Year: 1875

upon all the questions which are engaging |
their attention.


If tie president had done this perhaps
his address would have lost something
which will strike many of its readers pain
fully-something less in the words than IN
the spirit which seems to inform them of
pugnacity, as Of soldier standing with
arms at ease, but yet regardful of an ene-
my. Surely this was unnecessary. Sure
ly it was pity in such an address to hear
the great soldier and president, in a
kind of defiance, suggest that "we
are not prepared to apologize for the past, 4"
or to speak Of not denying to any who
fought against US any privilege under the
government" These are not questions
before the people. Those who fought
against the Union, now that the war is
over, have precisely the same rights in it
as those who fought for il. They are our
fellow citizens under the constitution; no
more and no less. There is no more ques-
ton Of denial THAI of apology. In all that
the president says of the necessity of dis
semlnating intelligence, of keeping secure
free thought, free speech, free press, pure
morals, unfettered religious sentiment and
equal rights and privileges for all, irrespec-
tive Of nationality, color or religion" he
has certainly the hearty agreement of the
mass of his countrymen, some of whom
will remember with pain what we here
allude to with reluctance, that he has him
self on some occasions attempted to punish
the exercise of free political utterance by
removals from Office That we should ZEN
courage free schools, and resolve that not
one dollar appropriated to them shall be
applied to the support of any sectarian
school; that we should keep church and
state forever, separate;" that neither
state nor nation should support institutions
lof education he evidently meant to sayl
save those where every child in the land
may get common school education un-
mixed with atheistic, pagan or sectarian
teachings" All this is sound; it has in
advance the support of the great mass of
the American people. But the words
spoken there and by him jar upon the
sense of propriety. They were uncalled
tor. They are unfortunate, because they
will give the profane reason to suggest
that the president was really, under the
form OF an address to his old comrades of
the war, making stump speech for the
Ohio canvass, where the Republicans have


wantonly and without any justification
brought in as one of the political issues
opposition to Roman Catholic interference
in the schools.


Surely, on such an occasion and from
such man as the president, suspicion,
defiance, opposition, are out of place.


He could have urged good will-con6dence


in the future. He could have exalted the


future of our reunited country and its


vast possibilities. He could have shown


the Importance of our political experiment


not only for ourselves, but to the whole


human race. He, the victor of many


glorious fields, speaking to his old comrades


in arms could we'll have said some


words in praise of the bravery, the heroic


conduct of those fellow -countrymen who


fought against us. He could have Justly


and generously praised their submission


to defeat and their acceptance of change


in their social arrangements which is thu


greatest ever imposed on defeated Leo


pie. He could have recalled that nobl,
aud pathetic inaugural address of Lincoln


deliyered on the eve of his martyrdom
breathing so much loyalty to the Union
, SO much charity and kindness to the south


He could we'll have pointed out that


though the time has been as yet too shor
|
, it is already certain that time is doing it
kindly office, and that all over the cOun
T try, with surprisingly few and sporadi
l exceptions, peace and order reign, and tn
great experiment of government of th
people for the people by the people
D promises new success and renowne
e prosperity to nation freer and more 81


curely free than ever before,


: We criticise the presidents speech wit
: extreme reluctance. He appears to forge
Il that he is the president of the whole D;
e ton; that what he says will be closel
4 scrutinized, and that he could in his hig
= position do very great deal to allay SUI
+ picion, to sink discord, to efface hostilitit


and grudges; to foster brotherly concor
: and mutual effort by the people of q
: parts of the Union for it's common pro
It perity and glory. This is his duty, and i
= this he seems to have failed. We shoul
S be sorry to believe the country in so hop,
l. less and dangerous condition as this pre-


idential speech, Judged by the commo
e rules which apply to such utterance
e would present. On the contrary. we b.
r lieve the American people may rejoiC
b over great dangers past; oyer a momel
i tous change happily and generally a
S cepted and accomplished; over enemit
+ who are friends and countrymen once mol
# and who need only time and manly COZ


sideration on our part for their disappoin
It ed hopes and the changes forced upo
r them to make them rejoice at their failur
t We believe that with only moderately goo
e government we may securely look forwar
e to period OF great national prospcrit
a and happiness, and of liberties secure
s than ever before-that we are at the b,
e ginning of the greatest era of our nation
o history.


It is pity that the president does nj
o believe this also.