, 1862-07-11
Gt)E> IribiluE,


FRIDAY, JULY Il, 1869.
POLITICS TN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS.
The vote Of Southern Illinois on the new
constitution SHOWS 4 remarkable and most
healthy change in the political status Of
that section Of our State. The purb1Ind
obstinacy with which our fellow citizens
thcreaway have heretofore followed the
lead Of the Democratic party seems to be
giving away, and the dawn Of a better and
brighter era is patent 10 al men. The
knights Of the Golden Circle and their
claeuers, Who, while the patriotic war Demo
Gratis were engaged in the holy cause Of put
ting down the rebellion, got control Of the
constitutional convention, have shown the
clovcn foot 50 plainly that the people Of
Southern Illinois have detected and repu-
dated the infan,v, This has been done in
spite Of the most persistent efforts to carry
the constitution. Every man who dared to
oppose it was read out Of the Democratic
party and fierccly denounced rs an aboli-
zionist But for once party had 10 yield to
HAl1 1ltL1Eul. LIZ II IL oAAASS4tA.7 VI NA@ ~
tcrnincd not to have our noble State bound
hand and foot hY traitors and delivered
oycr to the enemies Of freedom. In the
old ninth congressional district, Which IN
1860 gave some 5000 majority for the
Democracy, the constitution was carried By
little more than {, 5,CQ0, and when such DEM
ocraic counties as Washington and Perry
roll Up 3 handsome majority against the
Infamous svindle concocted at Springfield,
it is proof plain IS holy wri-, that the peo-
ple know their rights and are determined
TO maintain them.
Willie the people Of Southern Illinois
have done thus nobly in defeating the
schemes Of traitors, we learn that the sol
diers from that section Of the State are, if
possible, even more radical in their deter
mina.ion to sustain the constitution and
:Ae laws Of their country; to add their
votes to bury out Of sight the traitor con
stitution and to put down the rebellion at
Ill hezarls. Before the stern logic Of the
battle fields On which they hare fought
nohly beside their friends from the north
EN- part Of the State, al reverence for the
peculiar institution is vanishing away.
Both they and their friends at home are
fast coming to the conclusion that rebels
should be made to know and to feel that We
have a government, capable Of enforcing
the laws, and that In this age Of civilization
traitors are not TO be suffered to shoot down
loyal men like dogs and yet be permitted
to retain the precious privilege Of selling
innocent men, r women and cliIlren, though
their skin be Of sable hue, like cattle in tht
market.
Fur years past the Southern section q
our State has been familiarly known q:
Egypt" With the Northern half Of Iii
nois it seemed to have very little to ilcn
tify it, certainly IN political associations
Il was regarded as dark corner Of crea
alton, and many dispaired Of its ever lie
coming identified with the party Of pro
gress. Artful, designing demagogues par
celcd Out the Offices among themselves
and by arpcding to the passions and the
I1*l10INSe ~ LIZ JSokAN lAG5 Sd144SA W
al their schemes and ruled with almos
despotic power. But it is to be hoped tht
term "Eg' pit so far al least as it is jus
.ifed By blind adherence to that wing o
he Democratic party which is plainly II
;caguc with traitors, will be cast aside
with unuterable Rcorn. The yott
On the new constitution show:
that the good work has beer
nobly begun and the war Demo
Gratis, we have no doubt, viii complete i
to the admiration Of all true lovers o
freedom. They can and will make tht
term Egypt" if ever used, an honor, rc
ferring to the beauty ard the unequalet
fertility Of that part Of the State; and no
Tca7 it as Heretofore, the symbol Of tha
dark fanatical blindness which DESTROYED
Pharaoh and lis hosts. The Northern
half Of the State sends greeting to South
ern Illinois and bids all true patriots there
God speed in the noble work Of making
Illinois The Empire State Of the AGssissi4 p
valley, distinguished as much for her in
tenigence and devotion 10 the Union IS sht
Is for the n.atchless fertility Of her soil ant
the extent and the beauty Of her praiIies