Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-03-27

TO hold offices upon certain classes. When
the purity OF the ballot Ia secure MAORI
ties are sure TO elect officers rejecting tho
views OF the majority. 10 not see the
advantage OF excluding men from
once merely because they were before
me rebellion OF standing and character
sOihcient TO be elected 20 positions re.
curing them to take oaths 10 support the
constitution, and admitting TO eligibility
those entertaining precisely the same
views. but OF less standing IN their com
munitieS. 10 may be said that the former
violated an oath while the latter did not.
The latter did moi have 10 in their power TO
do SO. III they had taken this oath IL can
not be doubted that they would have
broken ~ as did the former class. IL there
are any great criminals, distinguished
above All others for the part they took in
opposition TO the government. they might,
IN the judgment of Congress. be excluded
from such an amnesty. This subject Is
submitted for your careful consideration"
II Is. Of course, very sillwnonsense aud
ialschood to speak Of the Confederates In
this class as having violated their oaths TO
support the Constitution. IL is unfortu-
nate that Grant could not have made this
recommendation 10 more truthful and
tasteful language. but he was surrounded
by bad men and political blackguards. and
that he should catch on to their slang was
not so very strange. His accommodation
10 remove these disabilities WAS made over
twenty wears ago and II is the only one we
have had from any of the Presidents since
The days Of johnson. Grant did not re-
peat his accommodation 20 Congress.
Nor did no ever propose 20 repeal the
statute OF 1865 already quoted affecting the
army commissions. President Hayes did
not make any such recommendation. II
WAS glory enough for him to steal the
presidency and with q SO, 900 annual sala-
~ 20 live on the sum Of $4,000 or 5000.
Presidents Garfield and Arthur did not re-
commend the repeal of the act.
NOT WORTHY his ATTENTION.
when Mr. Cleveland became President
the South had right 20 expect him TO re-
commend a repeal of this vile and insult
inc restriction. The war had been over
full twenty years. The South was per-
fcctly tranquil and perfectly loyal. She
had voted for HIM sohdly and had some
claim TO his respectful consideration and
sympathy. But he did not seem to consider
the matter worthy of his attention. In
the early part Of his administration he was
absorbed by the hobby of ciVil-service re-
form. Two or three years later he dropped
that topic and discovered that the tariff
was the only subject deserving the at
tentlOn of patriot. At no one time
did he ever say one word In favor
ot removing the disabilities imposed by
the fourteenth amendment and by the act
Of July, 1866. Yet who will deny that TO
restore hundreds of Thousands OF the
white citizens Of the South 10 plane of
equality before the law was an object
worthy of his ambition and one that
ought 10 have fired him to q noble energy.
II this view of mine be regarded as I'M
reasonable or extrayagant by Mr.. Cieve-
land or any Of his admirers | beg TO cite IN
my justification the following words from
o letter Of a distinguished politician 70
the Cleveland Club at Atlanta. dated the
18th ultimo:
Il cannot say that l am certain l de-
Yerve all the laudation contained in the
resolutions OF your club. / can say, how
ever, that / find a sense Of great s8tstac-
ton in the reflection that have been per-
mitted 90 aid somewhat IN restoring 10
the people IN O large section Of our cOun-
try their standing and position IN our
common American cltiZenshlp-notn oml-
nally and bsrrenly, but substantially and
potentially"
Hero we have the lofty IDEAL but alas
for the performance | have no doubt
that when Dives passed in his checks, gave
his last gasp. and went TO a certain unmen-
tionable place he died with great salts
faction IN the reflection that, whatever
his other shortcomings, he had always
been true friend 20 the poor, and had
even thrown some crumbs OF comfort to
that troublesome besgar, Lazarus. The
Good Book further tells of certain man
who. journeying down to Jericho, fell
among thieves. as did the South
after the civil war, and was beaten and
left half-dead by the wayside The priest
aud the LevIte each went by in turn, both
indifferent 10 his groans, and revolving IN
mind possibly some tlne scheme tor re-
form in Jewish administration. This did
not do the poor sufferer any good. but |
think il would have lent fresh smart TO
his wounds had he supposed, as his eye
rested on their vanishing forms, that
either Of these hard-hearted men would
ever set up for a good philanthr0plst.
J.. q. w.