Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-03-02
Turn Back the Hands

The following article, taken from
the New York Tribune Of january
18th, has the ring of true Republicans
ism. If the Tribune keeps up these
sledge-hammer blows We may expect
to see it in the Presidential campaign,
where it should have been from the
first, in the front ranks Of the Re
publican column. Il Democracy has
50 far disgusted the Tribune rs 70
cause it to repndate it as unworthy
Of public confidence, what may we
not expect when the loyal millions
speak at the baIlot-box next fall !:
We commend the following article,
"Turn Back the Hands. to the care.
tul perusal OF our readers
"Have we then been counting time
too fast, and must we turn back the
hands upon the dial plate ? It was
pleasant to think, while grass was
growing on The torn battle.feds aud
grain was sprngiug NJ in the ragged
| furrowS of the war, and kindly nature
was at her healing work wherever
| armies marched aud cannon scorched
the plain and graves been dug, that
time was setting US each day further
from the bitter griefs and burning
passions OF that fearful time, quench-
ing the hate it engendered aud mel
| lowing into tenderness the memories
it left us. We did not suppose, we
could not hope, that in every breast
either North or South the fire that
had ragged SO tiercely HAD gone out;
that there was no spark OF passion or
hatred or revengeful feeling left.
We could not in our hopes or expec.
tations draw SO largely upon mans
| tralty for the diyiner quality OF his
nature. We asked OF them no sacr-
tice of feeling or OF opinion, no recan-
tation or confession ; nothing but
that they should recognize the logic
of events, admit that the cause for
| which they fought was lost, the occa.
| sion for succession removed, and eX-
| press willingness TO return to their
allegiance. Nothing dishonorable or
unreasonable was demanded Of them
Ii the victors were magnanmous, the
vanquished were for the most part
manly and frank There was no
| parade of repentance, no affectation
OF regret it ia enough that while
they maintained their pride they ban
lshed resentment. There were OK
ceptions. There were men in South
whom no grace of forgiveness could
touch, no amnesty soften. They were
not great men or brave men they
were the small, mean, and spltetul.
We expected nothing OF them, but
were willing they sh0nld nurse their
venom and miserably live out their
generation We did not dream,
however, that these men On any OF
them would be put forward Is repre-
sentatives of the Southern people, or
that they themselves would have the
assurance to ask Office at the ands
Of the political party Above all, We
could not suppose that any party
would take the responsibility Of
making Them representative by giving
them official positions.
1T seems we were too fast. The
Democratic party chooses for the
Government places i'll its gift men
Nhose venom is proof against kind
ness, who cannot forget to hate, and
who in cold blood and with fore.
thought and deiberation glory in The
work Of murder an give posthumons
honor to an assassin. Here was one
man in all tie South let rs hope in
the name Of humanity there was but
one such-who three years ago, in
1872 or 3, the war having been seven
years closed, the man who forsook the
| Government and took up arms against
it having been pardoneI a1d re-
stored 70 the privileges they had for
teited, and an era of reconciliation
been opened who at such a time and
under such circumstances gave to his
own helpless child name for that
child to bear through all his future
life, and bearing it 70 show p all the
world its fathers undYing hatred for
4 government that had pardoned him
MS Kissing malignity to the memory
| Of great and tender hearted man,
who had never harmed him, and lis
| reverence for an assassin whose name
only survives by its intamy. Think
Of it for a moment What kind Of ?
man must he be who do"e'e ms Just
| horn ch;ll Win the name OF John
wilkes Booth Does it in the cold
est of cold blooI, with delberation
and not upon impulse. Seven years
after the commission OF the murder
which sent thrill of horror through
All the South as well as through the
North a murder so horrible that in
the very white heat Of the war, when
the passions of men were at their
angrest pitch, no decent man any
where did other than denounce it as
most infamous crime--thls man
calmly fasteus on his own poor help
less infant the murderer's name.
This was not illocy ; though il seems
incredible that It should be done by
a person Of ordinary intellect and IN
| LeIiI1eHGS- II vas .jN71 NHAt - "t8i-
ity beastly cruelty The man who
could approve Of the assassination Of
Mr. Lincoln would be just such
monster as to curse his own flesh and
blood and make such christening
and make his child the instrument for
carving over to the next generation
the badges Of bis fathers shame.
Poor chill to be thus fea.hercd and
thus handicapped Tor life.
"And now, there being such man,
such patriot, such q citizen, and
such a father, where DO we find him /:
Ask Mr. Morrison, Chairman Of Ways
and Means, leader Of the Democratic
party in Congress. lie found him
and appointed him clerk Of his com
mittee, where he draws pay from the
/ Government he 50 lovally supports.
Ask Mr.. Michael c, Kerr. the Demo
cratic Speaker Of the House, who