Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-01-22
The south and th. Recent Debate.

To the unprejudiced apd patriotic Amer
lean mind nothing could seem more sadden-
ing, nothing be more iamentabIe than the
tenor OF recent discussions In the House upon
the amnesty and centennial bills. They have
acted upon the centennial horizon as a dark,
threatening clord over holiday sun, and a
ruthless raid, as IL were, has been made upon
the patriotic sentiment OF the country, that
sentiment of peace and fraternity between
"the blue and the grey" so happily inaugu-
rated at Bunker Hill, and which we hope
may yet be contaminated at Philadelphia.
Whatever may be urgel on either side, OF
the policy of Mr.. BIaine's attack upon JEFF
feTson Davis, there can be no Doubt OF this
fact: that IL would not have had one
hundredth part of the effect Il has pro-
duced had IL met with its only reply
In the liberal sentiments OF Mr.. Banks.
The ability and eloqGencs developed In
the reply OF Mr.. Hill and in a suose-
quent speech OF Mr.. Tucker on the Gen.
tennial bill, are OF a kind fatal in the ex
treme TO southern interests. They had far
better be represented by blookheads. or wise
men of silence, than such brilliant, fiery and
needless heroes of the forum. And here Is
where the lesson to the south should hinge.
We read where its journals are landing these
efforts, and the sentiment is common that at
last they have men in the National Councils
who can do them justice. Alas Tor our SOUTH
ern friends, If they consider such Impas-
stoned defamation prerequisite to the at
tainment of justice! II they need Justice,
which is, after all, but another term for full
political eDjoyments, they can never get it
by championing the irresponsibility OF JEFF
ferson Davis or any of the "Confe teratep
authorities In connection with the un-
speakabIy sad history OF Audersonville, or
Wanting in council OF the brave deeds
OF dead heroes, which have never been de-
MED, but, on the contrary, acknowledged
and applauded all over the country. Our
southern friends must remember that the
verdict consummated at the seaffold of
Wira was sOlemnly affirmed by the entire
northern people, and that affirmation can
never be changed save by that silence that
marks the current to oblivion. The north
and south will never agree upon this point,
and any argument at Justification on the
part OF the latter, just leads us back eleven
years over the road already travelled towards
peace and fraternity. Our friends must also
remember that the political revolution OF
November, 1874, was not a victory of those
who wished 10 justify the south for her acts
during the war, so much as of those who
doubted the wisdom of the policy pursued
towards her since the war. This has, we
think, been abundantly proven by the re-
suits of tn recent debate. From the senti-
ments OF the northern people as reflected
through heirpress-especially the iudep end
ent portion of tive should judge that the
south has touched some of the bitterest chords
in some of the friendliest hearts it had In
the north. II seems indeed a pity that so
easy a lesson should be so hard to learn
But IL has been "missei" again Just after
the "Oh year." and our southern brethren
must prepare for another four years walk
over the path toward perfect reconciliation
and national harmony.