National Republican., 1877-10-18
An Hnnest CnnfenalOn.

lFrom the Meridian tMss) Mercury, Oct. TO-
DO you think." asked n friend who sat by, that
The Confederate Veterans on me pension iIst q The
pay rGn.ions and that,he Con!dera,es were Hs CON
scicItionsly fighting as the Northern tToops a.,
have never heard any expression OF 1t on the stump,
or in the press or anywhere else
Mr.. Stephens, being interviewed in New
York, and IN q garrulous mood. among other
thing, said the above. Mr.. Stephens answer may
be satisfactory to the Northern Democrats who are
anxious to head of the effect on the sensitive
mind of the loyal North of Morton's prediction In
his Oregon speech that II the Democrats get into
power they will pension oil or pension none"
No doubt Mr.. Stephens answered truly. that he
had never heard any expression of such a desire
but Mr.. s. didn't say he dishcllcvCd In the exist
cnce Of such II desire. II he had said that we
should have wondered at so strange an utternncc
Southern man whose heart was in the Confed
crate cause and who Will now say that, as an alb
strnct question on which his mind Is free to act
without cxtranenus influence, he does hold TO the
justice Of II and docs not desire to put "Confed-
crate veterans" on the pension rolls the same ns
the Federal for the reason suggested In the query
To Mr.. stephens is surely
A LIAR OR A TRAITOR TO HIS CAUSE
Mr., Morton has propounded this question In the
fullness Of time for his own aims to poster and
trouble the Democratic party, TO supply, IN a
measure, the waning influence Of the bloody shirt,
lie has obtruded 1t upon the politics Of the country,
and II seems like sticking-he will be apt to make
ii stick II he reCovers his health 10 bear active
part in politics again-and Mr.. stephens cquivocal
nerutons will not put II out The Southern people
have not obtruded this question upon Congress for
the prudential reason OF not arousing the war spirit
in the North but since the question up 1t is folly
as well as dishonest IL deny that the Southern pc0.
pie feel deeply the humiliation of paying tribute,
| like conquered provinces, to pension the soldiers
| of their cOnquerors Mr.. Morton has presented an
issue which In Its treatment, In our best Judgment
honesty is the best policy In politics us well In
business, for the southern people.
In 80 far ~ pension laws have their foundation
| in charity for the dstresses of subjects occasOned
| by the cnlamitics of war the most fabid Republican
who cOuccdcs that reconstruction has really recon.
| strnCtCd, cannot, In reason,
| GAINsAY THAT SOUTHERN CITIZENS
in distress have equal claims upon bcnignant and
honorable government with the Northern; and
| while from motives Of dcliCacy Southern leader,
| and law givcn may wait somewhat upon those Ol
the North to initiate the measure Of Justice, 1t Is
| unwisc rs II Is unmRnly TO be equivocating and
| cOnCcalng our real views upon this issues While
| Mr.. Morton has attempted 10 give the question q
party turn, we of the South should regard II as
| question outside of and above party and as soon
look To n sensible and generous Northern Rcpuhl
can to see the Justice and craftsmanship of II as
Northern Democrat.