National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-02-11

participate H. their muTuerlnS ana lnllml-
dating of political opponents. In this way,
finally, they expect to put the naughty
aristocrats of the South, with the aid of
Northern doughfaces, into that power which
they lost when they began the war for Sc
cession.
These objects once accomplished-as they
readily will be if the present Congress
fails to do its duty by providing means for
the suppression and punishment of this
great conspiracy-their future policy will
be more cruelty proscriptive and more
basely reasonable. The Government will
then be in the hands of ex-Confederates.
The majority in Congress will be composed
of men who represent ultra rebel constitu-
ents. Among the questions presented by
those constituents for the consideration of
their representatives will be the following {:
1. Pensions for their Confederate soldier
constituents.
2. Payment of debts of the late Southern
Confederate Government owned and held
by their constituents.
8. Payment for slaves set free by procla-
nation of President Lincoln, claimed by
their constituents.
4. Payment for seizures and destruction
OF property by the United States troops in
suppressing the rebellion.
5. Reputation of the national debt, in
which their constituents have and can have
no possible pride or interest.
6. Reorganization of all the Southern
States on such a constitutional basis as per-
mits of legal Neutrality-suspicious. at
tempted by force-of the blacks.
1t must be remembered that the heart
and soul of the element in the South to
which we allude is absOrbingly devoted to
a support of these questions, and that they
would then become direct issues in the
election contests, as they are indirect issues
now. The citizen of the South who would
then oppose a candidate for office running
on platform which included these ques-
lions as bid for popular favor, would be
subjected to the same wicked and rigorous
inpositlons as the Abolitionists of ante BEL
lum days were; would be hunted from his
home would be prescribed in every imagi-
nable way, and would, no doubt, be muir
dered if he had the bravery to attempt to
express his opinions in public. In short,
the Slave Oligarchy would be revived with
the firm backing of the Confederate army
behind it.
Would the Northern people submit to
this? Probably not, and before they would
admit TO the Presidential chair a man
elected by such fraudulent means, the pos
sibility of another sectional war would be
discussed. But Nth tho experience of the
last fresh in our memories, Nth the load
Of a great public debt to carry, and Nth
hard times upon us, hoU many Of our pso-
pie could hesitate before taking the first
step to rensw etUH strife. Would not some
other Greeley arise to sag, "Let our Uay-
S0dTd sisters depart in pedce?"
These, gentlemen of Congress who claim
to be Republicans, are the questions you
are called upon to settle within the short
space of the coming three weeks; these are
the threatened prospects you are called
upon to avoid, and these are the response
bilities which rest upon your shoulders
grave esponsibilities-as grave as those
which preceded the beginning of the war
of secession; for they involve the life of
the Republic. The Independent Press
Independent only of loyal and benefcent
influences-may try to teach you that the
people do not appreciate the situation as
being so serious as we have attempted to
portray it. But their teachings ale false
And they laugh in their sleeves as
they see you run away from the
path of duty, afrighted by their ash
nine braying about the Bloody Shirt. The
remedial measures are before you, have
been carefully prepared by eminent and
fearless lawyers of your own political
faith, whose political futures are linked
closely with your own, and demand your
immediate approval. Let us have the yeas
and nays now without delay, and let US
find out at once who are the demoralized
men whose tender skins are covered with
childish goose flesh" whenever the Oppo-
sition press blows its sinking breath toward
them.