The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-01-23
The South Sectional.


ic measure helped in the work of pre-
serving the integrity of the Union and |
the supremacy of the Government. II
there be any credit in having an undi-
vided country it is due wholly to the
heroic efforts of the Republican party. |
Although, of course, there were many |
earnestly loyal Democrats, but they ,
were compelled to go outside of their
party organization to give their patriot
ism effective force. 1t was but natural
when the war was done that the bitter
ness of the struggle should still rankle
in the breasts of the men and women
who paid such fearful price for uni
versal liberty and an undivided country.
There were many who cried for ven
geance; many who wanted the leaders
Of the rebellion hanged and their es-
tates sequestrated. The Republican
party had it in its power to do these
things, and Jefferson Davis, the Presi-
dent of the Contederacy, in anticipation
that something of the kind would be
done, made desperate attempt to es-
cape, while other officials fled to vari-
Gus foreign countries, all evidently i'm
PEELED by the idea that somebody would
have to pay for the crime of rebellion
and civil war; Men like George W.
Julian and Others, then prominent in
the Republican party, were loud and
persistent in their demands that hang
ing and conhscation should begin at
once, and be continued until something
like adequate retribution be visited up
on those active in rushing the country
into civil war. .,.
The Republican party, then as now
anxious TO bury all the animosites OF
conflict in the interest of peace and Sc
cure a united people. turned deaf ear
to all these vindictive entreaties, and
not one man was hanged for treason,
nor was there any conliscation of es-
tates on account OF overt acts OF
disloyalty. The only men that went
into banishment went voluntarily, be-
cause they feared the consequences of
their treason or were unwilling to live
in country made free despite their eff
forts to divide il in the interest of hui
man slavery. With a magnanimity un-
paralleled in such cases, the Govern
ment rehabilitated the States lately in
rebellion, and three years after the
close of the war every State in the
Union participated in the Federal cleo
tion. AS rapidly as was consistent with
the safety OF the Government the dis
qualification OF voters on account of
treason was removed, and to-day there
is but one man in all the land who can
not vote because OF his part in the re-
bellion, and his disability should be re-
moved, as it is distinction above his
fellows in crime that he does not merit.
The South is soldly Democratic to
day because the Republican party saw
fit TO restore to the people of the South
all Of their political rights, and for the
further reason that it has charitably
foreborne to interfere in cases when
fraud and violence we're boldly prac-
ticed by men shameless enought to boast
of their part in the infamous proceed
ings. The soldiers of the rebellion are
in the halls of National Legislation
through the liberality OF the Republican
party. Nine-tenths of the Democratic
representatives from the South have to
take the modified OATH" that is, they
confess that at one time at least they
were the avowed and voluntary enc
mics of the Republic. II these things
aro not evidences of the Republican
party's desire to bury sectional animos.
tiles, they signify nothing. 1t is the
3 Democratic party alone that will moi
let sectional issues die. II is the Demo
cratic party that is unwilling that the
majority should rule in the South. II
is the Democratic party that, by murder
and fraud, has solidiiied the South 80 a:
TO make it possible for a desperate mi
nority to capture Federal control. 1t il
the Democratic party that denounces al
Southern Republicans rs "knaves," anC
that regards them as the lawful prey o.
the fellows who carry the elections by
aid of lash and shotgun. 1t is the Dem
ocratic party Of this country that dare
not pronounce against the assassination
of reputable Republicans, murdered be
cause they dared TO vote in open elec
tion. It Is the Democratic party tina
nominated Tilden and Hendricks, Han
cock and English, that has no word o.
condemnation for the infamous Demo
cratic mass-meeting at Hazlehurst
Miss, which passed resolutions warn
ing the sons and brothers of Repub
lican, assassinated by a Democrat, tina
they could participate in politics only
on peril of their lives. 1t is the Demo
cratic party that has deliberately
aligned one section of the Union agains
the other and that will not consent h
fair elections in any Southern State.
Each of these charges is a fact tina
can not be truthfully denied, yet evei
to mention them is to invite the cry
'bloody shirt. The Democratic party
is determined that these issues shall no
die. Only fortnight ago one of thu
Southern members, a boy of ten year
at the close of the war, took the "modi
fled oath" when he entered upon hii
duties as Congressman. When asked
why he did so he replied "0ur people
are better pleased If their representa-
tives refuse TO take the 'iron-claC
OATH" In face OF all these things it i
folly to expect that sectional issues will
disappear. The South is not Willing
that they should be lost sight OF, AM
the Democratic party Of the North dar
not condemn the numberless monstrou
iniquities perpetrated by their fellow
partisans in the South. The people o
tlfe South are not willing that their rep
resentatiyes in Congress should swea
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