The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-11-17

American Reconstruction.
We have more than once observed that we
are not Indifferent to the praise of thinking
men in England or on the continent To
break down the strong wall of European con-
servatism, to divest nnti-republican prejudices
Of their rancor, to secure praise for demo-
cratic government where democratic princi-
pies are ostracised, is 80 strong proof Of the
progressive force of American political ideas,
that the true American cannot butbe gratifed.
The obtrusive egotism of Jonathan abroad has
secured for the travelling Yankee the excori-
atoms and lampooning in which trans-Atlan-
tic journalists so delight. That is an individ-
ual matter with which we have no concern.
When, however, our Republic, which does
assume to be an educator of the nations, de-
monstrates its fitness for its position by the
severest ordeals successfully passed, and the
gravest problems of administration successful
ly solved, then praise to the government is as
grateful as praise to the individual; and when
liberal minds in foreign countries render the
nation homage, we take it as an omen of good
to the race who are to find political and social
redemption through the instrumentality of
free government.
We make the following extract from an
excellent editorial in recent number of the
London Recorder, upon American affairs:
The rapidity with which the American ma
ton is recovering from the effects of the late
tremendous conflict is the most extrao rdinary
social and political phenomenon of modern
times. II we have the good sense so to re-
ceive it, it is great lesson of humility. A
couple Of years ago, our political philosophers,
with few exceptions, agreed In declaring that
the South could never be subiugated that the
war might be carried on for twenty years in
Virginia alone; and that supposing Virginia
to be subdued. the States further south would
remain as unconquerable as ever. Financial
philosophers, during the progress of the war;
were continually demonstrating, in accord
ance with ascertained and established laws
which were said to govern commerce and cur
rency, that financial crash must inevitably
come upon the North paralyzng commerce,
and involving multltudes in utter ruin. 1t
was further declared, with a positiveness
which could brook no contradiction, that in
the event of the Confederate armies being
beaten IN the field, the South would have to
be governed at an enormous expense as
conquered territory, by means ofvast military
establishments, keeping the people every
where in subjection. The emancipation of
the slave, it was predicted, would be the fruit
full cause of the most appalling evils-anar-
chy, lawlessness. plunder, murder, and uni
versal misery-in short, the horrors of the
Haytien insurrection reproduced upon an
enormously increased scale.
The war has ended, the slaves are liberia
ted the rebels have been beaten in the field
but where are all the horrors which our poll
teal theorists were certain would ensue? The
Southerners, instead of requiring to be kept
in awe by the presence of an armed garrison
in every town, are inconyeniently urgent in
their applications to the Government for par
don. Not the shadow of resistance to autho-
rity appears throughout the thousands of over
which the rebellion so lately ragged in its ter
rible vigor. The financial earthquake which
was to involve in difficulty, if not in ruin,
every moneyed interest of the country, has
not occurred, and the threatening elements are
subsiding into calm. And if, as must inev-
tably be the case where four millions of peo-
pie are called suddenly to undergo transi-
ton in their social condition. some difficulty
Is still felt with regard to the settlement of
the negroes, where is the utter and universal
anarchy which was SO confidently predicted?
Marvellous as were the capabilities displayed
by the American nation in the exigences of
the war, the way in which they are settling
down into a state of peace is a phenomenon
vet more marvellous. That three or four hun
dred thousand soldiers. accustomed the excite
ments of the camp and of the field, should be
disbanded without any serious disturbance of
the public tranquility, is result which can
only be accounted for, under the blessing of
Providence, by the illimitabe resources which
the country possesses
Eternal Justice has vindicated the right
They who robbed and spoiled an inferior
and downtrodden race are themselves brought
TO penury and the late proud owner of hun
dred negroes. may now be seen humbly ap-
plying for employment to q man who was lor
mery his slave. Such stupendous changes,
effected in way which no human sagacity
could foresee. confirm our faith in God, who
rules with awful Justice, and avenges the
wrongs of the injured and the needy. On the
other hand, sorrow has chequered the path
of the conquerors; and the public debt, now
officially stated at six hundred millions ster-
ling, cannot but be felt as burden by peo-
pie hitherto little used to taxation, notwith
standing the extraordinary elasticity of the
national resources. On the whole, the work
of reconstruction and tranquilization is pro-
eaeding with rapidity which the warmest
friends of the nation could scarcely have ven-
tured to expect The helm seems to be in
firm and competent hands. President John
son has thus far justified the confidence ex-
pressed by Bishop James in Exeter Hall imme-
diately on his succeeding to the office-a
confidence which Englishmen at that time,
were slow to share-that he was equal to the
position in which events had 30 UNEXPECTEDLY
placed him. No sovereign in the world pos
sesses such absolute power, amid unpara-
1olad IifEnu1f,as with for nd INT a nd
discretion.
GEN. DUFF GREEN, died at Mobile on the
10th inst.
Gov SToyR has issued THANKSGIVING proc.