Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-05-22
BLAINE'S BOMB-IST.

Mr.. Blaine can be both fDrcible and satiri- |
cal by turns. His forte, if we can believe
his admirers, is irony, and in this he shines
brilliantly. He tried his hand at irony in
the Senate the other day in the course of the
debate on the legislative appropriation bill,
and achieved distinction as the most brilliant
ass of the century. He did not speak to the
issue pending before the Senate at all, but
went back nearly twenty years to find matter
out of which to frame ammunition to fire at
the Democratic party and the individual
members of that organization who happen
to be members of the Senate at the present
time.
10 taunt man for what he was two de-
cades ago may constitute argument, but we
cannot think 60, especially in country that
has seen so many changes in that time. The
man who has not changed his opinions on
political subjects in the course of the past
twenty years is not worth denominating
man of intelligence. He may have adhered
to certain we'll defined landmarks that dis
tinguished parties in the long ago, but on
questions of minor Importance he must in
evitably have changed, no matter what party
he may give his adhesion to. If he has not
changed, it is an evidence that he is either
incapable of learning or is too obstinate to
merit public confidence. How would the
utterances of Mr.. Blaine twenty years ago
sound when placed side by side with his ut
terances of to-day? 1t is true he has been
consistent in one thing-his hatred of the
South, and has never so far
forgotten himself as to pay even
a passing tribute of respect
to the qualities which adorn the Southern
character, but on all other subjects his views
have materially changed. The case is diff
ferent with those he assaulted on Monday.
They have not harbored sectional ami
mostly, nursing their wrath to keep ii
warm, for these long years. They may have
entered into the rebellion and at that time
have cherished feelings of aninlosity to-
wards the people of the North, but when
they had been conquered they dropped al
| such sentiments and again protested to bs
| leal to the upion and the constitution. As
far as outward appearances are concerned
we can find nothing to warrant the charge
that the change in their sentiments was mo-
thorough. They have acknowledged thei
fault and have atoned for it, ant
having received every possible
legal forgiveness it would seem that they ar,
entitled to the benefit of a moral forgiveness
Mr.. Blaine's course is as reprehensible 81
would be that of church member VIII,
should taunt a person recently admitted
with the sins he had previously committed
for which he had received absolutlon, ant
/ was entitled to have them buried in forget
fitness. Bot the sins that the Southern
people have committed, it seems, are neve
to be forgiven or forgotten, at least as lon;
as they can be utilized to serve e politica
purpose-that of firing the Northern heart
In the opinion of Mr.. Blaine and his felloy
alarmists the man who, twenty years ago
wasa rebel against the government, is a rebe
to-day. They do not believe in the posi-
bility of conversion or repentance. The,
can condone sins Of far greater magni
tude. They can take q eonviete'