Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-02-16
ADVOCATES OF DIsuNIoN.
Some or the Lessons Taught by Mr. Ia
mars Confirm q ion.


basest partisanship have been foiIed
and Mr. Lamar takes his seat on the
Supreme Court bench. with the con-
sent of the Senate" It was only a
few days ago that the New York
Tribune got its four legs in the trough
ana intimated. through alleged letters
from the Chiskolmes, that Mr.. Lamar
had been Klu-Klux murderer, or that
his teachi gs led TO indiscriminate
slaughter. and that he ran the Depart
ment of the Interior entirely in the in
terest of ex-Confederates. OF course.
that model newspaper would not hest
tate at IL lie or two more to bolster up
its cowardly warfare against South
ern Statesman. The response of the
Republican Senate to its outrageous
assaults upon the character of Mr..
Lamar was his confirmation by ma
jority of four. There are times when
malice overreaches itself, even
in the house of its friends,
and this was a signal example.
Senator Stewards courageous let
ter broke the force of the Zri6une'S
influence and malice, and convinced it
that there are limits even to the credu-
lily of Republican Senators. Although
the question OF Mr. Lamar's conirma-
ton is now settled. there are senti-
ments expressed in Senator Stewards
letter which will be of considerable in
terest to the Senate. whenever, on
future occasions, some of their num-
Der will again venture to wave the
Bloody Shirt"
The necessity for a union of heart and senti-
ment between all the people of the great and
growing States of the Mississippi valley must
make them one people. The vast internal
trade and constant intercourse and comming-
ling together or the people OF all sections is
fast obliteratng all preiudices, removing sus-
p:cion and aistrust and substituting in their
place friendship, confidence and mutual respect.
1t is too late for those who are dissatisfied with
their failure to aid in the work of reconstruc-
ton and the adoption of the three amendments
recording the verdict of the war. to participate
in these great events. Their records made;
this occasion furnishes no opportun ty to gain
q reputation for patriotism, devotion to coun-
try, or for prudence and wisdom in devising
and adopting measures of reconstruction. More
than twenty years have elapsed since OPP
portun1ty for that purpose was open to all
Those who embraced that opportunity and par
ticipated IN those great events are solemnly
pledged to receive in good faith the people OF
the South, restored to all the rights and priv
ileges of citizens of the United States. They
can not afford to tarniSh the record they made
or the reputation they earned in the great
crisis by violating their pledges in refusing to
any cit zen OF the United States, to whom full
amnesty has been granted, the rights and priv
ileges guaranteed by the constitution.
will not now, by any act of mine, furnish
cause for suspicion that the reconstruction
measures, including the three amendments to
the constitution, were not adopted in good
faith, as final solution ofal questions involved
In the war and as an lrreVOcable pledge be-
tween the North and South OF union, fellow
ship, fraternity and all the rights Of citizens of
tie United States. do not propose 10 go be-
hind that settlement and judge any man by the
criterion which necessarily prevailed prior to
the final adjustment, but shall, on all occa-
sions, confine my Investigations to his fitness
in Office. to his faithful observance OF the sol
emn pledges recprocally made by both sections
of the Union in renewing their normal political
1t is unreasonable to expect that
the people OF eleven States OF the Union shall,
during all the present generation. be excluded
from participation in the judicial determine
tions OF the highest court in the United States.
It should be borne in mind that
those sentiments are expressed by n
who entered the United
States Senate in 1864, and was re-
elected in 1869, and who took an act
i've part in the reconstruction meas
manly declaration disposes of the plea
that the interests of the Republican
party demand the revival of the issues
of the war. But it must also be re-
mem bered that the great body of the
Senator'S. under The lead
ership of Chandler, who was once re-
jected by the Senate for an office un-
der the Government, took their stand
under the folds of the Bloody Shirt"
and voted in favor of disunion. or its
equivalent, the prescription of the
Southern States from participation in
the judicial determinations of the high
est court OF the United States.
The confirmation of Mr.. Lamar
does not alter the fact that the Re-
publican party is still welded to the
of sectional hate. only
that in the highest legislative body in
the land there were three or four Re-
publicans possessed of sufficient self
respect and courage to resist the pro-
Scription policy of their party.
Senator Sherman, the representa-
tive Republican of Ohio. has never
lost an opportunity to testify his al
dent desire to revive the spirit of Sec
tionalism and to grope, ghuul-like,
among dead issues. Senator Evarts, !
an intelligent. progress
i've Democratic State, through the IA
vor of an unjust apportionment. shows |
himself as destitute of patriotic Princi- |
pie and justice as when he consented,
like Sherman. to share with Hayes the |
proceeds of National steal. Twenty |
six other Republican Senators. includ-
ing the notorious "Bilp' Chandler, |
voted in favor of disunion. The or
CANS of the party never ceased their
lisunion strain since Mr.. Lamar's |
name was sent in. Such is the record |
made by the party at the beginning
Of the Presidential NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. |