Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-05-12
GEN. NAHONk AND THE Elk
CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS.

Looking beyond the mere party effect OF
Senator Nahone's vote obstrueting the re-
neal of the law prohibiting sx-Confsdsrats
soldiers from holding any position in the
army Of the United States, his action il to
be deplorsd in the interest Of . harmonious
nation. If the men who have led Con
federatss and who have had the fullest op-
portunity to know them, cannot trust
them in the army Of the nation, then who
can trust thsm? Such will bs the reason
able inference drawn by the country at
largo from Nahone's vote. When the
question Of trusting them comes up on its
merits in the law-making tribunal of last
resort Of the nation; when those in that
court, Who, from lack Of other oppsrtuni-
~, have to vote on prejudice rather than
on knowledge; when those who SO vote are
Ill ranged against the sx-Confederate and
those who know him are all, with one OK
eeption, ranged on the other side and when
the casting vote lies with Senator from
one Of the exc Confederate States, himsslf
during the war the recognized leader of
among the bravest and most steadfast
Of her troops--that such an one should
cross over and stand with those Who doubt
the loyalty of these men, will not only re-
open the question Of THAI loyalty but place
in the banda of those who would discredit
"a most useful wsapen.
What sort Of sslibsrality" in pelitics ID
this? What sort OF libsrality is that which
induces an sx-Confsderate leader to cast
the stigma of doubt upon the professions
of his old comrades? Was this done ''in
the interest OF Rsadjustment," a standing
excuse for all the acts of the Malone lead :
ers. Il it the ssintersst" Of Rsadjustmsnt
that . Virginia Senator should serve q
stalwart Republican administration with
such abject obssquiousness ~ to turn
his back on those who fought with him
ana under him? Not loyal? Was ever Ma
hons 3 brigade" untrue to any cause they
professed to be faithful to. Are such men
when they offer their services to the Re-
public to have their offer pigeon holed with
the Judiciary Committee that their ''ley-
atty" may be investigated. Can it be true
Of any nation that it does not want all its
people in time of trouble. What would
Great Britain not give if her people were
OF one mind, or Austria or Russia; and if
this be true Of monarchis g how much more
30 Of Republicl That man who throws
himself across even the humblsst by-path
that leads to q thorough understanding
and cordial union between the American
people of all sections should have larger rea-
sons for the obstruction than partizan ag
grandizsmsnt. Once, already, has this
country shown to the world that where
the life Of the nation is concerned mere
party lines vanish into the sir. And twice
has it said that political parties shall not
live on tho war. The Stalwart section OF
the Republican party with which Senator
Malone has allied himself and is seeking
to ally his followers, has been told twice
in the last six years that it shall not
draw its Presidential plants from the hot
house of war hatreds. The assassin s bull
let, it il true, thwarted the nations will
whsn it last gave it voice. but the popular
will 10 still the same. Senator Malone
has erred in judgment if he has supposed
that this Offering of prescription which he
has rendered the High Priest of the Rspub-
lican party for favors received will be
counted as gift laid upon the altar of the
Nation. When Charles Sumner in tho
same Senate chamber, in his desire to OBJ
literats the memories of the war, offered
. resolution to remove from the army flags
the names Of the battles of tho civil war,
he was much nearer to the hearts of all
the American people than VIM. Malone
ten years later when he voted to consign
to the tomb Of committee the proposition
that twenty years after war those who
had parti eipated in it on one side should
not be dsbarred from serving in the army
of the Nation.