The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-01-14
Current Notes.

Current Notes.
Blaine shocked the delicate sensibilities
of the Confederate Democracy yesterday, by
painting strong picture of the horrors of
AndersODville. He did not say word amiss.
We don't believe in bloody shirts, but it is
well enough not TO be too hasty in forgetting
some things.-S Louis Globe-Dem0crdt
The mission of the South, now that 1t had
returned, was in Mr.. Hilps opinion, TO unite
with the Northern Democrats in putting
down Republican fanaticism forevermore,
1t is pretty big job, as they will find, and
Messrs. Randall and Hill have not made
very auspcious beginning. Springfield
Union.
The whole Democratic body Of the House
seemed to resent this terrific but truthful por-
traiture ofthe leader ofthe rebellion as direct
affront upon themselves, and the country
now has an unmistakable indication of the
character ofthat party in the unanimity with
which 1t came to his rescue,-Albdnu Jour-
ndl
Though this amnesty debate is deprecated
as reopening of old wounds that were
almost closed, and should have been allowed
to heal, we are not sure that it should be re-
GREETED. 1t is well TO know, not what repre-
sentative men of the North and of the South
profess, but what they actually think and feel
in regard to the questions started in this de-
bate. If Mr.. HiPs speech is acceptable 10
the Southern representatives in Congress, il
| Is just as well to know it, Worcester Spy.
Mr.. Hill is a representative Democrat.
The Democrats of the House stood behind
him, though some of them had wit enough
to see that, as a matter of policy, he and
they were putting the party in an indefensi-
Bile attitude. But its sympathies and temper
are too strong for its judgement. Acting out
its real feeling, 1t stands before the country
making fight for JEFF. Davis.-A!bdny
Journal.
Some people may regret the turn the de-
bate took in Congress as not promotive of
fraternal feeling between the sections; but If
prominent Southern politicians, who manage
affairs for the formerly ''so-called Confederate
States,' have the same bitter and hostile feel
ings as Immediately after the war, and are
only smothering them for political effect, the
revelation may be somewhat disagreeable but
not altogether Improbable for the Northern
public.-BOst0n Transcript.
JEFF Davis is too terrible traitor, too mer-
ciless in respect to the lives of Others to war
rant any tenderer treatment than he has re-
ceived. Mr.. Blaine need not fear the people
at large are so deficient in patriotism, so for
getful of those who died through the prime
instrumentality of Davis, and so thoughtless
to the demands of law, as not to sustain him
| in keeping the chief author of most of the
country's woes in the background OF politics
where he cannot perpetrate further mischief.
| --Nor,oich Bulletin.
The Republican party, without boasting,
can challenge all history to show parallel to
the clemency which, after the terrible four
years struggle was ended, they fastened to
| extend to the vanquished. Not a rebel was
hung, not cent OF property was confsca:ed
Ten years after the war, OF the hundreds of
thousands engaged in the rebellion, all have
been amnestied except some 700, and to all of
these, with single exception, a full pardon
/ is offered before it is asked, and when it will
| probably be received with contempt.-Hdrt-
| ford COurdnt.
We are certainly getting on fast when
things like these can be heard with compos-
| ure, and great party which again aspires to
the government of the country can follow such
a champion. There are many persons who
have been growing restive and discontented
l under the long supremacy OF the Republican
party; and have looked with a longing hope
| to the Democracy, disciplined and puri fed by
II
an. They may well pause-in view of DEM
onstrations like this from Georgia, which
seems to carry us back to the dark days be-
fore the rebellion-and inquire, Is this the
l entertainment to which we were invited
Boston Adcertiser.
One beneficial effect of Mr.. Blaine's amend
ment and speech IS to bring to the surface
that ruling portion of the Democracy COM
prised in the representatives Of the ex-
Confederate element. There is no one better
as he is usually called, the leader of his party
in Georgia, and evidently an able, outspoken
| man. He was under bonds to his Northern
brethren, when he rose to speak on Tuesday,
| to be as discreet and moderate as could be, and
hesdoubtless made the effort-but with what
wretched result! 1t was the flourish and
crack of the same old plantation whip so
familiar to the Congress of fifteen years ago,
and it awakened the echoes of that pro-
slavery civilization which it was supposed
had faded away yforeVer.-BoSt0n Journal.
| If Jefferson Davis intended to spend the
rest of his days out of the country or in re-
tiremeut, no one would care about the
removal of his political disabilities. But once
| relieve him from these disabilities and he
would very soon be sent back to the Senate
again. We do not believe that the people of
the United States are quite prepared to see
the ex-President of the Confederacy charged
| with authority to assist in making the laws
of the nation which he labored for many
| years to destroy. Even magnanimity may be
| pushed too far. No one can accuse the peo-
| pie of being actuated by any vindicitiye feel
| ings towards the leaders of the Southern
| Confederacy, bat they may reasonably think
that the head of it ought not to be allowed to
resume his seat in the United States Senate.
| If the line ought to be drawn anywhere, it
certainly must be at Jefferson Davis.-N' Y.
| Ne,1s
Mr.. HilPs speech was not a speech to which
the Northern Democrats could listen with
salts faction or ease. Such kind Of talk kept
up here will mean the emptying of so seats
on the Democratic side next November. It
is difficult to have any patience with man
who talks for an hour to prove that the ter
| rors Of Andersonville prison were less than
those of the Northern prisons, in which rebel
| soldiers were confined. Indeed, tho remarks
OF Mr.. Hill rose to rank impudence at the
| end of his speech, when he talked about for
| giving the Republicans for their sins, and
| told the House that the South had brought
| the constitution back into the Union, and
| signified that the South was growing to con-
| duct the government in the future. Perhaps
| the best statement that could be made of tie
| result of the debate this afternoon would be
| to say that the Republican managers in New
| Hampshire and Connecticut will be several
| thousand dollars the richer on account Of it
| on the day after election next Spring. II will
| cost so much less to carry these states.-Bos-
| ton Herald's Washington dispatch.
l