The Republican journal., 1876-01-20
Blaine's Blunder.

! PE III scnul1lS money, stare III f. rus vi T.
! to which the paper is sept.-sa
B1aine's Blunder.
1t was Talleyrand who spoke of poll
tea act rs worse than crime-a blund-
er." The remark was 4 tribute by the
sLreWd and adroit courtier, to that per-
cepton which discerns far in advance the
evil effect OF certain acts. MI Blaine
position in respect to the amnesty meas
ure before the House was a blunder in
any light in which it Aay be viewed. save
! that of personal smartness-a quality
which does not at all aid a man OF Blaine
| position and aspirations 1t was a blunder
in 4 Presidential aspirant, because that
high office calls for the qualities Of states
manship, which aims always at pacifica-
ton in the country tor which it acts. Even
the policy of the Italian Machiaveli, so
| much condemned as the taithlessness of
king craft, advises all measures for peace
and union ut home. How then must a
party leader stand, who assails a wise
measure of pardon and paciticatlon, and
! recklessly endeavors to kindle the fires of
hatred that have almost burned them
selves out?
There are those, no doubt, who will be
pleased at this exhibition. The horde OF
ollice-holders who are living upon the
country, il happily they are not plumber
ing The treasury; members of the same
party who wait with Impotence for their
! turn at the crib; the unreasoning haters
of the south, who have learned nothing
and forgotten nothing since they embrace
ed creed OF political vindictiveness-all
these laugh and applaud. But there is a
| large, very large class, members of the
Republican organization, who look at this
| party braWl on the floor Of Congress with
sorrow and shame. They are the men
who represent the great industrial and
business pursuits Of this country. who de-
sire peace and paciiicatlon in the interes:
OF the labor, the enterprise, the commerce
and general well being of this people.
| We of Maine want the trade of the people
all along the coast line to the Rio Grande,
and we wait their good will and love for
us as Il part OF the common country in aid
OF that intercourse. These feelings act and
react upon each other in promotion of all
this. 1t is 4 misfortune to this state-it is
a hlundcr worse than 4 crime-that its
leading representative stands upon the
floor of Congress and prostitutes his abil-
ity in repelling the outstretched hands of
oar brothers OF the south, and opening
anew a chasm that closed long ago. 1t
Is = crime against our interests against
the laws Of Christianity, against human
lty, against our common country.
Jefferson Davis personally is of very lit
tie account in this matter. He had the birth,
the education and the feelings of a gentle
man. Guilty of rebellion he certainly was,
but so were some sixty other gentlemen
who sit in Congress. But that he delber
ately and tiendishly tortured the prisoners
at AndersonvlIle. no one can really be-
llcSe. This government at one time had
in custody both Jefferson Davis and Capt.
WTz. 1t selected the latter as the man
responsible for the Andersonville crime
hung him, and allowed Davis to 90 free.
Ii Davis IS the guilty man, Wirz was muir
! dered The history of the refusal to ex-
change prisoners, set forth in the debate
which we publish, has much to do with
| the sutlerings of prisoners.
Charles Sumner, had he been living and
| on the floor of the House, would have met
| and opposed Mr.. Blaine in his efforts to
impede the work Of amnesty. In that mat
ter he had the views of patriot and
statesman. lie opposed The placing in the
Capitol Of pictures which should depict
fraternal strife, and advocate the erasure
from regimental flags Of the record of
battles between citizens of common
country, These acts Of Sumner are re-
Dukes 10 the cause OF Blaine and his aSSo-
ciates; but there comes from his recorded
words stronger condemnation, like a
voice from the grave
| am for peace in reality as in name From
the bottom of my heart | am for peace; and l
welcome all which makes for peace. With deep
felt satisfaction remember that no citizen who
drew his sword against us has suffered by the
hand of the eXecutioner. In just association
With this humanity will be the triumph of equal
rights, when the promises of the great declar-
alton are fulfilled, and our people are united as
never before in the enduring fellowship of COM
mon citizenship. To this end there must be
reconciliation. Nor can l withhold my hand.
freely accept the hand that is offered and reach
forth my own in friendly grasp. am ag ainst
the policy of hate. / am against tanning an
cient flames into continued life. l am against
raking in the ashes of the past for Goals OF fire
yet burning. Pile up the ashes, eXtinguish the
flames, abolish the hate, is my desire.
A T,,,,