Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1876-01-26
The Amnesty shame.

We have taken no part IN IN
windy hveliness Of the wordy pol
iticians blown mp by Mr.. Blaine
because nothing that is said at thi
late day about the conduct of tn
wsr on either side can produc
anything but elimination and re
elimination, passion and folly. Mr.
Blaine's effort will doubtless in
crease his popularity with two class
es Of his political friends, the party
managers and the party bigots, whC
have hitherto regarded his fidelity
from a disciplinary point Of view
as somewhat equivocal. IL it wa:
his purpose TO restore Himself Il
the confidence Of the drill-masters
and the Zealots, he has succeeded
But the price which he has paid
for that sort of current glory which
attaches itself TO unexpected ex-
hibitions Of partisan zeal is out Of
all proportion to the loss of con-
sideratiou and character which it
may occasion him in his future
career as an aspiring American
statesman. 1t will surely do him
no substantial good whatever, for
he had il all his own way anyhow
in the lower house; he is tolerably
sure Of going thence to the Senate;
while, as presidential feelers, spurts
Of this kind are rarely, if ever, eff
cacious. His selection Of Jeffer-
son Davis as jury-mast whereon
to prop the tattered malice of the
war period fails to sustain the idea
If novelty and Of audacity. 1t is
an old device. 1t is a cheap trick.
There is nothing in ii worthy TO
engage the attention Of a man of
frst-rate ability. Unworthy alike
in its personal and party belong
ings, it viii with toltrable certain
ty he used against Mr. Blaine here
after, despite the parliamentary
and rhetorical skill with which he
handled il. He is confessedly an
expert. But no cook can make a
savory dish OF foul game.
We waive the question Of Sec
tional strife called up by this very
unhandsome and insecure maDeu-
yer. The history Of the country,
and particularly the history Of the
South, will not suffer from discus
sion, no matter what NAV happen !
to contemporaneous politics. Mr. 1
Hills magnificent rejoiner TO Mr..
Blaine may receive ten times the
abuse which has been heaped upon
{, but the facts which it gave the
public have not been answered, and
AN not be answered. The con-
luct Of the North in its invasion
II the South was marked by all
he brutality which accompanies
he policy of subjugation. It's con-
luct to our prisoners was at least
quail in atrocity 10 that described
y Mr.. Blaine, and with less ex-
use. These things belong TO do /:
nestle feuds. We are willing to
ass them by, but we do not shrink /,
rom their consideration, seeing ,
hat we must consider the policy
4 the Republican party since the
Tar, which has been far more
icious. Mr.. Biaine's boosted mag
is to-day signalized in the ,
ruin Of all the States
lately in rebellion brought about :
y Republican scheme Of recon- /;
II notion. II there has been any
.t-up in the spirit OF bate inaugu- ;
lted by tie Republican leaders :
Immediately aiter the Confeder- 1
ties laid down their arms il has =
OF been the result Of any clemency =
thin the bosoms Of those leaders, .
ut has been impelled by the bet :,
n nature as well as the better .
Idgement Of the Northern people, :,
no, like the Southern people, are .
't obdurately malignant nor in q
nsible to the everyday interests :.
society and business. To the :
Der minded and adaptable gent . :,
Is Of the American character,
ID not to the wooden-headed ia
Iticism OF Radical politicians, do W
e CoDfederates who sit in Con- II
ess owe their seats, and If il is n
be understood that they hold b,
EN- upon a tenure Of good be- n,
viour to be determined by Mr.. h.
aine and llis followers, the coun- 81
7 should be advised OF the fact so Cd