National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-03-18
A BURNING DISGRACE.
Press Comments Upon the Fitz-JOhn Porter
"VndiCa.ion."
The Ex-CopStdcrntes Pay the Debt They
Owed Their Friend.
MAUDLfN sENTfMENTALIsTs.

MAUDLtN sENTfMENTALIsTs.
PtOriu 1rUuScfp'.
For the third timo in tho history of the |
United States n contest has ragged over the |
plains of Manassas, and for the third time tho |
loyal forces Of tho union have met disaster |
owing TO treason in their own ranks. The |
third contest, in which tho ground and incl
dents of the second battle have been gone
over in debate in the American congress has
resulted in tho apothcosis Of Fitz.John |
Porter by confcderates. democrats, and few
maudlin republican scntimcntaists The
country looks to President Arthur to check
this infamy by his veto. II he does not there
will be q prairie fire Of indignation that will
cover half dozen states in this part OF tho
country.
MOT GuILTLEss.
quincy Ithg
The rank and file of the union army, q
competent jury now as heretofore, do not
hold Gen. Porter guiltless, nor do they desire
that the country should do him honor for his
faithlessness. With them. there is no qucs-
tion OF sympathy, no tcchnicality, no mere
sentiment, which alone or combined can sup
plant tho principle Mt stake in tho conclusion
of the issue involved, and in the determine
tion of which they are IN hearty accord with
the position assum d by Gen. Logan. 1t Is a
position which was maintained by the mar
tyred Lincoln, the lameuted Garfield, and a
host Of others whose humanity is unques-
toned aud whose Judgment was free from
bias.
WHERE WILL DE THE ENp2
burlington Hduleye.
The picture of pardoned criminals ro-
versing the judgments Of tho courts on their
accessory. What words can paint the mons
trosity9 IL is tho picture congress has given
to the world in this action. Is there any
length to which such men will not go2 All
that Is wanted is the power and tho threat of
Blackburn that every vestgo Of war legisla-
tion shall be swept from tho statute books
will be realized. Little by little it is being
accomplished Step by step the work of the
war is being unlono. Was 1t for this that
the country consented to wipe the blood from
the hands of parricides and traitors? Was 1t
for this that the stains of treason were
gracously pardoned? Shall the pardoned
traitors now seize tho power to pardon all
their coadjutors without so much as by your
leave? What is TO hinder more sweeping
and moro hateful measures? Plainly moth
ing can hinder ii but the voice of the people
condemning this bold assumption of unwar-
ranted privilege, and there should BIO no
uncertain sound in its tones.
THE TERRIBLE STAIN.
Indianapolis Tim s.
Now, il President Arthur will quietly veto
the Fitz-John Porter bill he will commend
himself to the country. The name Of Fitz-
John Porter will forever remain Infamous
While congress may relieve him from the
punishment due his crime, it cannot relieve
him from the odium of having willfully dis.
obeyed tho orders of his commander through
petty spite.
A PREMIUM FOR DIsoBEDIENCE.
indianapolis Journal.
The Fitz-John Porter bill passed the senate
by vote of SO TO %. 1t now goes to the
President for his consideration. AS Senator
Wilson SO clearly pointed out, the congress!
should now abolish the ninth article Of war
which provides that subordinate shall exc
cute the lawful order of his superior officer
with alacrity. That is a farce, in view o.
congressional action, which offers premium
for disobedience.
HOW TIME MIGHT HAVE BEEN SAVED.
The R,pub!ic.
The ex-confederate friends of Mr.. Fitz
John Porter have nobly done their part to
ward getting him reinstated in the army
He is now in a position to come back proud,
through that little door marked 'act of con
gress' which has opened for so many cash
tered officers in all grades Of disgrace pro
vided, that is to say, his bill manages TO &c
up from the extreme end Of the house calen
dar, to which tho senate amendment has sen
IL, anu prONlueu IrColucub Arthur approves i
when all is done. On this last delicate poin
it is difficult to offer an opinion. Senate
Jones' of Nevada, WAS one of tho fOu
republicans who voted Tor the bill in the sen
ate, but The NATIONAL REPUBLICAN, whicl
is equally friendly TO the administration
has vehemently opposed tho measure iron
the start. Senator Logan made his usua
strong speech in defense of the court martha
that sentenced Porter and the great presiden
that approved the findings. In the course 0
it he mentioned the night march of Demos
themes Mt tho battle of Syracuse" and som
would-be smarties in the chamber were sce
to SMILE and one of them remarked to an
other that he understood Demosthene5 IA
away from the only battle he was in. 1t may b
worth while to point out that in this instanc
the ignorant Senator Logan was right an
his critics, who had evidently never heard c
but one Demothenes in the world, wer
wrong. They ought to turn to their Thu
cydides again, and learn about that othe
DemoSthenes, the son of Alcsthenes. VIII
fought so bravely in the Peloponnesian wa
So in the house debate some one mentiOne
the shooting OF Admiral Byng, and it wa
attempted to be used US an argument again:
the severity OF courts martial. No on
thought to bring up the significant romar
of Macaulay, that during the rest of til
war no English admiral wished to repeat tn
mistake OF Byng, and succession of gloriOu
naval EXPLOITS was inc result, Fortunately
in our war most of our generals were bot
brave and loyal, and the shooting of Porte
was not needed pour enCOHragcr les dltres. 81
If IL had been done what II lot of time an
trouble would have been saved since then.
Ought TO HAVE been SHOT,"
Chicago Tribune.
President Arthur owes it to himself and [
the republican party, whose Representative
he is, to return this bill to tho democrat
house of representatives, in which it orig
mated, with his REASONS for Disappearing /
Surely measure which could command
slight republican vote in either house is II,
entitled to the approval of President VIII
represents the republican party. Nihc-tcutl
of the republicans Of the United States NJ
opposed to the restoration of tho traitC
Porter 10 the position in the army which
forfeited by his basoness on the field OF battl
Abraham Lincoln said thai Fit2.JOhn Porte
fought to have been shat" 1t is to |
hoped that Chester A. Arthur will not rever,
this verdict and be known in history rs on
who believed that FitZ.John Porter ought
be rewarded.
This bill for the restoration of Fit2.Joh
Porter to the army is democratiC-ConieC
crate measure II originated in q hou'
which was two-thirds democratic and IL hi
been pushed with singular want of goo
taste in both houses by tho ex-confedera
soldiers who are indebted TO FitZ-JOhn Po
ter's treason for some OF the prestige whiC