National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-03-17


peace, and for fifteen years the party which
failed to dismember the nation has been
steadily conspiring and plotting for its re-
capture under the old dshopored and dis
carded flag of the Democracy.
In the meantime the Republican party,
though strongly intrenched in sound and
beneiicent principles and sustained by q
prestige that with due sagacity and provi-
dence would have rendered its rule per-
petual, has been gradually letting go its
prestige through an amiable weakness
known as magnanimity. Instead Of hold
ing the vanquished in their proper and safe
relation to the Government which they had
attempted to destroy, by practically teach
ing the doctrine that treason is odious,"
and that the enemies of the country cannot
be safely intrustcd with the management of
public affairs, in the very earliest stages OF
reorganization and reconstruction we made
haste to clothe our conquering power with
the most attractive robes of magnanimity
and forgiveness. No traitor was pun
ished for his treason. No rebel was
called to account for having plunged
the nation in long, bloody, and expensive
war to save its life. We did not wait to
feel of the temper or to scrutiniae and test
the purposes OF the people who had been in
arms against the national integrity and
life, who had filed the land with mourning,
and had loaded the country with heavy
burden of indebtedness which is TO be
,,I Iol g., h,., ont aud Gi-
ture generations; but instead of exercising
this wise precaution, the Republican party,
which saved the nation, made haste TO
clothe itself in spirit Of high magnanimity
and TO indulge concessions and forgiveness
to an extent that has known no punishment
for the highest otienses found in the calen-
dar of crime, but which, on the other hand,
has granted amnesty and immunity unpar-
alielled in the annals of the world.
II was not unreasonable to expect in re-
| turn for all this some sense Of gratitude ;
but none has been exhibited. Instead of
this, the inspiration that has moved the
South has been purely that Of sellishmess
and insolence, steadily stimulating and de-
velopng u desire to take advantage and
reap sectional benefits. They could not
break up the Union nor destroy the Repub-
| lie by force but they have studiously
/ sought to get control of the Government
through political power under the immu-
mites extended by rare spirit of tolcrh-
| tion until they will tomorrow be in pos
| session of the legislative branch ; and from
this day out, until they are again defeated
and rebuked for their ingratitude and dis
loyalty to the public welfare, they will con-
tinue 10 conspre aud plot for the ESecu-
/ tive branch, with a view to subiugating,
/ through these agencies, the Government TO
| their full and entire control.
Thus, through Republican indulgence
and maguNnimIty, is the peace Of the nation
placed in jeopardy again, and the worst
enemies Of the Union are pressing to the
front TO control our national destiny Nc
act of magnanimity or immunity on the
part of the Republican party from the day
of the surrender down to the present houi
has challenged symptom Of gratitude or q
corresponding return of favor from those
who lave been amnestied, favored, and re.
stored to forfeited citizenship, instead Of be-
ing held TO n just responsibility for tho
crimes they had committed against th'
peace and unity of the nation.
The present condition of affairs is
well calculated 10 admonsh the Repub
lican party how little it has won by
its magnanimity, and how much j
has lost in political advantage by
q tender of immunities and tavors tha
are not appreciated, and have been only ac
ceptcd in the spirit of rank ingratitude, ant
have been made stepping-stones to mischicv
ous ends. The first act OF the Democratic
party on its new departure in legislativ,
power will be to attempt to surrender til,
ballot-box to the agencies of wrong, fraud
and corruption. The first session of tn
Forty-siSth Congress will be devoted to TIL
end that fraud shall be no longer shut on
from the ballot-boX by statutory enactment
II was for this purpose that an extra session
was made necessary, and it is TO the accom-
plishment ofthis end that the nation has beel
cursed by reassembling Of Congress whe
the country needed peace and quiet to enCoul
age enterprise and foster trade, commerce
and manufactures. by proper regard lo
the general welfare the ensuing session o
Congress would have been avoided. Ther
would have been no necessity for it eXcep
rs it has been created by 4 Democratic lIous
of Representatives in the interest of frau
aud corruption and now the path Of Re
publican duty is plain, That party j
Congress must place itself sternly be
tween the Democrats and their purposes {
mischief, taking advantage OF every circum
stance and agency that the situation an
the Constitution afford for avertng the COZ
sequences which are impending in this hor
of peril. The time for toying with the Ell,
mics of the country has gone by. Firmne,
of purpose and courageous action on III
part of the minority in Congress and III
Executive afford the last hope of the cour
= try. It's safety centres there. That ia,
must not be lost sight of nor be forgotten
2 ----
YES, THANK GOD, WE HAVE CAPTURE
THE CAPIroLi
After struggle Of eighteen years in war an
politics, the COufederaCy has at last captured II
/ Capitol Washington Republican,.