Year: 1876

nave PuoiiSheu llsI OF tne present Defn-
ocratic members of Congress from the
South, and the position each held under
the Confederate government. 1t appears
from the published list, the accuracy of
which is not denied or disputed, that the
ruling elements of the South was entirely
in sympathy with the late rebellion, and
that service to the Confederacy is recog-
nized as a claim to honorable position
under the government of the United
States. The military element Of the re-
bellion seems to have particularly COM
mended itself to the reconstructed, )" so
much so, indeed that the House of Rep
resentatives in which the Democracy pre-
ponderate, is frequently and doubtless
very properly alluded to as the "Confed-
crate Brigadiers."


Viewed in the abstract this is a condi-
dition Of politics Of which no one has
cause to complain. The policy of the
Union party when the war had closed was
a liberal ard humane one, and in following
it the party had the full sympathy of the
victorious North. There were some of
course, who would liked to have had
mercy more tempered with justice, and
if JEFF Davis had been hung ito a sour
apple tree" instead of spared to loom up
as a possible Democratic Presidential
candidate in 1880, would have felt better
satisfied. But the nation was not ruled
| by extremeits and the errors of policy,
if any were committed, were upon the
| side Of mercy. Those who had taken
part in the rebellion, with very few ex-
ceptions were soon restored to the privl-
leges Of citizenship which had been for
feted by their own act. And way is
provided by which every man who de-
sires to again resume these forfeited
rights can do so. That this merciful pol
icy was carried out to its fullest extent is
manifest by the fact that the floor of both
| Senate and House of representatives, is
| filed by those who were high in the ranks
Of the late Confederacy, its Vice Presi-
dent, Stephens, being one Of the mum Der.
This, perhaps, was but logical result of
the policy. For if there be freedom of
the elective franchise at all, it will be
used to the support Of the men and prn-
ciples most acceptable to the majority of
the voters. And the renewal of the rights
of citizenship carried with it to all recip-
tents the incidental right of holding Of
fee. We do not question the right of
the Southern people to elect the briga-
diers If they saw proper, nor the undoubt-
ed right Of the brigaders to accept. We
vote for the men we choose, sustain the
principles we believe best. and are will
ing to accord to others exactly the same
privileges we claim for ourselves. 1t is
but natural that, where the white popula-
ton of a section weYe almost unanimous
in their desire for the triumph of GER
tain end, that looking upon those who
prevented them in the light Of oppress-
ors, their sympathes should be with
those who had stood side by side with
them. But what is natural is not al
ways right. The North lis less natural
and nearer right in this than is the South.
For while the North is apparently will
ing to forget the past, the same cannot be
said of our Southern brethren. In the
North, the old issues of the war would be
ignored were it not that its memories
were so sedulously sought to be perpctu-
ated by the other side. 1t was hoped
that the Centennial year OF our NATHAN ali
ty would be marked by better fl ing.
The elections held last year should have
shown that government mismanagement
and suspected corruption will be rebuk,
ed IN the North as soon as anywhere
that the Republican party, however glori-
Gus It's memories, cannot rely upon its
past alone. Had this liberal feeling been
met in reciprocal spirit, party lines
would have been in great measure obit-
Grated, and questions of general rather
than Of a sectional nature engaged pub
lie attention. But the brgadiers were
not actuated by any of this spirit. They
acted as if they though: the Republican
reverse which had placed their party in
the majority in one House, was Confed-
crate triumph, and instead of devising
means for the better government of the
nation, turned their attention to the more
congenal task Of making political capi-
tai for the coming election.


This abuse OF power, though limited that
power be, is not without its effect upon the
minds Of thoughtful men. For though
they were willing to bury unpleasant
memories and invite their late foes to re-
sumo their old relations, they are hardly
prepared for triumph of sectional ideas;
nor can they be hood winked into the
support of such by the speeious cry of
"Tilden and Reform" They know well
that neither Tilden nor the Reform with
which the Democratic platform bristles,
are the moving powers which bring the
ex Confederates to the support of the
Democratic party. Tiden is acceptable
only because he is as near their ideal as
can be got, but who for moment be-
ieves that if Democratic triumph were
certain under any circumstances, that
they would be satisfied with any leader
but one of their own number? ? And as
for reform, the country has had some
thing of foretaste of what Democratic
reform will be II the Confederate element
rules the roost.


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FRoG CATCHING.-T The murder Of
Jennie Bonnet, near San Francisco