The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-03-12

members, and we cannot too soon
Danish expectations based upon an
idea that they viii be more moder-
ate in power than Ia opposition.
Something For the Country 10 Con.
The Democratic party, by the votes
and speeches of its representatives in
the United States Senate, places it,
self squarely on the record in favor
of paying a pension to Jefferson Da-
Wis. More than that it declares that
to call treason by its right name, to
dnnounce conspirscies for the destruc-
ton Of the Union as crimes, TO dis
criminate in any way between the
men who broke their oath aud the
men who kept it. the mel who fought
to destroy the Nation and the men
who gave their lives to defend it, is q
wsntoa insult to the best part of The
Democracy, and is TO DO rssented
with all the indignation that the Eng-
lisb language is capable of express
ing. The defence Of the leader of the
rebellion was DOT left TO the Con
federate Brigadiers" alone. Mr..
Thurman took q lively part in L., and
when a reference was made to Urea
son" be volunteered The remark that
the treason of MASSACHUSETTS had
been longer aud more violent than
that of any other State IN the
Union!
1t was a good and useful debate
Foolish sentiment and random rheto-
ric have been allowed to ' up
important political truths; and it is
high time for Us to 6od out where the
parties stand, what they believe, and
what they propose to do. We, and
those who think with us, have al
ways held that the rebellion was
wicked; that it was Infamous in its
origin and Infamous in its objects F;
that il was a hideous conspiracy,
organized against The best aud most
equitable Government in the world,
for d purpose no less base than the
perpetuation of human slavery ; that
Jefferson Davis perjured himself
when he took up arms against the
Government TO which he had sworn
allegiance that the leaders Of the
secession movement committed @ dis
graceful act when they secretly and
treacherously made use OF their off.
cial position to disarm the National
forces before they renowned their
citizenship and surrendered their
places Of trust and power at Wash
Ington. That was the belief Of the
heroic host who sprang to arms in
defence Of the Uaion, and whD died
for their belief on the banks of the
Cumberland and the Rappahannock,
before the bluffs of Vicksburg, In the
swamps Of the Chickahominy, on the
ridges of Getty sbnrg, in the awful
thicket of the Wilderness. II the re-
bellion was not a crime, u dead
have died 10 vain. If Davis is q
patriot then Lincoln was none, aud
Wilkes Booth was a hero. If the
CHEZ OF the Confederacy will GO down
to pesterity as the peer of Washing
ton, then o6rs was the crime in fight
ing against the cause which be repre-
scented, and justice will never be done
until the consequences of the contest
have been reversed. It is high time
for these questions to be cleared up
Davis has already returned 10 pollt-
ical activity, and made a rather strik-
ing speech last Summer, dencuncirg
the Government which gave him his
life, and reminding the perdoned
Confederstes that in returning to the
Union they made DO promise Of Fl.
deity except to the old Constitution,
az they understood its provisions
before the RADICALS bad strained and
distorted it. The present Govern
ment, be assured them, was not con-
stitutional, and they owed it no 10y
ally. But his Northern and South
err apologists 10 the Senate consider
it to be greatly to his credit, first that
be does not counsel a new insurrec.
ton ct present. especially since the
South seems to be in q fair way Of
getting all its wants without SO much
trouble, aud secondly that be will not
stoop to ask any fayors of the United
States.
Let nobody say that Mr.. Davis is
no longer q person of public conse-
ouence it is not with him hat We
are concerned. but with his euloeis.s,
and the manifestations Of their spirit
aud intentions and these men are Of
public consequence. for they control,
from this time, both branches of the
National Congress. 1t is the soul of
the Rebellion which now snimates
the Democratic party. The highest
ann OF that party is 10 tear down
whatever the var built rp@to re-
store whatever the war destroyed.
A pension to Jefferson Davis lie the
next thing to saddliDg the North
with the payment of the Confederate
debts, the satisfaction of the South
ern war claimants, and the virtual
reputation of the debts contracted in
the National defence. Let the coun-
try look upon the spectacle of the
closing night Of Congress. and pro-
nounce it's judgment-New YORK
Tribune.