The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-01-21
Friday. January a 1876.
A Republican View of Blaine q Co.
From the Sc. Louis Republican.


The Boston Adverttser, the leading Re-
publican organ of New England, makes
the following exceedingly sensible remarks
on the am lesty business,
''Mr. Davis is withcu power OF influence
among his own people He is approach
ing an age, too, when it will be of little ac-
count to him, pers onally, what exceptions
may be taken to him in the course of leg
islation. He is nothing. The country is
everything. 1t includes Mississippi and
Louisiana as we'll as Maine and Massa-
chusetts. The union between them is now
supposed to be perfect They ara held to-
gether by the two bonds Of sentiment
and of organic law But the bond senti-
ment may be easily broken, and in that
event the legal bond will be of little value,
From his official position during the rebel
lion, Jefferson Davis became historically
its representative. Whatever stigma the
government Of the United States put upon
him, unless it is put there for other cause
stated and lawfully proved, would be
equally stigma upon the people who made
their servant. That is not statemanship.
lt is not patriotism.
Mr.. Blaine and his friends would make
the country believe that the amnesty bill
was designed exclusively for the benefit of
few hundred ex-confederates in general,
and Mr. Davis in particular. This is not
true The bill was intended to wipe ou> a
reproach which, whether justly incurred
or not, is source of annoyance and irrita-
ton to the southern people. To the north
it make little difference whether these men
Ire restored to citizenship or not. To the
south it makes great deal of differ
ence, because every southern man feels
that the disfranchisement is punishment
for offences committed as his representa-
tive. Now if the south was recognized as
conquered province and its people as a
conquered race universal amnesty would
be mere question of expediency, But as
the south has resumed her old place in
the union, ana the southern people been
assigned to their former relations with the
northern people; as We are one country
and one family, why retain anything which
tends to keep alive the memories Of those
dismal days when we were discordant anG
bilig3rent? The Republican party has
boosted 50 long aud so eloquently of The
complete restoration of the union that the
Democrats in the house can hardly b,
blamed for believing the hattering tale anC
acting in accordance herewith. Thei
mistake was in accepting a lie for tn,
truth in crcditing the Republican leader
with an honest purpose to heal the wound
of fraternal war; in thinking that tn
peace and prosperity of the land was O
more account in Republican enthusiasm
than political clap trap and capital.
If Mr. Davis had been amnested am
proceeded at once to stir up all the mis-
chief possible, he could not, in the balanc
of his lifetime, have aroused half the SEE
tional animosity which Blaine 4 Co. Eav
kindled in week The Advertiser say
that their course lis not craftsmanship,
not patriotism" 1t might have said, wit
equal truth. that this course was yer
mean exhibition of very mean partisanshil
and that Blaine& Co. are nothing more q
Jess than public enemies.