The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-02-03
HILLS REPLY TO BLAINE ON TIE
"BLOODY SHIRT BUSINESS.

HILLsS REPLY TO BLAINE ON TH1
/ "BLOODY SHIRT BUSINESS.
The following is the closing para
graph in his scathing speech iR repl.
to aine's infiammatorY aud dema
goguical speech delivered in The grea
debate on amnesty in the nationa
House of Representatives:
'Bnt why bring up such subjects
War Is always horrible. War always
brings hardsl ips, death, sorrow, pain
and devastation, and he is unworthy
to be considered statesman. looking
to the pacification Of his country. who
will parade the horrors inseperable
from war for the purpose of keeping
the strife which produced those hor-
rors. Ny message TO the gentleman
from Maine is this: There are nt.
COnfederates in this House. Their.
are no Confederate ambitions, desire,
or purposes in this House. But the
South is here, and here she intends ts,
romain. Enthusiastic demonstrations
on tho Democratic side and in the gal
leries. Let fanaticism do its worst.
let 1t pass its nullifying acts, let it
trample on the Constitution, abrogate
the pledges of the fathers, fRcite raids
on our people, multiply infidelities
until they shall be like stars Of heav-
en- or sand on the seashore, without
number but know this, for all your
iniquities the South will never again
seek remedy in the madness of an
other secession. Renewed applause.
We are here; we are in our fathers
house; our brothers are our compan-
ions, aud we are at home, thank God
Enthusiastic applause We come to
crafty No vengeance; to retaliate no
wrongs; to resent no past insults; to
open no strife. We come with a pat
riotic purpose to do whatever in our
power shall be to restore an honest.
economical and constitutional admin
istration of the Government. We
come charging on the Union no wrong
to US. The Union never wronged tho
South. The Union has been an un-
mixed blessing to every section, to.
every State, to every man OF every
color in America. We charge all our
wrongs to that higher law fanaticism,
which never kept pledge or obeyed
law. We sought to leave the asso,
citation Of these who would not keen
fidelity or covenant. We sought to go
by ourselves, but so far from hayins
lost our fidelity to the Constitutions,
We hugged it to our bosom and car
risd it with US. Brave Union men of
tho North, followers of Webster and
Fillmore, Cass and Douglas, you who
fought for the Union for the sake OF
tho Union, you who ceased to fight
when the battle was ended and the
sword was sheathea, with you we have
no quarrel. We felt your heavy arm
in the midst OF the s:rhgg but above
the roar of cannon We heard your
voice Of kindness calling, Brothers.
come back" We are here 10 cooper
ate with you, to do whatever We can |
in spite of our sorrows to rebuild the
Union, 10 restore peace, 10 be n bless
ing 10 the country, and to make tile /
American Union what our fathers in
tended it should be-the glory OF
America and the Blessing of humanity.
But you, gentlemen, who prosecuted
us by your inidelities until you drove
~ cut of the Union; you who then
to be the only friends of the
Union which you had before denounc-
sd n league with death aud a cove
nant with hell; yeu who follow up
The war when the soldiers who fought
{ have made peace aud gone to their
aomes to you we have no concessions
% make. Martyrs owe no apology to
yrsnts, and while we are ready to
make every sacrifice fer the Union, +
recession, however defeated and op.5
pressed, will confess no sin to fanati-
ism however bigoted and exactine.
ct while we make to you no conces. h
ion. we say this: We come even to ,
1ou in no spirit of revenge. We have ,
'ut one ambition, and that is to add /
'nr political power to the patriotic I
Union men Of the North in order to :,
smpel fanaticism to obey the laws
nd live in the Union according to the 1
We do not propose to :
ompel you by oaths,. for you never .
.ept them. The South did the Union /
me great wrong, and we come, as far
8 wo can, te repair it. We wronged
he Union srieveusly when we left it
be se seised and rent and torn by
he men whe had denounced it as a a
eague with death and covenant with Z
ell. We ask you, gentlemen. of the r
iepublican party, to rise above ali
our animesities and to forget your d
Id sin. Let us unite to repair the
'rongs that distract and Cypress the a
ountry. Let VS. turn our backs on the d
ast, and be it said in future that he C
hall be the greatest patriot, the truest t
atriot, the ablest patriot, who shall d
o most to repair the wrongs of the 4
ast and to promote the glories of the Z
ature! Loud and sustained applause
IA the Democratic side of the House
nd in the crowded galleries.
THE RIGHT SPIRIT.
During the clOsinp discussion i'm fhA