National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-05-20

The Tot Of yesterday was still con-
fused over the vote Of General Malone
10 refer the rcbbs bill to the Judiciary
Committee. II says that we are "uncaDe
did - in asserting that this was not n vote
against the Military Committees rider 10
the bill, Nothing l. clearer than that
the most friendly vote upon the proposi.
ton was 10 refer u 10 the appropriate
committee, IN order that, away from the
excitement and heat Of a public debate,
the matter could be considered upon its
merits, and not handled about os a party
makc-wcirht General Mahoue's letter,
which appeared In yesterday Rrrrnii.
CAN, will be instructive 90 the editor Of
the Tot, who has been allowing the Nir-
ginia Bourbon editors and old spiieml
Parson Massey ~ cloud bis usually clear
intellect. lie will observe that the Nir.
pinia Senator calls attention ~ the fact
that from 1879 to 1881 both Houses 81
Congress were controlled Ivy those who
are now in ,ucha hurry 10 climb upon Dr.
Tebbss back aud deprive him Of rcliefun.
I'll he can be used as q sponge with which
TO wipe out "a statute practically dead.
And where was the editor Of the Fot
during that sun hne Of Democratic
power2 What hay did ho try 10 have
made for the oppressed conicdcntcs
Can he point to q word in the ioH or a
word spoken in either House Of Congress
during that Bourbon reign which even
limited at q repeal of the section which
now so disturbs him2 General Malone
voted to refer the question To the Judi
ciary Committee "to arrest a further III
tempered line Of discussion which had
been unhappily provoked" He did Hoi
vote against the repeal Of the disqualiiy-
ing section. He did not give a vote
unfriendly TO such repeal. lie says
it is better taste for cx-confcdcratos Ia
allow the representatives Of the Union
side to bring forward the proposition.
We reproduce his wise, patriotic, and
statesmanlike words on this point:
As to the statute which excludes those who worc
in the confederate military service from holding
n commission in the military service OF Oh,
United statcs-broadly s'Ricd-my opinion, my
Judgment, and my feeling Hrc that Il Involves
nothing practical 10 the confederate soldier; moth
ing more than sentiment, and that he, With be-
coming selr.rcspect, would only desire and np'
prcciatc the removal Of ouch disability when d
comes of the voluntary motion OF the representa-
tivcs of that section and side In the unhappy
struggle by whom It was imposed. The power
and the right to impose such disability were con.
cludcd fully and finally nt App, maiiux, and the
confederate soldier, in my opinion, VIII proudly
bear every consequence Of Lees surrender, not
in anger nor because there fingers with him any
hcsitancy in his obedience 10 the laws which his
parol at Appomattox honoraIly bound him 10 re-
spcct, nor any reservations in his allegiance 10
q reunited country. l cannot permit myself TO aid
in making the graves Of confederate soldiers. nor
their widows and orphans, to become the stakes
and pawns In the game Of politics. will not be.
come party to proiitless discussion Of initiating
questions that are calculated to fIcshon Issues
which are naturally closing, and when the whole
country is drifting surely and earnestly TO the safe
anchorage of peace and fraternity under the guild.
ance of President whoso policy toward the South
is one of friendship.
Such is the attitude of the brave con.
federate general, whose name is the
talisman of victory in the Old Domin.
ion, and against whose resolute indie
pendence, able coadjutors, and sturdy fol-
lowing all enemies united cannot prevail
1t i'll becomes the Bourbon Democracy
to find fault with his vote to refer to q
committee, for friendly reasons, propo'
sition which they say ought to be passed
without reference, but which they never
| proposed during the six years they had
the House, or the two years during which
they had clear majority both in Senate
and House. 1t is uncandid not to cal
it by palmer and more appropriate
name" Tor the editor of the Post to pre-
tend that General Mahone's course on
this question is n fair subject of criticism
by the press of the Bourbon party, whose
Representatives had the power during
two years to repeal the disqualification
under consideration, and refused to
exercise it. They did not want the dis.
qualification removed. AS the medical
quack dotes on the continued illness Of
his victim, so the political QuRck harps
on wrongs he disdans to cure, and revels
in miseries to remedy which would
deprive him of livelihood.
We hope the Republicans of the Senate
Judiciary Committee will decide that the
time has come for the repeal of the Sec