The weekly clarion., 1876-01-19
AN UNTIMELx AGITATION.
a Word 10 Southern Men I'm
Congress.

idential election, we breathe freer now
that the Amnesty Bill has been disposed
Of Thank God for that much We
hope we have seen the last of it for
twelve-month. The bill did not receive
the constitutional two-thirds majority in
the House and will not therefore become
law, but the thing to be rejoiced over
is, that for the present at least, the mat
ter is done with, and Congress can de-
vote its attention to topics more likely TO
exercise an influence for good on the
Presidential election.
1t was a chapter of blunders from be-
ginning to end-from its untimely intro
duction at the present session to its mel
ancholy close-and a blunder at this
stage of the Presidential contest by those
to whom the fortunes and hopes Of the
party of Reform are confided, is equal to
crime.
knowing the eagerness of the unscru-
pulous managers Of the Radical party
to obtain political capital for the pending
campaign; knowing the readiness with
which they would appropriate opportuni-
ties to that end ; knowing that they had
nothing under heaven on which to build
a hope of defeating the Democratic party
in the Presidential election, except re-
/ vival of the sectional issues-the ques-
tions of the war, on which the Radical
party arose and has fourished-and
knowing that the introduction of such
measure by Democrat at such time,
| would furnish the occasion desired by the
desperate demagogues Of that party-we
cannot imagine what prompted Mr.. Ran
dali, who is reputed to be a sagacious
leader, to thrust the subject upon the
House of Representatives, at the time
and under the circumstances. Nor can
we understand why Southern mem
bers, with so little of practical
value to be gained by the passage
of such measure, compared to
the injuries that would result from
/ the opening of the issues that would in
| evitably attend its introduction, did not
interpose their influence, and pray him
to spare their constituents, if not the
whole country, the consequences of such
an agitation. Look at it practically. In
all, there are few hundred persons who
have not been amnestied. For the most
part, to quote the language of Mr.. Davis,
they have shaken hands with politics and
neither desire nor expect Office. But in
the event there were exceptions, the disa-
biIities of such persons would be re-
moved if necessary to the perform
ance of any trust imposed upon them by
the people This has been the case in
every instance. Then what was to have
been practically gained by the passage of
the measure however intrinsicaily Just
and me,itorious Of itself? What good
could possibly have been attained to com
pensate for the vast injury which the ag-
itation of sectional issues upon which the
dominant section is united, and Of diver
sion of the public mind from the real is
sues of the canYass? If we are told that
the measure being just, would have graf
fled sentiment, we reply that we can
not afford TO be sentimental at this stage
Of the game. We must be
practical. 1t will be prudent 10 take
care of the sentimental matters after the
Presidential election has been fought and
won. Until then, we imPlore Mr.. Ran
dali to spare US his gifts. They are we'll
meant, but they are death bearing; they
are imperilling a struggle in which all
the hopes of the unfortunate carpet
bagged States are bound up
The second blunder was the speech of
Mr.. Hill, of Georgia. As Byron's
dreamer said to the spirit, what business
had it there at such a time? 1t was able,
trenchant, eloquent and, in some points,
overwhelming. 1t waS victory of Hill
over Blaine; of the Southern side over the
Northern side ON the topics introduced. |!
But we are lost if many such victories |
are won at the present session by the
'Confederstes, as the Southern Demo- |
cratic Representatives in Congress are
ohrased by their Radical opponents.
No Southern man ought to have per-
nitted himself to be drawn Into sgth
controversy the statements he would be
to make; the expressions he
would be provoked to employ, are pre-
isely the materials alsst needed
or a successful Radical campaign
u the Northern States-are the
hings most needed for diversion of
he mind Of that section from
he extravaganza, corruption and
of the Radical party upon
'hich it has been condemned, and will
Iand condemned if those who are entrust-
d with the management Of the party OPP
osed to it viii only have the sense ,
, let well enough alone. This is no time
,r Northern and Southern men to dis ,
lss the civil war. Let the vindication
the truth of history, 80 far at least as
lie South is concerned, be postponed to 6
more suitable season. By the immense
terests that are staked in the Presiden-
al election, We beseech, We implore the
representatives from the South to bear
at fact in mind.
To show that in sub ubmitting these \
oughts we have not drawn on our i'm !;
,ination and given: a
To airy nothings, ;.