Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-05-22
RLAINE,S BOMR4ST,

Mr. Blaine can be both forcible and satiri-
cal by turns. His forte, if we can believe
his admirers, is irony, and in this he shines
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.
To taunt man for what he was two de-
cades ago may constitute argument, but we
cannot think so, 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 q
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? It 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
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
l mostly, nursing their wrath to keep il
) warm, for these long years. They may have
5 entered into the rebellion and at that time
: have cherished feelings of animosity to
Q wards the people of the North, but wher
g they had been conquered they dropped al
Q such sentiments and again professed to b.
Q leal to the union and the constitution. A
y far as outward appearances are concerned
we can inC2 nOlnlnS 10 "arraHI tEe cnarS
:: that the change in their sentiments was no
9 thorough. They bave acknowledged thei
s fault and have atoned for it, an
y having received every possibl
70 legal forgiveness it would seem that they ar
y entitled to the benefit of moral forgiveness
IS Mr.. Blaine's course is as reprehensible a
10 would be that of church member VIII
u should taunt a person recently admitte
if with the sins he had previously committed
It for which he had received absolutlon, an
ic was entitled to have them buried in forget
re- fitness. But the sins that the Souther
r people have committed, it seems, are neve
W to be forgiven or forgotten, at least as Ion
al as they can be utilized to serve politics
J. purpose-that of firing the Northern hear
ID In the opinion of Mr.. Blaine and his fello
IS alarmists the man who, twenty years ag
~ wasa rebel against the government, is reb
lg to-day. They do not believe in the poss
It. bitity of conversion or repentance. The
re- can condone sins of far greater magn
Q tude. They can take conyicte