The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1875-12-28
THE STARS Axp sAns.

Il
The patriot who left limb upon
Southern battle field, or his health in
rebel prison-pen, must walk the nations
capitol with set teeth and clenched
hands. On every side he sees in the
Unions place and pay, the men who
did their utmost to destroy the Union,
few OF whom ask the forgiveness they
receive, or would fail TO repeat the
bloody experiment of rebellion, were
there hope OF success. The stars and
bars virtually float above the capitol.
The roll OF the Confederate Congress
and OF the officers Of the rebel army
might be called in the House aud
smong its employees, with many re-
spones in the old yell. As one OF their
own number suggests, theConfederates
at last hold Washington. Nearly q
hundred are seated as national legisla-
tors. The Sergeant-at-Arms Of the
rebel Congress keeps the door OF the
House. Its Postmaster was n rough
rider with Jeb Stuart's cavalry, dis
placing Van Buron county soldier,
Henry Sherwood) who gave leg and
almost his life to save the land we love.
Their appointments is almost exclusive
ly OF their own kind. But few OF them
could take the oath that they had not
born arms against the Union. The
chambers and halls OF the great build
ing swarm who little more than de-
cade ago. wore the gray OF treason.
They hold their places, some by the
appointment. all with tho knowledge
and concurrence Of the Democratic ma
jority OF the Honse. Only last Tues
day, n resolution declaring preference
in these appointments for patriots over
traitors. was shelved away by the Dem
ocrats.
The confederates occupy Washington
under Democratic auspices, for settled |
purposes. First, by personal honor
and emolument they seek to repair |
their lsssss in "The Lost Cause" For |
the rest, let one OF them speak for all. |
A Southern leader in conversation with |
q Republican Senator, is reported as
saying this:
''1f the Democrats get into power,
they are going to do four thing"
81. We shall repudiate the Northern |
debt; We are not going to help pay for
heating the ramrod that has burnt our
back.
''2. We are going to make the North
pay for the cotton to the amount OF |
5000, 900, 900, which was taken from
the South at the close Of the war.
''3. We are going to tax the North
for the refunding OF the per cent cot
ton tax.
"a. We are going to levy poll tar
Of from S25 to $50 on every negro in the
South; and We are going to make the
negroes pay this as q partial compen-
sation to the South for emancipation.
Negroes do not understand what i. is
to be free; they don't deserve their
freedom.
We learn in addition that these three
things are on the Confederate pro-
gramme:
"The funding of the war-debts of |
the States which were in rebellion, at |
four per cent interest, and q reduction
Of the interest on the national deb. OF |
the United States to per cent.
"The pensioning Of sick aud wound
ed Confederate soldiers. and Of the
widows aud children of thoso who fell
in defense Of the Lost Cause.
"The Encouragement OF the stars on |
the national flag in st. Andrews cross
as the thirteen stars representing the /
States were arranged on |
the union OF the Confederate flag"
The. mischief is already afoot. On
Wednesday last, Vance. the ex-rebel
Governor OF North Carolina, tried to
secure the passage or a resolution abol- !
ishing all laws which makes loyalty a
precedent TO the payment of
claims. 1t specified particularly the
famous joint reaolution OF 1867, which
is almost the only bulwark against the
Southern treasury-raiders. The DEM
ocrats, instesd Of instantly killing il,
gave 1t another chance by sending it to
a committee. 1t is believed they will
join the Southerners in opposing APP
for pensioning Federal SOL
diers or their surviving relatives, unless
the Confederates are also Included. The /
loyal democrats OF Congress-, the sup
porters of the war are between two
fires, and it is too much to hope that
teey can do their whole patriotic duty
this winter and during the campaign |
that follows. But that some of them |
are pretty thoroughly disgusted with |
the haunting Of the stars and bars,
there is evidence evidence enough. |
Mr.. Holman, OF Indiana, rather vigor-
ously vents his opinion that "they have |
made id pretty Confederate mess
Of this business.