Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-01-17
RroPRNTNe THE BLOODY CHAsM.


venomous explosions Of Blaine and the
fierce ~rejoisders Of Hill. Neither party
was prepared for it OF dreamed of such
~rancorous declarations. It was a shock
ing surprise, from whichthe people have
scarcely recovered sufficiently to express
an opinion. The last armed Confederate
signed his parole nearly eleven years
ago.. The passions Of the Northern peo-
ple were then at fever heat and she de-
maud for blood resulted in the execution
of Writ, the Andersonville jailer. The
government had complete possession Of
the country and every man in it who was
charged with any crime was within
the grasp Of the authorities. JeHer-
son Davis was q prisoner, q few
leaders like Breckenridge, Thompson
aud Harris absented themselves from
the country, but soon returned. In the
last ten years the ex-Confederate soldiers
aud their leaders have been as law-abid-
ing and loyal as any other class. They
have mingled fraternally at home and
abroad With those who met them in the
clash of arms; the classes at first ex-
cluded from amnesty have been reduced
until only $50 remain IN the list. So
far as feeling and bitterness are con-
cerned, the war was almost forgotten.
The survivors Of the blue and the gray
have met at National and Confederate
cemeteries to pay honors to their fallen
comrades; the people intermingle as
though they had never been divided, and
in case of q foreign war the government
could rely upon the men of the South to
follow the Stars and Stripes as brsvely
as they fought beneath the Stars and
Bars. If the punishment Of the South
has not been severe enough it was not
the fault Of the Buffers, the Thad Stew
enses, the Hollis, Mortons, Stautons and
Ben Wades, but resulted from the con-
~servative and restraining sentiments Of
Northern men who fought the battles Of
the Union and wanted genuine peace re.
stored in accordance with the terms pro.
posed by Lincoln and advocated by such
men as Horace Greeley. Last yeal
Fitzhugh Lee, Of Virginia, and military
companies from Richmond and Charles
ton, attended the Lexington and Con
cord centennial. and we're Toasted and
banquetted at Boston in the most gene
rous spirit. The centennial era began
last year, and up to this time has beer
productive only of good feeling and q
strong national sentiment all over the
country. As between the masses Of The
people, and especially those who bort
arms during the late war all difference
have long since been adjusted o.
dropped. Yet after the lapse Of ter
peaceful years all the horrors Of the wal
are dug up from its bloody graves anC
held aloft to the gaze Of a horriieC
public By two men whose names werC
never on a muster role, and whose love
for the soldier is measured by the scal'
of political ambition. Mr.. Blaine hai
been in Congress all these long years
without ever showing his fangs at th'
dead Confederacy until nov. His mo
tive is plain. He is an aspirant for tn
Presidency. and being headed of b,
Grant on the school and Known othinI
questions, makes this desperate attemp
to regain bis lost ground BY an appealt'
the dormant ~prejudices and the slumber
ing passions OF the people. he tear
open the wounds Of the war as much t
goad the South into anger as TO ARA
the people of the North together on wa
Issues. That he has missed his puFpos
and fallen short of his aim is not becaus
he lacked in 6endish spirit. When Til
discussion is over and the people hay
tine To reason over it they will diScar
Blaine as a Presidential aspirant wit
contempt. We have a better opinion {
the intelligence and judgment Of the pc,
pie North and South than to think for
moment that they can be sntrapped b
such a ranting demagogpe. Th
Radical papers may howl over it q
much as they please, but there
conservatism, freedom Of thought an
common sense enough in the country
save it yet. Grant has his serious fai
ings, but he has never manifested such
vindictive spirit toward the South as thi
for he was a soldier. AS between Ora
and Blaine, give US Grant for q third ter
or a dozen terms. Mr.. Hill is an ab
man, Of extreme views. His speech W
not fortunate for the South Or the Dem
cratic party. There are dozens Of mi
on the floor who could have answers
in better taste and judgment. The o
politicians brought on the war, kept o
of it four years. and have been fghtir
their battles ever since. It is high tin
for the new generation Of politicians
assert themselves and be felt in the wo.
of putting aside old issues and repairir
the places broken down by the war.
-.n &c CL;.e -.