The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-01-15
EFFECT OF THE AMNESTY DE-
RATE


d ilged in regarding what effect the Bit
t,r debate on amnesty. which has just
been concluded in Congress-, will have
upon the future prospects of parties in
the Presidential campaign. All con-
denim .BLAINE's course, but regard
ing HILLS speech, opinions differ,
some claiming that he did just
right and struck home, while others fear
that he was too Incorporate, and his re-
marks would be conducive to evil. We
incline to the former opinion. 1t is not
in human nature for man situated as is
Mr.. HILL-one who was not only allied
prominently with the late Southern Con-
iederacy, but who was from the very
State where the celebrated Anderson
Vile prison was-to sit down quietly un-
der u storm Of Invective from Mr..
BLAINE which he (HiLL) knew was I'M
iustiiable. Yet though he evidently felt
deeply what be wanted t. say; though he
had facts and figures to
cite land which he did cite
To prove the recklessness
OF Mr.. BLAINE's charges, and though he
states facts which will make large por-
tion of the civilized world open its
eyes, yet with it all, he only said what
WAS evidently the truth, and his eloquent
conclusion, when he paid glowing tri-
butte to the gallantry of the soldiers of
the North who had fought, and declared
that he was forever and unalterably OPP
posed to anything like secession again
must convince any fair minded man
that, unlike BLAINE, what he spoke!did
not proceed from sectional hate, but
merely from u desire to do
his section and his constituents justice.
This the people will in time
appreciate, and no injury to his party
can result theretrom.
But, on the other hand it is very
different with Mr.. BLAINE. He must
work great damage to his party. For
Mr.. BLAINE himself is prominent can
didate for the Presidency, and that he
has large following is evident by the
ease with which he controlled the Radi-
cal delegation in the lower House. Now
one of two things must be true. He has
either destroyed his chances fer the nomi-
nation, or he has strengthened them
What will be the result in either case?
If he has destroyed them, then. of
course, his followers will be dissatisfied
They will regard him as a badly treated |
Spairiot," who deserved recognition at
the hands OF his party. This will be
source of decentralization which will |
prove fruitful seed of internal discord.
OF course, the result must be detrimental
TO the Radicals, and advantageous to the
Democracy.
Again, il he has strengthened them, it
Is clear indication that the Pres
identisl campaign is TO be fought
on issues of hatred and war As the
Herald expresses it, the Republican
party Is to feed upon "the carcass OF the
rebellion 1t is manifest, inasmuch as
il has been proven by facts, that there
are thousands and thousands of people
who are sick and tired of war. A
spirit of reconciliation certainly does
pervade the masses, especially, as Nr.
HILL says, those who took their lives in
heir hands and fought for what they
believed to be right. These will never
to be led by the nose by those
politicians who stood SO far of from the
field of battle during the contest
hat they never knew even the smell of
who enjoyed themselves In
heir cushioned chairs, over bright fires,
while the bone and sinew were exposing
to hardships, suffering and
ieath. These latter are willing to shake
hands over the bloody chasm, but are
unwilling that those luxurious
who wax so valorous now
hat all danger is passed, shall
y keeping open old sores, appeal
uccessfully to their prejudices to keep
in power and position. Hence 4,
rom whatever standpoint we view the
uestlon, Generalization awaits the Re-
ublican ranks, and the prospects OF the ]
emocracy are proportionally bright