The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-04-07
DISPLAY OF PETTY rnEsrDIcn.

The republican majority 10 the house o
! representatives gave an exhibition OF sec.
| tional prejudice and old bloody shirt pol
| itics the other day. that was only the
more remarkable because displayed at Q
| time when 1, was supposed that the hands
| had been permanently and cordially clasped
across the .'bloody chasm' between the
North and the South.
During the civil war Virginia estate,
belonging to the Lee family and then In
possession OF a lady who was nnquestlona-
bly, loya! TO the Union, was dcnuded OF
timber and other property by the Union
armies TO the value OF over 100000. II
WAS proposed to pay 10 this lady's heirs the
amount OF the damages, Justly due her an'l
properly a part OF her estate under the
Bowman act TO compensate loyal citizens
for war losses but the chief beneficiaries
being the heirs OF the widow Of Robert -.
Lee. the house refused to adopt the propo-
sitIon, and refused, too, by q party vote.
The fact has not escaped vigorous COM
incnt in the FAST. The Baltimore Sun has
TINS comment on tue ottlOH ny hilt uouSN'
just before making this declaration ii had
passed, without objection, a bill to pension
Tho widow of General John l.. Stevenson at
The rate OF $40 per month. We have no doubt
that Mrs stevenson s case was entirely meri
tOrious, but while there w always room III
the congressional sympathies Tor one more
pension claimant. and while tho country an
nually expcnda about one hundred and forty
millions for pension claims, many OF which
arc fraudulent, II haE not . cent Tor Justice
when justice happens to be represented by
Southern heirs. While tho house waa thus
putting itself OH record member Of the
Lee family Was bravoly and patriottcally dis
charging n dangerous and delicate duty at
Ilnyaua IA duty which he discharges p0s-
sihiy, mt the risk of his life ltor months he
has stood III his post there without fliuching
in the face OF difficulties and personal rcspon
sibities which would have shaken tho nerve
and Judgment of men OF less heroic mould
and has performed the oncruua task when
ftll Ia him with such calmnoss. courage and
discretion as TO excite the admiration and
applause Of the whole country. Yot hs blood
too, according to tho logic Of the decision Of
the house of representatives, while good
enough to be shed in HAVANA in the service
OF the country, is not good enough to I'm
horit property given by loyal citizen of the
United States
We talk Of peace. said one of our emf
trEt orators. when there Is no peace, We
talk of reunion and iorgetiulness when
iheFo IL gnpd dcal OIL entM aDout such
talk II the North really felt kindly to the
extent Of its frequent professions toward
the south such exhibitions of har-splittirg
prejudice would not he Witnessed 1t Is all
well enough 10 pat ns on the back and talk
REORGANIZATION when Il fight Is imminent.
but we should liSo to goc some substantial
evidences aRo OF good viii in the way OF
congressional Legislation as NO so along.
The South is undoubtedly loyal toward
the Union now, but II Is because VIC feel
we have as much right to the Union as any
other section has, and are as deeply inter
csted in its prestige and greatness. and not
bee ,,se we have any special caro- for OF
confidence IN the North'S professions oI
friendship for US or justice towards us.