Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-02-20
le1a-ls7s.

A singular manifestation Of sectional
hatred and Of a demogogery thst only
appeals TO The lowest and meanest pas
sions, occurred yesterday in the United
States senate. II this had occurred ten
or twelve years ago willis the wounds of
the war we're jet uuhealed and the Anne
ric4n people had not come to a good un.
Outstanding, it might not have excited
surprise, but it was a sad exhibition Of
spite and malice when United States
senators stand up and protest against a
few tottering old men, who served in tie
war Of 1872, being restored to the pen.
sion roll because they served the Souts-
eru cause and sympathizel with their
sons and ~grandsons who went iHto the
fight. We are glad to say however, that
only a small number took this extreme
and this unenviable position. They were
all Republicans, but it cannot be charged
to the Republican party. The kindsst
words came from Mr.. Blaine, q man who
has said and can say the bitterest things.
The committee on pensions reported an
amendment to the bill pending "suthoriz-
ing the restoration to the pension rolls OF
all persons nov surviving heretofore
pensioHed on account Of service in the
war Of 1872 or any Of the Indian wars,
whose names we're stricken therefrom on
account of ~diSloyalty, so as to provide
that all such persons shall be restored
whose disabilities have been removed, CT
who had made application for such re-
moVal." Mr.. Ingalls,, the chairman, and
a siiolg Republican, stated that there
were not more than cue hundred men
affected by this provision of the bill, as
nearly al distinctions between loyal peo-
pie and rebels had been obliterated, and
as there was no possibility Of a restora'
ton Of national unity without having
such CELEBRATION complete the bill
should be passed, 1t occurred to him as
a small thing for a great nation to admit
10 its councils those who we're leaders in
rebellion and exclude from the benefits
Of that government the poor old men who
had received pensions Of eight dollars a
month aud could do no harm. This rea-
Vonable proposition it was to have been
supposed would have been adopted with.
out opposition. But not SO; Mr.. Ed.
monds sprsng to his feet as if be
had heard a Rebel yell at the
door Of the capitol, and entered a vigor.
Gus protest. The amendment was with
drawn to harmonic matters, but still
the discussion continued against the
body Of the bill, which embraces the
same idea. 01lesby, Of Illinois, argued
that the men who fought for the govern
ment in 1872 should have been the las.
to destroy it in after years. Mr.. Blaine
however, defended the bill very happily
he said that every soldier who served il
the gar Of 1872 must have been at leas
sixty years Of age when the rebellion
broke ont, and they are now nearly eight,
years Of age. 1t was impossible tina
these msa could have done anything
active against the government Of ID.
United States during the late war, an,
it was not to be expected that the.
would break their family ties an
come North when the war broke out
Mr.. Ingalls, said the attempt to array Ii
American congress against a few oil
men saa indicative, to his mind, Of
spirit which would lead a man to strik
G woman or kick . baby, The bill 6nall
passed by 3 vote Of forty.seyan yeast
eight nays-the illustrious eight vh
voted in the negative being @essrs. Al
aspy, Cameron Of Wisconsin Edmund,
MeNllas. Morrill,, 0Elesby and Teller
i u
ALExANDER II. STEPHEeg announce
IN The house yesterday that be wogl
move as soon as the silver bill is reachc