The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-10-30
coon WILL TO MEN

Nothing better than generous and trustful
spirit to those who have been in error can
crown our victories. | have hitherto been
persistent in exposing wrong, and ! now de-
sire to be early in extending the hand of fell
lowship. When the crime of slavery blotted
our fair page. charity was a mistake and a
witness against US in favor of slavery. Now
things are changed the cause of trouble is
removed, and it has become our privilege and
duty, as it is my pleasure, to plead for large
measure of good will and love toward ali
men. In the first place, we cannot expect
those who have been struck with this insanity
to get over in an hour their lifelong prejudices
and beliefs. And while we are calling them
citizens and brothers we should remember
that convalescence is sometimes longer in its
run than the disease, and men who have been
torn by fierce, relentless war, cannot, in n
moment, change. Nor are we to expect them
to give up their theories. Men at the North
are disappointed because prominent men at
the South are pardoned, when they do not
give up their theory of secession. ! should
not respect them if they did. Let them ac-
cept the fact of Union from this time on and
they can have their theories. A man who
too readily gives up his theories and doctrines
cannot make desirable citizen. / expect
them to retain their theories. but accept the
facts.
Nor is it right to distrust their professions.
II is said they will again get into power, and
then do as they please. How do you expect
to prevent them? Somewhere men must be
believed and trusted. What guarantees would
you ask-how secure them? Think the utter
destruction of slavery is the best guarantee.
Why was the North valid and Strong and
healthfnl? Because she promoted freedom
and the doctrines of liberty Our theories
were better, but perhaps not our practices
they were made to be what they are by false
theories of political economy. Slavery, which
is another name for kingdom antagonistic
to human rights, was the cause of our per-
petual struggle with them. The necessities
of their institutions collided with the necessi-
ties of our institutions. Now that slavery is
destroyed. the
CArSE OF SECESSION
is destroyed. Once let these heather laws be
destroyed. and slavery taken away, and we
want no guarantee. There will then be no
cause for collision. l want guarantees of
some sort, and the best | believe to be the
effectual destruction of slavery.
1t is said that the South should be humbled
before sheis received back. So far from that,
| want to save the
sEIF-REsPEcT OF THE SOUTH;
and he is the wisest statesman who can carry
them through this trouble without loss of their
selfrespect. would go backwards, and cover
their nakedness and let them come back to
the full rights of manhood and citizenship.
Oh, how they have suffered; peeled, SCARED,
wailing for them who have perished in the
service of a cause which itself has persisted.
And do you say let them be still further hum,
bled Oh. my brother, you know not what
manner of spirit is in you. | am very glad
that the foremost of our anti slavery men
have been pleading for less rigor, and ex-
pressing generous sympathy for their old
time antagonists. Let the true men find the
southern heart, and let traitors be ignored by
both parties.
THE TWO GREAT QUESTIONS
now unfolding into practical politics are, first
the admission of the southern States to par
ticipation in the administration of the Ma
tional Government; and, second, the granting
Of the rights of the black man. It is best for
us that restoration should at once commence
1t is part of our belief that all men should
partake actively in the administration of civil
affairs. Some precedent qualifications should
be made, Of course The one prime cause of
our difficulty should be done away with
States should be conditioned upon the restora-
ton of slavery. Communities should not
be permittsd to take part in the Government
until SO conditioned that they cannot destroy
It. They must swear never again to attempt
to destroy us. They must not only declare
their acts of secession null and void, but ab
ixffio false and heretical. They should also
astahlish the .,e - ...
RIGHTS OF THE FREEDMEN.
To- work when, where, and as much as he
Pieases to be made the equal Of all other
men before a court and in the eye of the law,
and have as ready access to the courts as any
other man. Ihold, also, that he should have
had suffrage, because il is o natural6ikht.
He has the right to make the lavs wh;eh.Qoy-
ern him, and to determine the magistrates
under which he lives. He has right to be q
citizen, because he Is man. think it would
n