The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-09
Impracticable Notions.

Our valued contemporary, the Times, pub
fishes conversation with Southern man,
whose name Is withheld. and who answcre
In the following manner the question what
the Republican party should have done after
Tho rebellion had been subdued:
The Republican party at that time should have dc.
tlared total absence sata lines In tho entire South
srn territory Then there would have been no states,
and cons Qucnuy representation In Congress- and no
room for partisan rivalry. In decade laws could have
been enacted the West Virginia plan. botng
forever the old STATE frontiers aud state Mean.
while the whole territory should have consisted Of mill
tary districts
This ls n very simple plan and VIC dare
say it may have been thought of by various
Republican leaders at tho time when the
subject had to be acted upon; but II IL en-
tirely impracticablc, and for that reason,
II for no other. no attempt 10 carry it into
execution was ever made.
In despotic government 1t is both
accessory and feasible to treat rebellious
provinces and rchclious chiefs with ex-
treme severity. Where the people are
subjects, those Of them who revolt and are
subdued, expect to be punished without
mercy; and history is full OF such cases
But In selfgoverning republic this thing
cannot be attempted. 1t would be TO de-
Stroy the whole system OF government. II
State lines and the whole form OF political
organization had been suppressed In the
South at the close Of the rebellion, leaving
military satraps and military power To
occupy their places, II would not have re-
quircd ten years TO abolish State lines
and popular authority everywhere, and To
convert the entire Federal republic into
consolidated military despotism. That such
must be the result Is evident to every one
who knows history and reflects on the ques-
lion; and this is, doubtless, one reason why
The plan was never seriously brought for
ward among the projects mOOted at the time.
In self-governing republic the revolt Of
portion of its citizens seeking 10 divide
the country-a thing no virile people has
ever tolerated-may be powerfully and UNI
sparinRly crushed; but it can only be
crushed for the purpose OF obliging the
rebels to return to their allegiance, and, as
soon as possible, TO take their full and
equal share in legislation and in admins
tration. As soon as II Is certain that they
have laid down their arms and renewed
their obedience to the laws, 1t becomes i'm
possible to make war upon them any
further; and prosecutions for treason and
political Acknowledgement cease at that
moment TO be ut all In order.
For these reasons we hold that the views
OF the Southern Democrat interviewed by
the Times are radically erroneous. And we
hold, also, that the action OF those who, on
either side. deliberately exert themselves to
keep alive the fury and hatred of civil war
long after war has ceased 10 exist, is u hate
full and a wicked action.
At the same time it is natural that the in
terests and passions which such conflict
evokes should remain alive after its politl-
cal consequences are terminated, just as
the embers Of a fire may continue to
shoulder long after its flame has been
BmOthpred