National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-01-25
ObIiternting Patriotic InscriptioDs-Did
the Union or the Rebol llion Conquer?


Representative Boutelle did the loyal
north a service by calling public attention,
through his resolution Of inquiry, TO the
obllteration Of historic inscriptions upon
the dry dock machinery at the Norfolk navy
yard; and none but such ex-confederates,
as want the privilege to everywhere glorify
the lost cause, and yet to silence northern
illusions to Union trumphs, together with
Democratic partisans and few Republican
weakings, will fail to approve Mr.. Bou-
telle's vigorous action. When the resolu-
tion is answered, II 1t appears that such in
scriptions have been stricken out and Union
soldiers and sailors, or any other persons,
turned out of the Norfolk navy yard, con-
trary TO law, on account Of their politics,
by either Mr.. Whitney or his "immodiate
predecessor we trust there will be unani-
nous judgment of disapproval in Congress
and from the country.
II the Republican party ncglects or is
ashamed 10 expose aud rebuke all such out
RACES, whether practiced by Democratic or
Republican officials, II had better haul down
its own flag, apologize for its existence
during the last thirty years, rehabllitate
jefferson Davis and make him President of
'reunlted country"
We are unable TO see what the contortions
and howlIngs Of Mr.. George d. Wise had to
do with the subject In hand. lie shreks,
".Nahone, MosJy, rebels in the Republican
partym They have the right to come into
II. This is a free country. We want to
keep no one out. They adopt the principles
Of the Republican party: A free ballot for
all voters; fair count no oppression of
races; popular education; protection by the
tariff to American labor and industries.
They are opposed TO the Democratic prac-
tices of murder as apolitical weapon; stuff
ing ballot boxes and forging election returns,
degrading, keeping in Ignorance, and NAL
treating the colored race, and to the Demo-
cratic principle Of destroying our manu-
facturers and injuring labor by free trade.
We do not understand that Mr.. Wise, while
captain in the confederate service, did
the Union army any great injury, and II he
would adopt the Republican principles and
forswear the. Democratic practices above
recitcd, we should be willing to take even
him into the Republican party.
Mr.. Boutelle has brought out the real
Democratic idea, now that the party under
the domination of the confederate brigadiers
has obtained national power. The plan is
not one to obliterate, both at the north aud
at the south, all memorials Of the rebel
lion. II is TO force the north to destroy
every memorial which indicates that the
north was right and the south wrong ;
that the northern men were patriots,
while the southern men were rebels.
| The north is to be asked to ignore all
distinction between the holiest OF causes
for which 1t fought and the damnable
crimes in which the south engaged; mean.
while the south is to be covered with monu,
ments and inscriptions telling the southern
| youth that their fathers fought in cause
as noble as that of the revolution of 17TG,
and were patriotic heroes overpowered only
by superior numbers.
Now that the confederacy is again in the
saddle its leaders propose, wherever they
can, to forbid the use of the word "rebel.
| lion.n The words slate civil war; must
be substituted. Mr.. jefferson Davis in
recent letter scouts the idea that he was
| 'ECDtl' Ilc Suyb uC GULL uOl Dc ''TGUcl
because he only fought for his state-Mls
sissippi. With the election of Cleveland
and Hendricks the holders Of confederate
bonds began to organize for their collection
from the United States. William Fullerton
esq, Of New York city, has been retained
as counsel, and holders Of bonds are mott
fed in an advertisement in the New Yorl
SIN to come forward and join the new rebe
raid upon the national treasury.
OJsta principiis should be the Republican
watchword. The reversal Of the results o
the war will be gradual. If the little be
ginnings are not successfully resisted, the
process will go forward with acceleratinl
rapidity until within eight years we shal
doubt whether the Union or rebel armie
triumphed in the field. Mr.. Boutelle /
none too earnest a sentinel at the Republi
can outposts. We hope all Republicans
will be as vigilant. All senators ant
representatives should put away without
reluctance the neshpots Of federal patron
age, and prepare to fight bolder battle
They cannot serve both God and nammon