Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-01-20
THURSDAY. JANUARY 20; 1876.
Just As We Expected.


1t has been very apparent that the more
willy managers of the Democratic party
have been REFRESHING as far as possible any
expression of the real principles of their
party. To be sure they made the Sergeant
alarms of the rebel congress, the door
keeper of Democ ratio House, and made
a d.sloyal pro-slavery Clergyman the
chaplain of Democratic House. but they
hoped to keep their followers mouths shut
in any event. and not have any disloyal
talk made.
We didn't believe they could de it, and
they haven't. Hill of Georgia has explcd-
ed his secession wrath in spite of them.
When Randall offered an Amnesty bill,
to forgive everybody and everything Blaine
in behalf OF the Republicans offered an
amendment that Jefferson Davis be not for
given Just yet uatil the Andersonville hor-
roIs were forgotten, and also that the
others should promise to do better. BY
moving the previous question. Randall
prevented vote on the question of Davis,
but by moving a reconsideration when
the bill failed of the requisite two thirds,
Blaine got a chance TO speak, and he did
speak in a tone that has been heard all
over the country, and has sounded in the
ears Of all the fathers, mothers. and wild
owS and orphans, who lost dea.' ones in
Audersonville prison pens.
Mr.. Blaine depicted with fearful distinct
ness the unparalleled atrocities, and iend-
ISL touures inflicted on Union soldiers in
rebel prisons. and showed by unanswera-
bic evidence that Davis knew, and approx
el this cruelty. He believed the man who
p-rpetrated such outrages on loyal men.
should not yet be pardoned. and taken
back a. the peer of every soldier he had
tortured
rnc speech was too much for the Dem
ocrats to bear. To attack Jefferson Davis
was to attack Democracy; any denuncia-
tion of HIM was denunciation of a good
Democrat. and he must be defended. Cox
attempted TO change the issue, by abusing
Blaine. like Ben. Buffers tactics so often
quoted by Pike in 1872. "abuse the Plain
tits counsel" but in spite of all his wit, he
lost his temper, and unwittingly began 10
defend Andersonville and Davis and trea-
son
Hill ofGeorgia however launched into
the debate as a Democrat. and with him
there was no holding in. lie evidently lost
ali sight of the next Presidential election.
and talked as the Democracy felt. He de
Tended Andersonville. and Davis. and then
began q counter attack on the Union. He
loudly accused the Government of the I'm
ion of greater cruelties at Elmira, and
Camp Douglass. This was too much for a
New ! ork Democrat who rose in his place
and denied the charge. Hill went on with
TRADE upon Abraham I.ineoln's govern
ment. snd then said that he and the other
confederates felt no gratitude for any IA
vOrs shown them by the Union Govern
ment, for martyrs owed no gratitude to
their tyrants.
II IS said that some twenty other Demo
Gratis wanted to speak, but the kilograms
came pouring in so fast from Democratic
leaders outside, begging them to stop the
debate. that they were smothered this time.
They were too late. The country has
heard enough to set i. thinking over the
question OF what the Democrats really
mean.
Blaine in his reply spread wide open the
pages OF the rec ord OF the Democratic de-
fender. Hil. and let the country read
the history and present sentiments and
purposes of the Democratic leader He
recalled Hills recent speech at Atlanta. in
which he spoke of another war that might
come.
We don't believe in re-opening the old
issues of the war if the other side have
really repented and submitted but if they
still harbor hate and only bide their time
Tor new onslaught. it is well to keep our
memories fresh and our faculties clear
Blaine deserves well of his country in thus
unmashing the opposition. He has taunt-
ed. and soaded them until they have lost
their self control, and in this great debate
they stand as the avowed svmpathisers
with rebels and rebellion.