Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-03-13
LEDGER.
NJ
Monday Evening, March Is, 1875.
RADICAL TACTICg.

Inc hCRuoASono OAC ootOutohCa thot
anybody should hold their party respon.
sible for Belknap's corruption under the
shadow of the national capitol. Yet
Morton and all their leaders and papers
refer to the wild half insane utterances
ofBob Toombs, of Georgia, as an author.
lied exposition OF Southern sen'
timent. The greater part Of MOI
toms speech the other day in
the Senate when Gordon replied
was directed in reply to q speech made
BY Toombs some time since ct Atlanta.
Toombs represents nobody but himself,
controls no votes at home, and could not
be elected TO any Office in the South.
Gordon, in his reply, said with truthful
ness and force: However, as my hon
orable friend suggests, if the privil-
ege of thrusting these issues
into all discussions we're taken from
the Senator, we should deprive
him Of all his stock in trade. 1t is to
me, sir, a melancholy reflection that
however sincere a Southern Repre-
sentative may be, however single his pur-
pose to serve the best interests Of his
country, no argument is so potent with
the Senator from Indiana when it suits
his purpose as a reference to the great
crime Of rebellion" The policy Of the
Republican party is to answer all charges
of fraud by counter charges against the
crime of secession. The sins Of the
South committed from 1860 to 1865 just
ify them in robbing, not only the freed
men, the soldiers and sailors and widows
and orphans, but the whole country to
sustain a reckless and proAigats admins
tration. If a Democrat from the South
however honest, rises in his seat to re-
buke official stealing or tyranny, he is
jeered at ss a rebel, whose
crime is that be came out of
a political Nazareth. If a North
ern Democrat says anything to the
discontinue of the corrupt dynasty at
Washington, he is tainted as an ally Of
rebellion. That is the Radical answer
for all charges and arguments. The
bloody shirt, though torn to tatters, il
the battle-Aag Of the party in power.
Another strong point with the Republi.
cans OF the Blaine and Morton stripe is
that the Southern Democrats are in Con-
gress by the sufferance Of the other side.
l f'this we're actually so they would not
hold their seats an hour, and the downfall
Of Belknsp would never have been permit.
ted. The admission of Southern Repre-.
sentstiyes was in accordance with the
theory Of Mr.. Lincoln and al the great
leaders on the side Of the Union. II
would not be either a political Union in
the eyes Of the world or commercial
and social union at home il the South
we're excluded from representation in
Congress. The party in power dared
not make such an issue. Senator With
ers, Of Virginia, in this same discussion
on the 10th inst, remarked: II would
remind Senators who are so fond oftaunt
ing us with the position that we then &C
cupied, and OF reminding US that we arr
here simply on su1erance and by the
clemency and magnsnimity Of the Re.
publican party, that it is held in ethicI
and in merals hat a benefit conferred
when the beneficiary is constantly taunt
ed with it, ceases to be q benefit" Il,
said further: II believe that we we're per
mitted to come back here to carry out th,
thesry upon which the Republican part,
fought the war-that secession was i'm
practicable, that it wss not authorized
and that the unity of the government
had never been impaired by the seees
sion of the Southern States" Sue
statssmanlike arguments Of course ar
lost upon the majority in the Senat
and the leaders of the party. Messrs
Gordon and Withers might as we'll sin
psalms to lull a northwestern gale as b
deal in logic, reason and facts With Ties
fanatics. One thing only will bring Their
to their senses, and that is the pruning
knife of reform in vigorous hands an
the voice of the people at the bsllot-bo1