The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-11-13
The Rebel Yell.

4ho ANSbcA 4CA&s
Since the election of Grover Cleveland
to the presidency of the United States,
the hidebound republicans of the country
have set up howl about the rebels being
again in power. These fanatical persons
seem to imagine that there are hordes of
rebel brigaders marching on to Washinge
ton to plumber the capitol; that they have
come out of their graves and places of
hiding since 1865, and are now deter>
mined to rend the country in twain This
is the worst twaddle ever turned loose on
the American people, and the men who
give it utteIance exhibit a lack of intelli-
gence and manhood truly despicable
Rock Island has some of this class
within her limits, and one especially cons
spicuous is an ex~sheriff from Yuma, who
was in the city last week and raised a
great huilabloo. He meandered around
the streets in sort of an aimless
way, declaring that he was rebel and
was going to cut down the American flag.
The ex>s. was so disguised with the res
suit of the election that he would not res
tire to bed in 4 sensible manner, but rocks
ed himself to sleep in some obscure cor
ner of the hotel where he was stopping.
He also came near getting in an alterca-
ton with democratic friend in the upper
end, who jokingly hurrahed for Cleveland
in his presence, saying that it sounded
like 'rebel yell This insult the dem>
ocrat resented by pulling off his coat, and
there would probably have been a lively
tussle had not friends interfered.
We are surprised at the action of the
eX.s. He must know that the talk he in
dulges in is most offensive to all good cts
liens. He must know that the solid south
can not dictate any policy of today-if it
were so inclined much less reverse the
political action of the past. Rebel claims
rebel bonds and pensions for rebel soldiers
have been the bngbcars with which
demagOgues have sought to strengthen
their hold upon the national government.
The congress of the United States stands
between the treasury and their recogni>
ton. If the southern representatives
were unit in their favor in congress,
they would be met by solid northern
front against their payment.
But the constitution of the United
States presents cold unmoyed front to
the rebel yell. So long as it stands all
threats of southern raids upon the treas
ury for the payment of rebel claims are
empty and ignorant chatter Article IA,
section 4, provides:
But neither the United States nor any
state shall assume or pay any debt or OBJ
| legation incurred in aid of instruction OF
rebellion against the United States, or any
claim for the loss or emancipation of any
| slave; hut all such debts, obligations, and
claims shall be held Illegal and void.
This provision cannot be repealed ex.
cept by the consent of two-thirtIs of both
houses of congress ratified by the legisla>
lures Of three>fourths of the several states
or by conventions in thrce>fourths there
of. No sane man believes that any such
repeal would stand ghost of a show in
congress, and only the most wiilfully blind
partisan believes that the attempt
will be directly or indirectly made. The
rebel yell lost its terror for northern
troops long before the close of the war,
and its revival now is the phantom of a
deceased Imagination.