New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-05-03
CONCERNING EMBERS.


uant purpose to rake among the embers of
the past. But those who are so ready with
this accusation appear to see no objection
whatever to the most profound and painful
researches into that troubled era, when pros
ecuted by men who were rebels, and when
the object is the defamation of loyal officers.
The sacredness of the grave Is an entirely
one-sided affair, in the minds of these critics.
1t is a brutal thing to say that Robert Lee
was traitor to his flag, but to deflc with
foul and ingenious calumny the graves OF LIN
coin and Stanton and Sumner is, they think,
vindicating the truth of history. Now it is
not pleasing for any right-feeling person to
dwell oyermuch upon the crimes and mlsfOr-
tunes of the past, but it must not be taken
for granted that we all agree with the senti-
ments of the Democratic newspapers and
statesmen of the present day, when they as
sert OF insinuate that all the virtue was on
the beaten side, and al IL remorse should
belolded on the c0nsCences OF the vlct0rs.
1t seems necessary TO say, once III while, To
keep the historical muse from becoming be-
wildered by foolish clamOr, that the Rebellion
was q crime, that the men engaged III 1t were
criminals, that those who died III it died IN
wrong cause, that those who survived owed
their lives to the clemency of the Nation. and
that in estimating the moral value Of persons
who were engaged in that struggle, the side
on which they labored is an essential circum-
stance. and raises at once presumption for or
against them.
One Of the men who labored hardest and
most efficiently in that controversy on the side
Al. IN on1 II
therefore, natural that he should be subject
to some very savage attack but it is little
curious that the precise incident for which he,
in common with other distinguished officers,
is most belabored, at this moment, is the
c0urt-martal of the aCcOmplices of Wilkes
Booth, after the murder of Mr.. Lincoln. a
CHASTITY story, which would be simply ridicu-
lOus if il were not so atrOciOusly malignant,
has recently made its progress through the
Democratic papers, relating how all the per-
sons responsible for the execution of Mrs.
Surratt have miserably persisted. Secretary
Stanton had committed suicide, Judge Holt
had disappeared from public view, and Con-
gresham Bingham had sought refuge in exile.
We printed the other day letter of Surgeon
General Barnes dispOsing Of the SANDER on
the memory Of Nj. Stanton, showing that he
died Of heart disease, literally with his
harness on, having made an eXhausting arGu-
mept in court on the last day he was out of
his house. The exile Of Mr.. Bingham may be
q terrible punishment, but we think we could
point out on any fine day some hundreds OF
Confederate brigadiers who would be de-
lighted to replace him at the Court of Japan.
As to the case of Judge Holt, the honorable
retirement in which he lives, attended by the
love of his friends and the praise and rever
ence of his fcllOw-citizens, may seem ex-
remely dismal to his maliSners, but they
might discreetly pray for such tranquil and
blessed evening of life as that which is as
sured to Mr.. Holt, as fitting reward for his
great services to the country
A woman on the galows is not an agree
able spectacle-nor is it pleasant to contem-
plate a woman engaged in acts which law
fully bring her there. a court of experienced
and capable officers tried Mrs Surratt, and
after due delberatiOn found her guilty of
completely in the murder Of Mr.. Lincoln.
Most people, at the time, thought the sem
tence Just and fully warranted by the EVIL
dence. The only theory of the defence was
that she did not know Lincoln was to be
murdered, and that the conspiracy organized
at her house, and with her full concurrence,
involved originally merely the capture of the
President, with the view of taking him to
Richmond This intentIon-whch in the exc
cution after the capture Of Richmond became
murder-seems to her apOlOglsts perfectly
innocent. They can sec nothing worthy of
punishment III scheme, cOncOcted in Wash
ington by spies and rebels, to seize the Com
mander-in-Chief of our Army and Navy in
time of war, and hand him over to the enemy.
1t will seem to most candid people a matter
of Indifference which OF these crimes she
plotted. The one was as black as the other !;
each involved actual treason and potential
murder and each, by the laws of any civilized
nation, was properly punishable by death,
after summary trial. The TRIBUNE does not
believe in hanging men or women either, so
long as any better use can be found for them !;
but if hanging is ever demanded by law and
justice, this was such case.
Ii is curious proof of the diseased state
of mind with when the Democrats of to-day
regard the recent history of the country, that
they print without comment the -eulOgies of
Jefferson Davis delivered in the Senate, the
announcement of men like Blackburn that
they intend to wipe out the last vestige Of
the war legislation of the Republicans, and
greedily seize and publish the most senseless
and childish slanders against men whose char
aracter and fame are among the possessions
of the Nation. Tho want0n wickedness of
these outrages does not seem SO fragrant as
their impolicy.
TIE Nan WHO DID NOTHING FOR THE