Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-01-27
The Sentiment of the North.

The people of the North are earnestly
DESTROYS OF sincere and complete nationa
reconciliation. They have insisted upon
equal and exact justice. but not humilia-
ton. They have demanded adequate and
permanent security, but not degradation
Their first great duty after the war was to
establish the foundations of the restored
Union upon a sure and lasting basis and to
guarantee full protection TO the wards OF
the nation. Every step they have taken
in dealing with the South has had tins ob-
irct in view. Al have aimed at security
mot 4 single one at punishment.
With this spirit republican Government
aud a republican Congress have arraigned
10 man for treason. They have pursued
the greatest crime in the history of free
government with no bloody retributions
They have treated no subjueated territory
a. i conquered province. They have dealt
with no rebel as an enemy. To the great
body OF the Southern people. they prompt
Iv restored full citizenship. To every Lead
er who asked for amnesty, they freely gave
it. When it came TO the stupendou> prob
lem of dealing with tie two classes OF
slaves and masters. they lifted the one up
and did not drag the other down. They
opened the ballot-boX aud the very doors
Of the Capitol itself to the men who had
been in arms against the Union. Through
their maguanimity more than eighty Of the
rebel leaders now sit Is lawmakers for the
nation they attempt TO destroy. All they
sought was security for the future, and
having provided for that. so far as law can
provide for it, they wanted TO let the differ
ences of the war pass away and enter in
good faith upon new era offraternity and
harmony.
But in this desire and readiness for rec
onciliaton, they expected to be met at
least half way by the element to whom they
had shown such generosity. They did not
expect that the men who were indebted to
the leniency ef the nation for the very
seats they occupied would avail themselves
Of that clemency to glorify secession and
70 denounce the representatives of the Tn
ion. They did not suppose thar their mod
Grafton would be followed by such 4 reas-
ser,ioa OF the rebellion. The people of the
North are willing 10 let by-goues Ice by
cones. luey would gladly celebrate thi,
centennial year with a national outporing
OF fraternity and fellowship. But they dc
not propose to falsify history or let il be
is-tied they do not mean 10 acknowledge
that they were wrong and the rebel, right :;
they do not feel disposed to remain silent
While Jefferson Davis is exalted on the
floor Of Congress above Abraham Lincoln
and while the conduct of the war on our
side Is pronounced more atrocious than on
the other; in word, they do not accept
reconciliation as signifying generosity on
the one part. aud the declaration Of the old
spirit on the other.
None will 90 farther than the men of the
North in clasping hands across the bloody
chasm. But fo-bearance and reconciliation
must not be all on one side. There mus
be all honest acceptance of the situation.
There must be a just recognition of the au.
tho:ity of the nation. There mu It not be
one tone for Northern ears and another
for Southern-not pledge ofdevotion to
the Union on the floor ef Congress and q
threat of hostility on the soil of Georgia
When the North gave its hand to the South
under the shadow of Bunker Hill, it was
earnest and honest. But if il is TO cherish
that feeling. it must understand that the
hand it receives is equally warm, and that
back of it there is not the spirit Of Davis
ard Andersonyille. Albany journal.