New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-18
A CHALLENGE AND ACCEPTANCE.

| CHALLENGE AND ACCEPTANCE.
The recent debate between Messrs
Blaine and Hill upon the amnesty resolu
ton has already begun to have the etiec
foreshadowed by the REPUBLICAN in
short notice of the event on the thirteenth
instant. Already it is reported iron
Washington that the Republican cam
paign committee has ordered an immense
number of Mr.. Hills speeches for circu'a'
ton in the North. TIE correspondent o.
the New York World, in his letter OF the
eleventh, says Of it: Il regret to say that
il was by no means a wise or polite sd.
dress" The World is known to be con.
sistent and prudent supporter OF every
thing which promises to help the cause OF
Democracy. But it sees in this i'm
prudent speech of Mr.. Hill tie acceptance
Of a challenge to political elimination
and recrimination which will resul. in
anything but good to the weaker side.
The Southern Democratic journals, on
the contrary, rally to the support OF MIR.
| Hill and the abuse Of Mr.. Blaine. And
thus the sectional passions are again and
unnecessarily aroused. The horrors Of
the late war, with all the ezaggerations
| which the lapse of tine will naturally
| permit, will be related to those who, like
the leaders of this debate in the House,
have no war record. Either side will be-
lieve the tales which may be told; the old
issue will be joined; the dominant ma
;crity will again bear down all opposition
and the weaker side be again forced TO
the wall. For the So nth is no match for
the North in numbers, wealth, education,
fortitude or resources, while it does nc:
exceed it in bravery, skill and personal
proves. If then, as the New Orleans
Democra! tells US, "the sounds Of war
have been hushed, and il every brave and
generous heart its terrors, its wrongs
and it's bitterness have been for
given and as nearly as possible forgotten,
it is ill-timed in one Of those who have SO
recently been forgiven to seek to revive
these almost extinct feelings Of amnesty.
Every note Of applause for Mr.. Hills
speech will arouse angry echoes in the
Northern valleys, and it will be an easy
matter for those whose interests would
have it SO to make it appear that e people
who approve such sentiments are inna.ely
hostile to the conquero-s, and that they
are restrained from further outbreak by
fear Of the consequences rather than by
those high patriotic considerations which
should actuate grea. people.
Mr.. Blaine's speech has rallied the
whole Republican party without doubt,
but when thus on the alert, if no angry
response were to come answering back
from the South, the Northern hills would
soon again swallow up their warlike
birth, and no harm would come Of it.
Instead Of practicing the golden silence
which prudence dictated, ex.Contederate
Senator Hill fred the signal gun Of hos
tility and the sharp crack Of small arms
is instantly heard ell along the Southern
line. His speech has as truly rallied tie
whole force Of Southern Democracy as
Blaires did the Northern Republicans.
# the latter has admo nished the South Of
the danger Of any longer ir.rusting the
Republican party with tee administration |
Of the government, Hill has developed
such a latent hostility Is will be sure to
rush the whole North into the fight. |
They will bitterly reto,:: 1--WE cen not |
rus: you yet to take charge Of national
affairs; you cling too tenacio-sly to the |
srlors which so nearly proved your ruin |
fifteen years ago. Mr.. Blaine has sue
,eeded in drawing the FIRE ct the enemy
nd discovered his position to the whole
If the opposing party. A s5t. answe,
rom the Democratic side Ct the House
would have turned away the Repub-
lean wrath, instead Ct which vas heard
he 'grievous words.
The Southern Republicans deplore this
Of a dispute which has been
.losed by the exhaustion Of one party and
he consen: Of the other. If forced to take |
,art in the revived contest, they will, OF
course, follow their principles. They can
,ot approve Of anything Ike renewal Of
he late war by those wLo were merely
econds, so long as the principals are sat-
sized with the settle mert which has been
fected. They have heard all about the
,ravery Of the Southern leaders, the dash
# Confederate legions, and the nobility
# sentiment which is supposed to have
all the Southern leaders |
rom JEFF Davis to Captain Wirz. They
NOW all these fine qualities failed to
Freak up the government, and would fail
gain. They differ from their Democratic
le;ghbors in this: While the Southern Re-
,utlicans not only acGuiesce, but rejoice |
n seeing the old flag restored because |
hey love it and the institutions it Pre-
ects, their political opponents accept it
because they can not help themselves.
Democracy is held down by force and self |
interest. Republcanism is satisfied be-
cause the right prevailed.