The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1865-04-15

1t is impossible to predict With any
certainty the immediate future Of The
United States of America. There are
grave questions to settle, which. for q
time. must somewhat unssttle affairs
generally and totally subvert the system
Of things at the South. Slavery Is. dead.
and the aristocrstic condition Of society
which is fostered and built up must pass
away with it. The large plantations
will soon be divided up into smaller
farms. and under the magic wand Of
free labor. the vast fields of the South
will become productive beyond prsce-
dent; and the wealth which will follow
in time can hardly fail to be what would
now be regarded as visionary or faba.
lous.
The worst drawback to the rapid de-
velopmens of the former Slave States.
viii be the predatory bands Of guerril-
las. who. as so many banditti. will infest
the South for years to come. rendering
life and property somewhat precarious.
The immense swsmps, vast wildernessss,
mountain fastnesses and other hiding
places. which SO abound in the Ses,h,
will give these robber bands shelter aud
furnish them with almost inaccessible
retreats. from which they can sally forth
upon their work Of plunder in the night.
or at such other times as may suit their
convenience or caprices. and lay waste
farm. . neighborhood. or village,a and
again retire to their lurking places and
divide their booty.
1t may be thought that this evil will
hardly curse the land; bat We are as
certain Of it, as though the fact we're
already history. These guerrillas were.
in the main. the ''poor white trash" Of
the Slave States. They never knew
what it was TO have any thing ahead. or
even to live." except. as it is commonly
expressed. from hand to mouth. This
class, having had taste Of indspen-
dencs-for before they were serfa--
cannot be brought to return to their for
mer condition. They have always been
indolsns and improvidsnt; they will not
now become steady. sober and industri-
ous citizens. Nothing. therefore. is to
be hoped from large portion of this
class Of guerrillas.
Again, We fnd certain reckless. dare
devil fellows in these bands, often lead
srs, who delight in the work. They
will never desist IS long IS they can
hold out. for the simple reason that the
life Of robber is cougenial. and they
love it. 1t chimes in with their feelings
and they delight in the excitement IS
well as the danger and dare-deviltsy Of
such calling.
Then. too. There are outlaws. the form.
er occupants Of jails and prisons among
these bands Of marauders. They will
not return to quiet life. because they
are already disgraced.
Then again, there are those in the
brush who have taken to robbers life
for the purpose Of wreakiag vengeance
upon some enemy. These will hold on
until their revenge is eonsummated. and
then will fear to return TO the quiet
walks Of life. lost justice shosld over
take them.
These are few Of the characters who
compose the great body Of the BUSH
wbackers or guerrillas: and it Is plainly
TO be seen tina. nothing can be hoped
from them. Their presence ia the land
will only prove curse. cit may require
ten or fifteen years TO extirpats them.
and until then they will be an incubus
upon the South.
Then the spi'it Of wild speculation,
which is rife in the land. may tend 70
unsettle affairs and retard permanent.
improvement. 1t is 4 matter Of doubt
which would be best for the nation, a
financial crisis which should at once
bring things down to their base level,
or the fluctuations that must exist %
long as the speculators continue to iu-
terfere with the trade. commerce and
business Of the land BY their gambling
villainies. We incline to the belief that
. 6attening on. at once would be better
10 the end than the attempt to ease down
on the unsubstantial basis Of the gam
bleFs' creed.
Our debt is vast, but after al is scarce
ly burden. Itcan be paid of 10 few
years. and no one be madsato -groan
under the load.
But notwithstanding these evils, and
others real and apparent, the future Of
the Republic looms up grandIy in the
disfanca With the hlasein,e of Hsaren