Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-25

tiles imposed by the fourteenth article and
the efforts of Grant and Blaine in that d.
rection. Continuing, the report SAYS:
Your committee are pleased to rely
upon the facts and arguments made in be-
half of this bill by two of the greatest
en- OF their party and times-Gen. Grant
end Mr.. Blaine
Years have rolled by since that great
struggle closed, and the American people
look at public matters growing out of
the war of 1861 in calmer moments when
their judgment can be trusted and are
willing to do exact and equal justice and
are practically unanimously of the opinion
that this bill pass and the disability wholly
removed from the statute book.
Long since the people of the recon-
structed states became reconciled to the
restoration of their states to their consti-
tuttonal relations to the Union, and from
the close of the war there was never any
doubt in the minds of the patriotic liberty
loving Union people of the United States
but that the people of the reconstructed
states wanted to return to their political
duty as citizens of common country and
do their best to make this nation all our
forefathers intended it should be, but were
prevented from making it by causes fore
ing themselves upon the convention. We
are now in truth and in fact a reunited
people, a nation composed of the several
states of the Union, and the time has
come in American history when the dis
tinctfon between federal and state rights
should no longer exist, but all should be
classed citizens of the United States,
cooperating for the common good, recog-
nizing the just powers of the nation ana
the constitutional rights of the several
states without any intention to impair the
one or invade the other.
War Was Worth the Sacrifice.
1.-THE seeds of war were sown when the
convention framed the Constitution under
which we are now living, and 1t was only a
question of time when the growth would be
ready for the sickle, and the war was SIM
ply reaping the harvest To the American
people the war was worth the sacrifice 1t
accomplished at a terrible cost of life and
money what could not be realized by any
other means. The nation now has a united
patriotic people to sustain it's life and fur
ther its progress; imbued with most excel
lent elements of patriotism and civil Hber-
ty, and the future Of the nation is assured
with the simple requirement only that the
people be law-abiding. Human law is not
necessary for the cementing of the north
and the south They are truly one people
While the time is opportune for kindly
and considerable acts, the pending war with
Spain was not necessary to bring together
the people of the north and the south Tie
universal good feeling SO periodically ex-
pressed wherever the American flag floats
Is an indication that the people not only
are but for some time have been united
The nation needs the unison, not only to do
battle with foreign foes, but for the upiift-
ing and building up of great interests for
the betterment of the people. Great ques-
tions of vital Importance to the people vet
have to be- settled, requiring patriotism, in
telligence, forbearance and craftsmanship
Much work remains to be done These
questions can not be settled as long as the
people are sectionally divided Sectional
ism must never return. 1t is our duty to-
day 10 do all we possibly can to prevent
It. Earnest efforts must be continued for
the upbuildtng of the nation for the COM
mon good of all. Keeping steadily in mind
the equality of the states and equality of
all before the law, allowing each elector
and each state to exercise constitutional
rights without force or denial, answerable
to higher power and intelligent surround