The National tribune., 1882-05-13
GOOD Knows Who was Right"

were enlivened, last week, by quite vigor-
Gus debate over the question of permitting
ex-confederates to enter the Regular army,
| and naturally the discussion revived all the
old issues of the war. Senator Edmunds
referred to the rebellion as "crime" and
Senator Hampton replied that God alone
knows who was right"
We are not among those who delight In
rekindling the embers of national hate at
every opportunity, and we would willingly
eonsign to oblivion everything relating to
our unhappy civil strife, except the valor OF
the American soldier, but it is little too
much at this late day to have the insinua-
ton hurled in our face that after all it is
still an open question whether those who
laid down their lives for the preservation of
the Union or those who fought to destroy it,
were in the right and that God alone can
decide If that is the sentiment of the
Southern people generally, to permit the en-
| listment of ex-confederates in the Regular
army would indeed be blunder, for if de-
tered by no consideration of principle there
would be nothing to restrain them from en-
gaging in a new rebellion, should the oppor-
tunity ever arise. 1t has not yet been for
gotten that the Republic clothed fed, and ed
ucated at its own expense the officers who at-
| @bo, ror. .{c
We are disposed to think, however that
Senator Hampton does not fairly represent
the Southern people, but only the extreme
| Bourbon element of his section-an element
which is destined to grow less and less pow
erful as education reduces the gap between
the old slave holding class and the poor
whites and the growth of manufactures
compels the recognition of the dignity of
labor. broad distinction must be made
between this element and that whose ac-
tivity is concentrated on the industrial de-
| velopment of the South. 1t is not to be
expected that professional politicians like
Senator Hampton, who have perpetuated
their power by the debauchery of the ballot
box and appeals to the prejudices of their
people, should admit that the rebellion was
a crime, but the time is comiijg when even
at the South the miserable deception which
was practiced upon that section by the am
bilious leaders of the confederacy will be
| thoroughly understood and properly de-
tested. The war has had some results
which the wisest did not anticipate. 1t
emancipated not only the black but the
white race from the rule of caste. 1t has
given schools not only to the colored but
the white youth, and, as illiteracy decreases,
we may be sure that the influence of the old
governing class-the planters aristOcracy-
will steadily decline.
But even were the moral change which
the war has brought about in the condition
of the South not as radical as it is, the
physical revolution which it has wrought
would be all sufficient to disprove Senator
| Hampton's bold assei IN that the righteous
ness of the struggle for the preservation of
| the Union remains unestablished. The very
prosperity of the country bears testimony to
the worth of the cause for which the north
ern armies contended, and even the Senator
| from South Carolina must admit that during
| the period that has elapsed since the war the
industrial development of the South has
eclipsed that Of any previous epoch in its
history. Northern capitalists have lent
their aid to the construction of railroads,
the opening up Of mines, and the establish
ment of manufactures, in every southern
State, and in place Of the utter ruin which
the folly of the confederate leaders invited,
a prosperity hitherto unknown has blessed
the land. Senator Hampton would turn
back the hands and reverse the wheels of
progress He would have us believe that
the southern people, while submitting to
| the inevitable, have not changed their opin-
ion of secession, and that "God alone knows
who was right" God forbid that such
| should be the case. The existence of such
a sentiment would be perpetual menace to
the peace and safety of the Republic; and
we should feel that, although an integral
portion of the Union, the South could never
be trusted to battle for its preservation
should its security be endangered by a
foreign power.
But we do not believe that Senator Hamp-
ton voices the opinion of aught save his
fellow Bourbons. In the judgment of the
nation God has already decided who was
right, and it is only the self-seeking poll
clan who refuses to recognize the infinite
wisdom and mercy Of His decree.
Let Us Have Fair Play.
The Friday evening session Of the House
of Representatives is devoted solely to the