Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-02-22
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AUG u - Il A.
TUESDAY MORNING. Feb "a. 1879.
THE GREAT REACTION

TIE GREAT REACTION.
A wear ago last Fall the democratic par
,y made large gains in the popular cleo
tons, and succeeded in obtaining ma
iority in the House of Representatives Of
the Forty-tourth Congress. That Congress:
assembled last December, since which
time the democratic party has had oppor
tunity to manifest by its representative.
in the House of what manner of spirit il
is. The exhibition has made profound
impression on the public mind. The I'M
seemly struggle over the election orSpeak-
err; the appointment Of committees by
which the New England and the
Middle States were denied decent
representation while the South and
West were glutted with the best
places. and men of merit and ability
were pushed aside to give room to weak
and inexperienced men; the turning out
of Union soldiers from subordinate posi-
tons in the control of the House and fill
ing the vacancies with rebels and copper
heads: the amnesty debate in which the
rebel cause and government and jeff Da-
Wis were defended and the Union author
tiles slandered; the do-nothing course of
the party in relation to the currency ques-
ton; the determination manifested to re-
imburse the rebels for their losses in the
war and give the South the supreme pow
er over a government which it did all it
could to destroy these and other matters
which have TRANSFERRED since the first Mon
day of December last have had an effect
plainly to be seen and felt all over the
Northern States, creating an immense re-
action against the democracy.
An indication of this reaction is seen in
the heavy republican gains in the city and
town elections which have recently oc-
Cured in Pennsylvania. These gains are
general in the State, showing that the
cause is not local, but wide-reaching-
nothing less than disgust with democracy
and feeling that the republican party
alone can be trusted to guide the ship of
State in these critical times. The same
cause is operating in Maine and in Cali
fornia. Everywhere in the North the re-
dictionary spirit against the democracy is
working to compass its defeat. The cleo
lions to be held within the next two
months in towns. cities and States will all
point one way-towards the overthrow of
the democrats.
Above all other causes tending to
strengthen the republican party and weak
en- the democracy is the exhibition which
the ex-confederates have made in the
House. They have shown themselves an
mated by the spirit Of rebellion. They
have defended the same doctrine Of State
rights upon which they justified their at
tempt to secede and disrupt the Union.
They have slandered Lincoln and Stanton
and glorified the fiend who is responsible
for all the horrors and cruelties of Ander-
sonville-Jeff Davis. They have brought
back to Congress the arrogant. overbear-
ing manners as well as the principles of
the old shareholders. Their purpose is
to win by the ballot what they lost by the
bullet; to trample the blacks under foot,
unite the South on the democratic ticket,
and carry States enough in the North to
enable them to elect democratic Pres-
dent.
1t is a fortunate circumstance for the
country that these ex-confederates have
been induced to put themselves on record.
to exhibit themselves as they really are,
that we may know how to deal with them.
Thanks to ex.Speaker Blaine for this.
Those who were at first inclined to object
to his bold speech arraigning JEFF Davis,
now that they see how essential it was to
a correct understanding of the spirit that
impels the ex-confederates, and how it
has opened the eyes of the North to the
danger Of another rebellion, are confessing
that blaine knew BEST" and giving him
the credit which he deserves for his bold
and mastery stand in defence of the right.
Since the speech of Mr.. Blaine on amnes-
ty the reaction against the democracy has
gone on with irresistible power. and will
continue until the government is again
secured in republican hands by the cleo
tons to occur this year.
TREATMENT OF REBEL PRISONERS
HARD HIT AT A NORTHERN SYAPA-
THIZER WITH REBELLION.
The following article we find in the last issue Of
the Wsterville Mail. 1t is dated West Watervs,
Feb. IA.
~ have read friend Smals article in the last issue
Of the MAIL in answer to the grossly nsinuatng re-
mark of the Advocate" man, concerning the
cenoeipsd opinions held by the north in relation to
the treatment Of union prisoners by the south
and of confederate prisoners by the north Un-
like the Major, was not . prisoner He can, as