The Portland daily press., 1877-11-06
Mr.. Banning's Bill.

In the multitude of bills presented in the
House "to give everybody [who has been in
rebellion against the United Statesl every
thing" is one conspicuous By its badness
even in that bad lot. 1t is the bill intro
duced by Mr.. Banning of Ohio providing for
the reinstatement in the regular army of
former officers who betrayed their trusts and
served in the armies of the Confederacy. The
proposal is an audacious one even in these
days of surrender and conciliation, but there
is no reason to believe that it is objection
able to a Democratic House. The Democ-
racy holds that the loyal North has not yet
given evidences enough of its gratitude to the
rebellious South for manifesting reluctant
willingness to be forgiven. But the North
will think otherwise. 1t has already seen the
House pass into the hands of the South. 1t
waits with to)erable equanimity the time when
the Senate shall again become Southern
stronghold. 1t has even accustomed itself to
the bad possibility of President devoted to
Southern interests. But it cannot reconcile
itself to the sight of the army officered by ex-
Confederate soldiers.
Perhaps it is quite as necessary to the
scheme of conciliation that rebel officers
should be reinstated in their positions in the
army as that they should have seats in Con-
gress and hold portfolios in the Cabinet.
But the world does not look upon the cases as
analogous. 1t may be, as it has been, urged
that the men who left their seats in Senate
and House to accept Office under the Confed-
eracy were influenced by an honest though
mistaken sense of duty; that they were guilty
at the most of political mistake. This ex-
cuse is to our mind paltry and altogether in
sufficient, but it is at least plausible. The
situation of the army officers was entirely
different. They had nothing to do with
questions of constitutional construction.
The first duty Of soldier is to obey without
questioning why. His greatest and most
shameful crime is desertion-a crime pun
ished the world over with death. The mill
tary oath which he takes is the most solemn
of all eaths. His greatest pride is to stand
by his colors, What did these Southern
officers do? They violated their oaths and de-
serted their colors on the eve of battle. The
civil law may overlook their crimes, but the
military law cannot. To reinstate them is to
Justify and reward desertion, to teach that no
penalty and no disgrace attaches to it, 10
weaken the soldierly sense of honor by de-
claring that the violation of the military oath
is no dishonor. When soldiers see that Joe
Johnston who deserted his colors and went
over to the enemy is as highly honored as
Winfield Scott and Robert Anderson who
were faithful to their duty, they will be forced
to the conclusion that treason and desertion
are not crimes but laudable acts for which
they will be praised and rewarded by the
country.
But if this bill is to be passed, if the rebel
officers are to be permitted to re-enter the
regular army, there should be another
Cuaugo maue. He sCu5uU TeCUncTHaIIUH
and the interests of the army demand it. 1t
is of course our duty to strengthen the eff
cheney of the army. We cannot expect the ex-
Confederate generals TO fight heartily under
flag which for four years they saw floating
over the enemy's forces. If we wish them to
do their best, if we expect them to put their
heart into their work, we must not wantonly
outrage their noblest and holiest sentiments.
We ought not to ask them to fight under a
flag which they hate, which is to them the
symbol of tyranny. In word we must do
away with the stars and stripes and adopt
the Southern cross. Then will the work OF
reconciliation be fully accomplished.