New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-19
wuA1w"WIVIyC THE BLOODY SH1RT"'

VBAT is" WAVING THE BLOODY SHIRT"I
Recause Senators Sherman and Hoar and
perhaps others opposed Mr.. 1Iamars coniirma-
ton on the ground that he was TO a certain ex-
tent responsible for the suppression OF the
negro vote in his State, they are charged by
Democratic newspapers with waving inc
bloody shirt" This is a vague phrase, which
has como to be term Of reproach. and seems
to be regarded by those who are fond OF 1t as
a final and crushing argument against any one
at whom they choose to fling 1t.
We ask for information, then, what is meant
by "waying the bloody shirt? The origin
of the phrase is well known. and the early APP
nGcation of it. it is well understood, was to
persons who were said to be trying wrongf'llly
TO keep alive The passions of the war. 10 thaV
extent its use was legitimate. But IL mas cohie
now to be loosely applied to many other 'hineS
that have no connection with The war. ror
cxample. if a man condemn the political MUIR
d,rs Inv which the Republican party has Deeh
cowed out of existence in several southern
States. he is "waving the bloody shirt" FOR
him there is term of reproach; Tor the cf'ih-
inals there is none. So. too. If man cohdcilin
the midnight whippings threats ana il'ni-
idations and frauds in the South, he is waving
the bloody shirt" There is no condemnation
for the men who commit these crimes ou' INC
nan who ventures to protest against lhem Is
instantly denounced in the Democratic ana
douob-face newspapers as without patriousn'
as "waving the bloody shirt"
We sbould really like to be enlightened as TO
tho LOGIC of this IL Massachusetts, manu-
facturer should attempt to coerce the political
action of his employees, even If ever so slightly
there would be storm Of protests all along the
line from these same newspapers. Ii niuruoi
is committed anywhere in the North. they wahU
to see Justice done promptly. Ii bailol-DoAes
are stuffed in Cincinnati or Indianapolis tnere
is a loud call for speedy trials but thcse
things have been done in thousands OF IN
stances in the South in years past, and are sui
dcne if occasion arises, and these newspapers
have NOT a word to say. Is fraud something
other than fraud south of Mason and DIXON
l;neo Arc assault and cruel outrage criminal
in the North and innocent in the South Is
not a murder in Justice Iamar's State on the
s.r,e moral nlane as murder in Senator Sher-
mansp Tho only visible difference is that
these crimes in the South are committed ror
nolitical reasons, without provocation, ana ny
The men who fought to destroy the Union.
1his last circumstance certainly cannon NC
said to alter their moral character, or 70 com
mend them to the Northern people Inc iacV
that they are committed by ex-Rcbels and tneir
svmpathizers is the only link between TINS
oucstion and the passions of the war. IRIS
fact. il would naturally be supposed, was
discredit to those concerned so far as 1t was
matter of any moment at all; but. on the con-
trarv it gives them a sacred character Inc
Northern bulldozer and ballot-box stui1er must
90 to iail; the Southern bulldozer and ballot
hox suffer must not even be talked ABOUT
Il is unpatriotic even to mention his crimes,
II ia not sectional" to weld together by fraud
and outrage number of States into soma
political mass but it is sectional" to protest
AGAINST it. 1t is "wavinG the bloody shirt'"
The very small number of Republican oena-
tors Mr.. Lamar was able to secure showed tnaC
the masses of the party, removed from inc
influence Of the Federal Administration are
faithful to their principles and are not ready
for such cowardly acquescence in grave wrongs
and persistent notification of the law, SIMPLY
bccause they are the work of men to whom
much has been forgiven