The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-22
A Few words to Some E1-Confederntes.

A Few Words TO Some Ex-Confcderates.
Many Of the men who represent the South
ern States in Congress are veterans OF the
War Of the Rebellion. They served on tho
Southern side. Some Of them arrived Mt a
considerable rank in the Confederate army.
There are several members OF the Forty
sixth Congress who were hrigadlor-gcncra
under JEFFERSON DAVIS, and not few who
were colonies and majors. We make no
question that the acknowledgements and
the colonies and the majors fought well and
believed in the cause for which they took up
She sword But the fact remains that they
fought for the wrong side, and fought to be
defeated
It is eighteen years this month since
BEAUREGABD opened fire on Sumter; four
teen years this month since LEE and JoHN-
SION surrendered. To rcproach the cx-Con-
fcdcratc rigadicr-generals and colonies and
majors now for their error then. and TO taunt
them with this failure, is both unmanly and
unjust. 1t is unmanly. because they have
suffered enough already; unjust, because
they have been pardoncd by the people and
welcomed back into tho Union, where they
remain. enjoying equally with their former
antagonists all the privileges OF full citizen
ship.
There are also In Congress n number OF
Northcrners who did, and a greater num-
Der of Northcrners who did not. fight TO up
hold the Union, who now find 1t 10 their
political interest to exasperatc the EXON
tolerate brigadiers, colonies, and majors
Most of the Northern Republicans who hold
to not H.ss I.tlfl tsnF..
policy, kept well away from the exc onfedl-
erato brigadiers, colonies, and majors at the
time when proximity was not unattended
with danger. The most conspicuous repre-
sentative in the Senate Of that class Of Re-
publicans was drafted into the army, but
procured n substitute and highly profit
able contract almost simultaneously. The
most conspicuous representative OF that
class in the House ranks at home as gen
eral, but his title was earned far from the
nearest battlefield, in the service OF his own
State, as chief prosecuting officer against
the local law breakers.
These men are bent on keeping alive the
sectional passions resulting from the civil
war To this end they are doing all that
they can. That is not much for the great
mass Of the people Of the North understand
them, know what their words are worth,
aud know, moreover, that it is best for all
Of us that the sectional passions should dis
appear.
Yet, II the ex-Confederates in Congress
wish TO identify the politicians whose words
and acts at this time most seriously threaten
the amity Of the North and South, they
must look for them among their own
number.
There are thirty-fve million people at the
North who judge the eight million people Of
the South by the men representing the
South at Washington. Whether these men
We're brigadier-gcncrals in the Confederate
army, or colonies, or majors, or privates, or
non-combatants, makes little difference now.
The real desire Of the North is Ia let the
past be buried. The South, through it's rep
resentatives, must meet this sentiment at
least half way.
As long MS there Is sectional controversy,
the South will remain undcrmost. We in
vito the serious attention Of the more sensi-
bic ex-Coniedcrates in Congress 10 this un-
alterable fact; and We warn them that in
order to gain the full confidence OF the
North and to silence every cry raised
against them for partisan purposes by the
Republican leaders, they must do certain
things:
They must stop Boosting that they have
captured the Capitol and the Government.
The Government and the Capitol are ma
tlonal institutions. They can never be See
tional institutions.
They must restrain and dscountenance
those among their number who regard their
election 70 Congress as n reversal Of the
verdict OF 1865, aud who look upon the pub
lie funds in the United States Treasury as
the legitimate spells Of victory.
However keenly they may feel the in
justice and ungeuerosty Of tho taunts flung
Mt them for the part they bore in the civil
war, they must at least refrain from re-
preaching, either directly or by implication
the men who upheld the Union Tor having
upheld 1t against their assault.
They must suppress some Of their NUM-
bor TO whom nature has given blood too hot
Tor politics, and in whom education has de-
veloped fatal iluX Of speech. One Of the
chief present dangers to the future Of the
Democratic party and Of the country grows
out of the obtrusvcncss and .bombastic rhet-
ORIG OF these decaimers.