, 1881-03-06

and dangerous because they half believed
they were in the right, looking into the very
eyes Of the consplrators who would have
murdered him then and there had they not
felt confident Of their ability to capture him
and destroy the Government he had just
taken 4 solemn oath to maintain,-there, on
the steps Of the Capitol, Mr. Lincoln uttered
these memorable words:
We are not enemies, but friends. We must
not be enemies. Though passion may have
strained it must not break our bonds OF ahec- &c,
from every battlefield aud patriot grave to every
living heart and henrtbstonc all over this broad
land, will yot swell the chorus OF the Union,
When aQutu touched, as surely they will be, bY
the better angels OF Our nature.
"1Vc 7n1tst not be cnenies,"-tlli is the
central idea OF Mr.. Lincoln's eSaulsit, touch
ing appeal for reconciliation. Years before
his clear, logical mind enabled him to foresee
the irrepressible conflict, to see how futile
we're all the efforts of the compromises to
create an enduring peace between right and
Justice on tie one hand and cruelty and
oppression on the other. But now he held
the sceptre, and he could not bear to think
either Of drawing the sword or OF divided
empire. There never was better lllnstra-
ton Of the hallucination which results from
a loving lropefulness. Looking into the eyes
ct his would-be murtterers, Mr.: Lincoln
fo1ll1y said: s'We are not enemies, but
friends'! Then follows that beautiful fnvo-
cation to the spirit Of patriotism which, in
both sentiment and expression, is unexcelled
in tho English language, but (which fell upon
dull, cold ears so far as it was intended to
41,oo oetr ~ T.
have passed away since the solemn
occasion Of the inauguration Of the first Re
pubIican-party President, and Gen. Garfield
lately stood where Lincoln uttered his prayer
for peace. The new President is not unlike,
the great Lincoln, who was not only sternly
logical but tenderly sentimental, and with
al almost superstitiously religious. Gen.
Garfield has a great brain and a great heart.
His great brain tells him that during the
twenty years which have elapsed since Lin
coin gave utterance to the pro1nptings Of his
heart instead of the logic OF his mind" We
are not enemies. but friends ''-the South
through its. representatives has given 10
good evidence Of friendship for the North
ern people, OIL of loyalty to the National Gov
ernlnent.
But Gen. Garfield 1gu71t8 peace and recon-
ciliation. lie auants the Southern people to
become loyal to the Nation, and, above all, he
quua.ts them to love, honor, and respect him
as a man and as Chief Magistrate. So. in
the spirit of optimism, standing where Lin
coin stood. he says: My countrrmen, We do
not now differ in our Judgment concerning
the controversies Of past generations, and
fifty years hence our children will
not be divided in their opinions con-
cerning Our controversies Here the
heart speaEs,-it is the assertion of the
pathetic in its earnestness, for reconciliation,
which Of course is a confession that there is
still something to be reconci.ed. Well. what |
Is it ?. The whole country knows, and Gen.
Garfield knows, that the Southern people OBJ
ject to the political, constitutional fact Of the
negros freedom and his right to vote and |
hold office. The Southern people want to be |
reconciled to this condition Of things to
which they object by being permitted to |
plunge their hands deep into the Treasury |
ND pay themselves for their grievances with |
arge sums of public money.
Tie country need not fear that President |
will suffer reconciliation to come by this
method. Hence hard-neaded people know
what President Gartield's strong common
ense teaches him: that bitter differences
viii continue to arise between the North and
lie South for many years to come. In re-
ard to suffrage the President says, among
,ther things: "a bad local Government is
ertainly great evil which ought to be pre-
ented, but to violate the freedom
nd sanctity Of suffrage Is more than
n evil; It is crime. which. If
ersisted in, will destroy the Government
tself. Suicide is hot remedy. # III other
ands it be high treason to compass the death
t the King, 1t should be counted no less 4
rilne here to strangle our sovereign power
nd stlte its voice" This is true in fact, and
plendidly and strongly stated. The crime
'hich President Garfield describes is com-
lifted by, wholesale at every election held in
umbers Of the Southern States. II this
rlnle stands On q level with the crime OF
.eason, it ought to be punished the very
ext time it is committed. What will the
ew Administration do about ito Will it
:ust in an optimistic way to its dying out, or
ill it 5rrang1e it?