Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1877-08-17

Tbsre is an unpleasantness developing
among the Pennsylvania papers as to
whether it is the duty Of Pittsburgh alone,
or the entire Stale to pay the losses tc
n7opertv incurred by the riot. This is the
pittsburgh CommsreiaFs sargument;
Allegheny county wants the Pennsylva.
MIA Railroad losses made good to the last
cent, but claims the equities require that
the State should meet the loss. We put
this not on the ground Of legality. but OF
equity. If the State pays, the people VIII
never feel the burthen at al. The State
revenues. from the railroads and o'heF
sources. will ultimately pay the amount
inst as the State debt Is being paid. II
would simply add so much to the State
dsbt. and if II is desired to meet it rap
i5lr- Inv direct taxation, Allegheny county
nil be clad TO meet her share. But the
natural method viii be to provide by bonds,
adding these to the regular State debt.
and iquidating them out of the current re-
sources Of the State. This would simply
add little to the time necessary to Hqui-
date the debt, and would not add dollar
to the taxation Of any county.
The action Of the Administration mas
shown the intelligent people of the South
ern States what they have not heretofore
beIieved-tbat the Republican sentiment
of the North is not hostile and Vihdicli'e'
This sbould have been known before from
the abundant evidence that has been given
,1-,,i-,,, ord since the war. Greater lenity
,-.- nevsr shown towards the open enemies
- . government. than vas shown by this.
The generosity extended to rebels against
the government. has been felt towards the
South generally, and would have grown
and strengthened, but for the gratuitous
bravado and irritation that has been kept
up by thuse who give tone to public sentI-
ment in that quarter. These are generally
the noisy and clustering ones, against
whom little stand is made. On the sub
ject Of hostility to the North, they have
become obnoxious TO the charge that used
to be made against their implacable enc
mies-the Abolitionists-theyh have shown
themselves one-idea men. Dwelling in
cessantly upon what they looked upon as
their wrongs-their enemies-they have
nursed their hatred and their intolerance
until the Republican party, white or black,
was thrust beyond the pale ofhuma1ity
and mercy. The violence and blood that
have followed, could hardly fail Of its ef-
fects upon northern sentiment. The poll
" Of the Administration is 10 show that
any improvement in southern conduct will
not be lost upon the northern mind. The
olive branch that hrs been offered, if ac
eepted, as agreed upon, and The pledges
yiven-ihat the blacks shall be treated
with fairness, and that freedom Of opinion,
md the right of sufferage shall be guaTan- |
-eed, there will be little ground for COM
Dlaiut of northern unfiiendliness. If set
-lement can be made at pleasure in The /
South. and settlers be made secure from
and opprobnum. The great
causes Of irritation, trouble and violence
will be removed, aud the South will find
ceiling of fraternity and good citizenship
viii inevitably follow such an initiation as
heY may institute. The sentiment of the
North will follow the lead of the govern
nent in the work of reconciliation, just as
losely as their southern neighbors shall
i've evidence that it is appreciated, and
hat they are honest and earnest in the
work. Thus the South have the power to
i've effect to the work begun by the Pres
dent, and their endorsement will be fol-
owed so closely by that Of the North, that
here will be no occasion for dis-rust or
oubt that a better day has daWhed for the