Pestiferous Politics

Perhaps there are members of the llepublican party who would like to make a Presidential campaign on the basis of a speech like the last one, of Senator Blaine. Perhaps, too, there are Itepublicans who imagine that speeches of that kind, if generally adoptadas to their sentiments, will help on the work of fraternizing sections of the country that have been in deadlv con flict for four years tosrether, with tlu result in doubt almost to the very la it oL that painful term of civil strife. And perhaps, again, the calcnlating, selfish-andunpatriotic leaders of that iwrt.ï in fonin-ess believe that they can continue to play this hazardous and ever expensive fratricidal game in the hopes of sec uring political advantage, without at the same time obstructing the process of the healing ot wounds, which mustbe wholly healert before wecan think of any new prOBperity and progresa as a nation. It is vicked rhetoric that Mr. Blaine explodes over the heads of lus hearers in the Senate Chamber. That lie employsit merely for temporary effect and tokeep liis personal ambition well advertised is evident from the fact that lie and allsuch as lie in Congress are to be seen on familiar terms ot personal friendship with the Southern menwhomthey take such oratoncal pains to vilify, which never would be the case if they Jhpposed those men to be designing treason or plotting hostilitv aaainst the Union. What pears to occasion MrBlaine and nis mmediate party associates all this trouble is that the South should come back actively and on terms of constitutional equality into the Union at all. Therefore they taunt thcm with what they did in open war, and Mr. Blai ne s speech is a strikingiy representative one in that respect. lf it had been the Republican party leaders who by their own valor and sacrificas hadcaused the rebellion finally to collapse, there islittle doubt that they would long ago have dropped the subject in its hostile aspects. The men Who fight are al ways men who know how to make peace and to keep it when once made. But as these mere pohticiansand self-seekers sought to turn the war and its ultímate triumphs to ttinir own ends, so now they are able to let it go as a thing of the past, as a matter to emphasize the perpetuity of the Union, because they view it, as they always did. as a quarry out of which'to obtain only what shall advanee their prospecta and secure tor tliem an indefinate lease of power. Bat it must be plain to all reflecting persons, who believe themselves to be patriotic also.that the time must come for this skirmishing among the dead trunks of past and gone issues to stop. Bitter memories are not the kind that nonrish patriotic emotions. The day of battle is over. ïhere are victories of peace to acbieve that are more lasting tlian those of war. What lunacy is it for men like Mr. Blalne to preach the dogma of consolidation wlnle denouncing half or one-tliird of the States as natural f oes to the "Lnion which he would consolidara. It is evident that he can mean only the consolidation of one section to rule absolutely the other section; and in order to bring it about he appeals to old inimoBitlea and seeks to fire anew natreds that were long since burned out. Party feeliug out not to be strong enougb, or rank enough, to tolérale such public exhibitions as be bas choB6B to make, when it is really the object of universal desire to restore the relations wbich were broken but have never been destroyed, We sbould label bis speech not presiilential so much as