National Republican., 1877-12-20

Joined in these felcitations with great hearth
ness. As general thing they did not com.
plain that there was altogether too much fuss
over this ragged reprobate, who only came
home because he could not help himself; they
gave him generous welcome; they were quito
elnted when they saw him taking his old place
at tho table; they chose to forget thut he had
cost them, by his four years of riotons living,
q sum Of three or four thousand millions; and
to tell the truth he seemed entirely ready to
forget 1t too. Indeed, he Is forgetting alto
gcther too much.
For before he has been six months at home
he is hcctorins all the rest of the household,
beating the servants smashing the crockcry,
and threatening to turn everybody out Of
doors He has insultod and abused the credit
ors Of the family and tried to pick quarrel
with the neighbors. He has declared that tho
debts contracted In consequence Of his miscon-
duct and extravaganza shall not be paid, but
the honor and prosperity Of the house shall be
sacrificed TO his temporary convenience. Hav-
ing wasted half the property, he proposes to
break open the domestic treasurc-chest, take
all that remains, and go back TO his riotous
companions. When somebody demonstrates
with him, he replies, in tho words Of Senator
Lamar, II have been insulted by, this Govern
ment; its credit and honor are nothing to
me-" II would have been bad enough If the
returned prodigal had only indulged in fresh
course Of gambling, drunkenness, and harlotry;
but nothing will suit him except tho pillage
and complete ruin Of the home which has re-
opened Its hospitable doors to him after he has
once robbed and abandoned IL. Forgiveness
awakens in him no gmtitudc. Magnanimity
iinpcls him only to insolence. Kindness he
mistakes for cowardice, and rewards with out
rago.
Imagine the prodigal son of the Scriptures
going back to his tipsy companions after he
had oaten tho fatted calf, and telling them
while the odor Of stuffed veal still haunted his
breath, that ho only went home because he
was hungry, but the old mans conduct was
most aboniinable, and now that no had re-
freshed himself he meant to assert his rights
That Is about what tho Hon. Mr.. Butler, of
South Carolina, has just done. No sooner had
ho been admitted to the Senate than no went
to Columbia, and in public speech gave
passionate account Of the way In which he
had been put upon at Washington. 81 have
submitted" said he, ito insult, contumely,
abuse, misrepresentation, fi,sehood, and ma
lightly" 1T was not" he continued, "con-
genial to my nature" He boro IL only be-
can Senators as "brutes, towards, and black.
guards and he meant hereafter ito give
them as good as they sent'--a declaration
which was received with roars and tempests Of
applause. Then having denounced with true
plantation vehemence the fraudulent Presi-
dent" and abused Mr.. Hayes, especially for
his treatment Of South Carolina o. ho urged
the South to stand solid and steadfast in hos.
tility to the Administration and the Republi-
can party, and to range itself in "compactand
unbroken afliliation" with Tammany Hall.
Reconciliation and brothcrly love Is an ex-
cellcnt thing, whenit is not all on ono side; but
it seems to bo high time for us to think Of
something else. When the long.lost son aud
brother undertakes to turn tho house out at
the windows, and to bring In all his disrepu-
table associates to break open the pantry and
carry of the plate, the ardor Of affection gives
way to the instinct of self-defence.