and Sheridan, but about Union leaders
of every grade and class. They, who were
so magnanimous at Appomattox and Green's
boro. are described as military tyrants.
Sherman's march to the sea" is constantly
upheld as an Offset to his subsequent con-
ciliatory endeavors; while President Grants
noble and generous policy at the close of
the war is forgotten in the animosities which
have been engendered by his determined
efforts to prevent the Southern malcontents
from laying the foundation for another re-
bellion.
These are the undeniable facts of the
case, and Mr.. Wallis failed to do his duty
as a public orator when he neglected to
state them. His object, however, was to
please an audience composed of people who
yet believe in and would fight for the Lost
Cause, and who do believe that 8 man is
both mentally and morally worse because
he sincerely thinks that State rights doc
trines are reasonable. He accomplished |
that object and stands confirmed as the |
chronic orator of the Monumental City.