National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-01-06
History Reneats Itself.


the men who refused to be awakened
until the Mexican war was waged for
| slave territory should be received into
full communion in their church. The
men who fought for free soil, free
speech, and free labor, in 1913 never
looked with much favor on the new
corners into their ranks who were aroused
by the fllgitive-slave law of 1850 and the
accompanying legislative atrocities of that
year. In 1854 the men of 1850 looked
diStrustfully on those who regarded the
outrages in Kansas as the first real proyoca-
ton given by the slave power. In 1858 the
anti-Lecompton Democrats were counted
but little better than "slave-hounds by
those who in 1S54-'56 had thrown off the
pro-slavery yoke. In 1860 the Republi-
cans rather preferred Breckenridge to
Douglas, and in 1861 many of them were
angry because the Douglas men would
not go into the ranks of the copperheads.
In 1865 the Radical reconstructionistsh had
no patience with the patriotic men who
had been intensely ardent for the Union
| cause, but who then faltered in dealing
thoroughly with the defeated rebels.
And now, when the world has moved
and carried along with it thousands who
were few years ago impracticable and
dissatisfied, we have some who appear to
regret the disintegration of the oppo-
sitiOn, and who set their faces against
receiving recruits. OF this stripe were
those described in the parable of
Christ as complaining because a
new laborer came into the vineyard at
the eleventh hour and received the penny
which was days wages. They had, they
clamored, borne the heat and burden of
the day, and were not to be put on a
level with those recruited in the last
hour. These are held up by the Master
as unworthy and selfish. And 50 must
they be regarded who would now bar the
door Of progress and well-doing against
the men who are struggling to make
forward movement.
The negro question is dead. Ithas given
way to the law and order question. War
legislated. ReactioEary efforts have only
accelerated progress. The silly Southern
sentimentalists who would not see that
their cause had been consumedin the fires
of war, the blatant Bourbons who hugged
to their boSomS the delIlsion that deadly
defeat was only victory postponed, have
lost their hold upon thousands of healthy
minds. Touched by the magic of free
thought and action, this new blood will
tell upon the national health. And 10 !!
we find Northern Bourbons unready to
permit national growth. Privileges
they have enjoyed may be endangered
The profits of patriotism must not
be diminished. But these cannot pre-
vail. The recent election gave us ma
tional victory. 1t signified more than a
party triumph; it meant peaceful con-
quest. The Nation spreads her borders
in fact as well as in theory. The march
of ideas penetrates the South. The ice
breaks. Brave and enlightened men
stand forth who have long been redeemed
from the thraldom of sectional bigotry
and say: "Give us standing-room
among the adherents of the Ma
ton and national authority. Do not
make hard conditions. We are for the
Union, the Constitution, and the enforce
ment of the laws. We break the chains
of tradition, and desire to share in the
blessings of the new era" Who will
dare reject them? Who will be narrow
and mean enough to say to Liberal Demo-
Gratis in Tennessee, "You shall not aid
on equal terms in giving us an Admins
tratiOn Senator in your State. You in Vir-
ginia who have battled under Malone for
equal rights, an honest ballot, free schools,
and fair dealing with State creditors shall
not be heard in the councils ofthe Nation"
There may be some such ones, but they
will speedily open their eyes and march
on, or be left behind The brazen pre-
tenders to fair play who bull-doze voters
and by fraud and violence overthrow the
results of election will not be trusted.
The Bourbon, Democracy of the South and
theirunscrupulous allies at the North, will
not be able to hoodwink the country; but
the true men of the South, who openly cut
loose from them, will lead in those States
where they are not heartily welcomed as
followers The sooner this is realized by
some reputed Southern Republican lead
ers the better will it be for all con-
cerned.