Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-07-17

WOuId IL be Safe to Give the Control Of
the Government TO the Democratic Partyl

For the Freeman.
WOuld II be Safe TO Give the Control Of
the Government TO the Democratic Party
| Charity for our fellows, in regard to
their errors and short comings, and the
fostering of forgiving spirit toward
hem, are ever, and properly, considered
IS prime virtues. On the contrary, in
gratitude for favors received, or the re-
mission of penalties justly incurred, is
looked upon with decided disfavor,-with
.bhorrence, l might say.
Since the close of the war Of the rebel
lion the two great parties that confronted
each other through that war have furnish
d forcibe illustrations of these diverse
characteristics. The leaders of those who
lid their utmost to destroy the government
Under which this people had grown to be
one of the mightiest nations of the earth
when conquered and made TO honor the
dag they had striven to dishoner and trail
in the dust, were regarded by our laws
if not by the universal laws of nations
IS having forfeited many of their rights
even that to life itself. What followed?
Instead of enforcing penalties which law
md precedent said might be given, we see
our government re established through all
he land, and victorious over all its foes,
letting its rebellious enemies go wholly
unwhipt of iustice;" and not only that,
hut soon, and as many sensible people
hnk, quite too soon, letting them return
o the enjoyment of their former privileges
md even allowing those who had stood at
The head and front of the rebellion to come
back to the halls of legislation; there to
nave controlling voice in the affairs OF
he government they had Landed together
| overtime v.
| 1t is not the bloody shirt | would
hold up to view. but the shameful ingrati-
ude of those who, having committed the
| most outrageous sins, manifest not one iota
If thankfulness for the forgiveness of the
sime by those against whom they sinned.
| While desiring to be ranked among
| hose who are willing to let "by- cones be
| ~ gones,' in the fullest and most liberal
sense, we must be allowed to make the
| inquiry that heads this article and to hint
It what seem good reasons for giving IL
lecided negative response.
1t is not unfair to estimate what the
democratic party would do. with full con-
troll of the government, by what it has
lone, or attempted to do, with only par
ial power in its hands. It's ranks en-
brace most of those lately in open rebel
lion, and now ere reconstructed; !" but with
IN innate hatred for the power that forced
them back to obedience. Let it be Judged
~ the course it has pursued the last year
or two; and especially in the congress
just adjourned. There we see it filling
every place and position in its power to
'estow upon those lately our country's
,pen foes, and now its secret ones; turn.
ng out, to make place for them, many
who risked life and became manned in its
leftnce.
We do not, by any means, claim all the
purity and all the patti iotism rs belonging
to the republican party. 1t has many
Scoundrels in its ranks; many who, if they
lad ther just deserts, would be in the
Denitentiary; many who would without
scluple, sacrifice everything pure and
good for their own emolument. But its
mission is not ended. In its continued as
tendency lies our conntrys only hope from
bankruptcy had financial ruin. There has
not been time since the firing upon
'umpter when its saving power was
more needed than now.
Let the democratic party become so
strongly entrenched in power that it will
are 10 do what it would like to do, and
we should see some things attempted thai
would astonish the world; things that
would be secuted, as having I'm existence
,nly in the imagnations of crack Drained
fanatics. Give full control of the legisla.
tive and executive branches of the govern
tnent to the party that now controls the
house of representatives, and the claims
for war losses-put in by those openly or
secretly engaged in aiding the rebellion
would be almost numberless.
Every friend to the lost cause" who
had a few pecks of potatoes, Il pig or n few
Chickens taken to feed the Union army.
while struggling to maintain the govern
nent they were striving to overthrow
would not be backward in presenting his
claim for remuneration, or faint in his
hopes of its being allowed. What nexl
might we expectp Every wounded rebel
soldier would be pensioned. Every widow
IF those killed while fighting against the
Union, or from causes that could be traced
TO the war, would be made the recipients
Of governmental favor. Nor would this
be the end, if their lease of power contn-
ned. The owners of emanripated slaves,
made free by the emancipation proclama
ton, would ask pay for the same. And
they would get what they asked for, unless