The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-01-16

The echos Of Bull Run, and Gettysburg,
and Appomattox, had then scarcely died
away, and the passions enkindled by
one Of the most terrible wars which ever
smote the earth, still burned In the
hearts OF the men Of both sections.
There was q smell Of birthstone in the
angry utternnces Of the ferocio1s old
fanatic which seemed natural to the nos
trIls of the country after 80 much gun
powder had been burned, and men who
were just shcathing their swords. clothed
with the blood of each other. and stack.
Ing their gums after q hundred battles,
could ray very rude things without
shocking decency or humanity. Ben
Butler and Thad Stevens were typical
Congressfncf, Of the era Immediately
succeeding the war; the dinbolical ran
cor that gave force and energy TO their
utteranccs. pleased tho tiger-like hatred
which infiamed the hearts Of d people
incapable Of fnagnanilnity, and they
strilck no terror to the souls Of the
beaten Veterans who had followed the
white banner or a desperate cause until
It's stars were quenchcd Id d sea Of blood.
But Thad Stevens has long been NOV
Ing In IN atmosphere more rcdolent Of
birthstone than was the House Of Rep.
resents.tlves, even when It's wills re-
sounded with bis dirk and malignant
curses OF the South and II was to have
been hoped that In the waning years the
moral Judgment Of the North would rs
sumo a. better, trucr and more Christian
tone. This hope, however, has not been
fully realized, and that element OF the
Northern people which comprises the
Republican PARTY, seems TO be actuated
by the same spirit which applauded the
ferocity of Stevens, and glorified as q
hero man without scar, and whose
only trophies In war were the silver
spoons he stole from the homes Of his
foes. This spirit famed out in lurid
brilltancy tho other day In the brutal
and cowardly attack Of tho narrow
minded and natrow-hearted man
who is tho leader Of the Republicans In
the House, upon Jefferson Davis, and,
indirectly, upon the whole South. Thad
Stevens, In the gloom OF the lingering
battle smoke, consighing every nl~D
south Of Mason and Dixon's line to the
penitentiary Of hell, 'is a picture which,
dark and forbidding as II is Has still
something Of grandeur in 1t.
Blaine, years after tho sounds
Of war have been hushcd, and when, In
every brave and generous hcart, its
terrors, its wrongs, and It's bitterness
have been forgiven and, nearly MS posi-
BILE. forgotten, ripping open Its wounds.
and over It's exhumed horrors, seeking
to evoke from It's hiding places the fell
spirit OF sectional bitterness, was spec
t..cle at once disgusting and pitiful !;
there WIS none OF the grandeur of pas
sion In It.; II WAS simply q fine rendition
OF mean, cowardly and revolving ma
lignancy. There were no marks OF blood
upon It; no battle notes among Its
sounds--it was pcstilcntial.
That suoh a speech rallied the
whole force Of tho Republican party
In tho House, should admonish the
country Of the danger Of entrusting that
party longer with the administration OF
the Government. Since the close OF the
war the Southern States have borne,
with unparalleled patience, the most
fragrant wrongs at the hands OF the
Government; they have, unoomplain-
ingly, acquiesced In every measure
which the .conquerors have deemed
necessary to punish them for the crime
Of secession, or to persecutc them for
being rebels, or essential for the restora-
ton Of tho Union, While the carpet
baggers and negroes, under tho prqtac.
ton Of the army OF the Republic, have
outraged and plundered them, they
have avowed their devotion to the
Union, their readiness to fight for the
national flag, and to accept, unqualli-
fledly, universal suffrage. Their repro
sentatives have eulogizcd Sumner
apologized for the heroism of their
and approached their seats
In Congress with trembling knees,
and with laudations Of the greatness and
OF the American people
upon their tongues. II there has been
any demand made upon the South for
evidences OF It's devotion to the Union
which the South has refused to give,
rom the time the Southern States rati.
led the acknowledgements Of the negroes
% the day their people voted for Horace
Greeley, and Alexander H. Stephens,
me Of their representatives In Congress,
promptly justified the policy Of Grant
oward Louisiana, we cannot COLL Il to
mind. Indeed, whatever sectional
pirit may have prevailed In the South
,efore the war, growing chiefly out Of
It's peculiar institution" certainly.
ince the restoration Of peace, the South
las displayed an earnest desire, and
ertinacious purpose, to restore the j
Jnion and to preserve and defend It. Il
Unfortunately, this cannot be said or /
be Republican party OF the North. {
torn Of fanaticism, and handled into {
igor by sectional hate and sectional {
'ar, IL is as bitterly sectional in 1876 as
was in 1861. Every concession Of the 1
outh TO the Union has been met by. the s
with a rebuff. Under a Re- c
ublican Administration, the Southern a
tates, pleading for restoration of the &
nion, and tor justice and equality i
\