The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-12-06
EFrom the New York World.]
Treatment of the South.


maintained that the mere exertlon Of mil
itary foree-indispensable as that became
would never suffice to restore the I'M
ioE. Certain it is, in the light of events,
that war has not sufhced to restore the
Union; and the main question of debate,
eight months after It's close, is, whether
restoration is practicable. Could there
be more conclusive demonstration that
war alone could not accomplish the pur-
pose for which the late war was underta-
ken? The mere military success of the
war is not-and never was-the point in
question That has been complete and
overwhelming; but to PROSTATE resistance
was not the ultimate object of the war,
only means Is that object attained?-
If so, why is Congress about to organize
with third of the States excluded from
their representation? Whydoes our ar
my, in time of peace, number two hun
dred thousand men, scattered through the
South keeping watch and ward? Why is
the whole country bending eagerly to-
ward Washington, listening for what the
President is about TO say on the great
topic of restoration? Why is every heart
among us filled with misgiving?-men on
one side fearing that the President will
favor the restoration Of unsubdued and in
corriglble enemies; and on the other, that
his healing and conciliatory policy will
/ be bafied by recalcritant Congress?
The Uninn, as yet, is not restored;
practically the whole country admits that
the Democratic party were right in main
tanning that war alone could never restore
it. We have paid this appalling price for
goods which, when sent to our door, we
feject as if reeking with the fumes of a
pest-house What have we got to show
for our enormous expenditure? A Union
restored and confidence established
/ Nol The Union remains to be restored
by craftsmanship and moderation: which,
as the Democratic party always contend
ed, might have prevented its dissolution.
What, then, have we got, as yet, as the
fruit of our mighty efforts? Count the
graves, and see Reckon up the cripples,
and beholdl Go into the markets; and
ask the prices of food, fuel, raiment-and
learn! Consider our debt of three thou
sand millions; add to it twice as much
more for production arrested and proper
| ty destroyed, and tell US what this enor-
NOUS sacrifice was for. What have we got
to show for it?
i IF we are to believe the statements OF
the Republicans, we have got an Ireland
a Poland! We have merely extended our
dominion over people not fit to be ad-
mitted into our councils. We are guar
anteeing Republican government (that is
what they call IT'D by excluding States
from representation. So far from having
restored the Union, the "Union party
| Union partyD contend that the restora-
ton of the Union is the very worst thing
that could happen, as yet.
/ Against this doctrine, the Democratic
party, trusting that they have President
johnson with them, protest. They be-
lieve there has been no moment since the
1outbreak of the late bloody and fratrici-
] dal war when the restoration of the I'm
4 ion was not desirable. After the firing
on Sumter, war was indeed inevitable; but
we have been compelled to use the maxi
mum of force because we exerted the min
imum of craftsmanship. The war was Sc
managed as to keep the South united and
resolute SO long as they had any resour-
ces, making the acquisition as expensive,
and the country when reacquired as worth
less,as any conceivable method could have
made them. That, however, is past, and
cannot be helped But is there any ne
cessity for continuing the old methed, ,and
making the government of the country
we have reacquired as unrepublican and
expensive, and the restoration of the I'm
ian as late and long deferred, as by any
kind of management is possible?
When President j Johnson came into of
fee, he adopted for the restoration of the
Union, the kind of means which the Dem
ocratic party have always contended were
indispensable. He manifested great kind
ness of spirit toward the South; he defen-
ded their assailed rights; he stood as a
| bulwark between the Southern States and
| the tide of Radical fanaticism and ven
i geance. The effect was wonderful II
was like the fabled contest between the
wind and sun to get off the travellers
cloak. While the storm was making Its
trial, the man hugged his garment all the
closer in proportion to its violence. But
when the suns turn came, and the sun
poured down his meridian effulgence on
the pilgrim, assailing him with genial
| Warmbn, ne put OH the CLOAK OF MS own
accord. Thus it was with the South
when President johnson treated them
with generous magnanimity. To the as
tonishment of everybody, they became as
ready to return to the Union as they had
been eager to quit it. The radicals growl.
ed and revived their oid policy. The
storm reassailed the traveller, and sun and
wind are struggling together for the mas
terry. IF the Radicals prevail, he will
bethink him again of his cloak; or te
Espeak without figure, if the South i:
treated as the Radicals demand, the ole
hostility will be revived, and pacif GATOR
is as far off as ever.
If the Radicals are to be believed, th,
war is not only failure in respect to tn,
restoration of the Union, but even in re-
spect to what they most glory in-the alb
clifton of slavery. The Union, they say
cannot yet be restored, because slavery is
as yet, abolished only in name, not il
fact. They contend that, till the freed
man has the elective franchise, he is a
much slave as ever; that reunion is no
| to be thoupht of until the negro Ia 20