Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-07-06
BLArNEs FOURTH OF July.

AuHL1
Of the United States observed the
Fourth of July in a patriotic spirit
and rejoiced at knowing that the
day belonged to all alike from
South Carolina to Maine, and from
Texas to Alaska, Senator Blaine
delivered a harangue at Wood
stock, Connecticut, in which he
sought by every artifce and in
genious device of sOphistry and
Misrepresentation to stir up the
baser passions and undo the work
of reconciliation SO well nigh ac-
complished. An immense crowd
was present, and he made the most
Of his opportunity. He began by
assuming that it is the policy of the
administration, supported by all the
Southern people and many able
newspapers, to acquire by conquest
or otherwise a large slice Of Mexi-
can territory, or at least acquire a
sort Of protectorate over the affairs
of Mexico. This he treats as a
danger of possible moment to our
nationality. The scheme of annex
alton if carried out would, he says,
rush US into a war involving a.
serious loss of life and drain upon
our territory, and finally in the ac-
QUESTION Of undesirable territory
and population. From this he
easily turned to the late war, and
proceeded in his usual strain, alIeg-
ing that the permanent status Of
the races brought into new relations
is not yet settled upon q basis
that gives adequate guarantee for
peace and security in the future.
He told his New England hearers
that all the States readmitted into
the Union after the war, and which
afterward changed their constitu-
tons, have, with one exception,
struck ont the paramount aIlegi-
anee Of the citizen to the national
government. None but a reckless
partisan could have made such an
assertion, even when coupled with
a personal assault upon the char
acter and motives of his political
opponent, Mr.. Hill, of Georgia.
He further attacked the Southern
States and put the truth to torture
by asserting that south of a given
line the governing classes believe in
an allegiance to their respective
local governments superior to that
which they owe to the government
OF the Union, and compares that to
the heresy of 1861, as he calls it.
From all Of which and much more
he would make it appear that the
Southern people III rebels at heart,
traitors in disguise and unfit to be
trusted. Mr.. Blaine cannot believe
this himself, but as his speech was
telegraphed all over the country,
and will be read everywhere, it re-
mains to be seen how many people
will be led to believe his bitter and
%unrelenting utterances. In con-
clusion he said;
| believe that Southern control in the
government Of the Union is the wors,
possible result, even for the South itself
| believe that 1t is nenacing and dan.
gerous to every interest in the land. 7
believe that the men who in battle ana
in council saved the Uaion should govsrn
IL; | believe that the men who for four
years sought the life of the nation should
not be intrusted with its supreme control.
believe that the heresy Of the citizens
primary allegiance being due to his State
heresy which has already wrought GO
much misery and shed so much blood
should be confined to the States tina,
cherish it, and not be permitted 10 install
Itself IN the government of the nation;
aud, finally, | believe that any polioy
which contemplates, or by any possibility
involves, the annexation Of Mexican
territory or any other addition to the dis
iurbed elements Of the South, is at wa,
with the highest interests of every Amer
lean citizen, Of the generation that nov
is, aud Of those countless generation,
which, in the Providence of God, shall
succeed TO our proud title and TO its con
.tinually widening responsibilities.
Mr. Blaine is one of the irrecon
cilables. lie kept out of the wa.
when it was an awful reality, ant
has been staying men in buckran
ever since. While most men ar,
thankful that the wal is over, ant
that we understand each other, ant
all feel a common interest in a com
mon country, and would fight 70
the old flag of the Union if nee