The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-11-02
Good Bye to the Rebel Claim Bug
hear.

With Il neat turn OF the wrist. Gov. Til
den has punclured the Republican gas bag
50 long paraded before the people Of this
country 1t was a humbug from the be-
ginning, as none knew better than the Re-
publican leaders who invented it, But the
persistence with which it was urged and
harped upon, day after day and night after
night on every stump at every cross roads
in the country, began to create doubts in
the minds of honest men. There is a
great deal of force in reiteration. SO,
Just at the right time, calmly, and with
ont any flourish of trumpets, Gov. Tilden
Gives the lie "A fatal thrust. The letter is
square, unequivocal and convincing. 1t
does not mince matters, nor leave a loop
hole for evasion. 1t says Just what it
means, and accomplishes the death of
mean and contemplate campaign SANDER
These so-caled rebel claims when they
are seriously thought of, will be found to
be entirely baseless, however well they
may serve campaign purposes. The con-
stitution was amended ior the purpose OF
barring out any and all claims for eN
pensea on services IN aid oi the rebellion,
and it was supposed this had been done
by the fourteenth amendment. That de-
cares that neither the National nor any
State Government "shall assume on pay
any debt OF obligation incurred in aid of
insurrection or rebellion against the Unit
ed States" But it was found, by shrewd
claim agents, who were in search of com
missions, or actually owned these claims,
that persons calling themselves loyal to
the government might get under or over
this bar, and find a new avenue to the
treasury. SO they set themselves at work
and in the course of time trumped up
formidable amount.
But when the radicals cry out that these
are rebel claims, and that all Southern
Democrats are in favor of paying them,
they run against Il stump at once. Be-
tween the rebel and the loyalist of the
South there was an antagonism more bit
ter than was felt by the rebel toward the
supporters of the government who lived
in the North. The men of the South who
fought the war through, know that any
repayment OF their own losses is hopeless
They have acquiesced in the constitution
and the laws which forbid them to so
hope, and regard the matter as settled
forever. Are they likely to aid those
among them whom they looked upon as
traitors to the South in the endeavor to
get payment for losses incurred in resist
ing the South in its war for independence,
and thus tax themselves to help pay such
claims !? Such an idea is SO preposterous
that its very statement shows its absurd
ity But there is an intention on the part
of certain Republican members of Con-
gress to pass this class of claims, and by
connvance with the owners put q liberal
portion thereof in their own pockets.
This was done to a great extent in the
PlOSiOuo SoHSlcoS, III WulCl LHcIC WIS "
large Republican majority in both branch
es, and the journals Of which will show
many times more of these claims than the
present Congress has recognized.
The calm and statesmanlike remarks
with which Gov Tilden closes his letter
are admirable. The losses of war, he
says. can never be compensated for. The
young and gallant dead cannot be re-
called. nor the ravaged land be restored.
nor the squandered treasure gathered
again. But we can have once more a le-
united people, and industry guarded and
protected by Just laws can make this a
land of prosperity and happiness To this
the efforts of the people and the thoughts
of their leaders should all turn. The
manly and plain utterances of Mr. Tilden
have killed this greatest and the last of
the political bugbears, and it will slumber
in the same grave with its originators.