Los Angeles daily herald., 1876-02-13
The San Francisco Chronicle.

The Chronicle is preparing for war.
Having laid in a bountiful supply of
munitions and provisions to carry it
through the bloody campaign, it is
now engaged in the erection of sand
banks and bomb proofs, behind which
he hopes to shelter his empty head
from the missiles of his adversaries.
In the erection of these Notifications,
he has given us an idea Of the quarter
from whence he expects the strongest
assault. 1t says:
To illustrate, in speaking of rebels, and in
denouncing their political opinions IL not un-
frequently occurs that the word " South" aud
the expression "people OF the South " is used
when the intention Is not to throw any stig.
ma upon the locality, or to make any unklnd
comment upon the people of that section.
Here is sand bank behind which
he can hide when he provokes fire
from the South, which is likely to de-
molish him. His object is to exhume
the dead-issues of the war, and fiaunt
the bloody shirt at the South, until he
goads them into madness, and then
reminds them that he "meant no un-
kind comment upon the people of that
section" Again he says:
SO when we speak of Southern rebels, we
intend to keep distinctly in mind that we are
discussing political question, and not per-
sonal one.
Here lie is guarding againt proba-
bilities. Some personal rebel may
take ofense at what he is going to say,
and conclude to ''put head on him."
In such case he can remind the rebel
that his remarks were political and
not personal. He concludes his long
article thus:
When hereafter we discuss the political
questions growing out of the late unpleasant
ness, let our readers bear i'll mind that we do
not mean to make an indiscriminate attack
upon entire classes within geographical
boundaries. While the war ragged we managed
in California to preserve the peace Of the
State, and general good feeling then pre-
vailed; so we hope in the heated canvass for
the Presidency which is now upon us, and is
likely to grow warmer till after the election,
We shall preserve the amenities of political
discussion without detracting from the force
OF SQcn arguments as we SNAIL uetIl IL n6CcS-
sary to put forth in vindication OF history and
In Justification OF the loyalty of the Republi-
can North.
Now what is the use of all this?
The political issues of the present are
as distinct from the issues that brought
about the late war as darkness is from
light. The people of America have
fought the war through, shook hands
and made friends and agreed to live
in peace, and would forever live on
the most amicable terms of friendship
if few hundred editors and politi-
clans Of hyena propensities were hung
as high as Haman. There never
would have been a war if a few hun
dred partisan zealots like the Chronicle
editor,on each side of MASON and DIX
oN's line, had received their deserts.
1t is the object of the people to put
statesmen into office in future, who
have brains enough to look at the is
sues to come and not at the blunders
of the past. And 1t may be set
down as truth that admits of
no controversy, that any party
or clique which hopes or at
tempts to elect the next President
upon the bloody shirt platform are
the most secret and bitter enemies of
a free government. The only object
of such partizans is to blind the peo-
pie and turn their attention from the
main issues which are Of vital impor-
tance to the perpetuity of free govern
ment. That there is an organized
party in the country whose object is
to supplant our Democratic form of
gov, rnment, We fully believe, and to
accomplish their object it is but natu-
raj to suppose they would fight over
issues calculated to enrage and dis
tract the minds of the people. Let the
people watch the course Of the Ciron-
icie.