The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-09-12

swarm in every neighborhood WIN.
the South has but scattered lights 8
long distances, like light-hou.s.
twinkling along the edge of a confines. i
OF darkness. In the presence Of anal 4
a contrast, how mean and craven i n
fear that the South will rule the pol;es
Of the land! That it will have AZ 4.
fuence, that it will contribute, in ti,na ]
most important influences or restra;n,.
we are glad to believe. But if il r;.s' s
at once to the control Of the Cover.
ment, it will be because the North. a..
moralized BY prosperity and besottsd
by groyelling interests, refuses to az. }
charge its share Of political duty. &
such case the South not onlv IN,
control the Government, but It onohs
to do it.
2. It is feared, with more reason tb.,
The restoration of the South to her IN
independence will be detrimental =
the freedmen. The sooner we dism;s.
from our minds the idea that the freed:
men can be classified, and separat.a
from the white population, aud np;sed
and defended by themselves, the bettar
it will be for them and us. The neo,n
is part and parcel of Southern society
He cannot bo prosperous while it il n.
prospered. Itsevils will rebound l,nou
him. It's happiness and leinyigoratiop
cannot be kept from Ills participation.
The restoration of the South to a1n;ca.
bic relations with The North, the reoy.
ganization Of it's industry, the reinspi.
ration Of its enterprise and thrift, viii
all rebound to the freedmen's benefit.
Nothing. is SO dangerous to the freed.
man as an unsettled stale of policy at
the South. On him comes all the s,,ita
and anger and caprice and revenge.
He will be made the scapegoat Of law
less and heaitless men. Unless NJ
turn the Government into ayast mill
tary machine, there cannot be armies
enough to protect the freedmen while
Southern society remains insurrection-
airy. If Southern society is Gained.
settled and occupied, and soothed, with
new hopes and prosperous industries,
no armies win be needed. Riots viii,
subside, lawless hangers on will be
driven off or better governed, and q
way will be gradually opened up to the
freedmen, through education and in-s
dustry, to full citizenship, with all its,
honors and duties.
Civilization isa growth. None can.
escape that forty years ia the wildess
ness who travel from the Egypt ofisno-
rance to the promised land Of ciyiliza4
ton. The freedmen must take their
march. Ihave full faith in the results
If they have the stamina to undergo
the hardships which every unciyilized
people has undergone in their upward
progress, they viii in due time take
their place among us. That place cam
not be bough', nor bequeathed, nor
gained by slight Of hand. It will come
to sobriety, virtue, industry, and fru.
gality. As the nation ca1alot be sound
until the South is prosperous, SO, on
the other extreme, a healthy condition.
Of civil society in the Southis inlispens
sable to the welfare Of the freedmen.
Refusing to admit loyal senators and
Representatives from the South to Con.
gress will not help the freedmen. II
will not protect them. It will not se-s
cure any amendments of our Constitu-
ton, however just and wise. 1t will
oaly increase the dangers and compli-
cate the difficulties. Whether we re-
gard the whole nation, or any section
oft or class in it, the first demand Of
our time is entire reunion!
Once united, we can, by schools,
churches, d free press and increasing
free speech, attack each evil and secure
every good.
Meanwhile, tile great chasm which
rebellion made is not filed up. II
grows deeper and stretches wider !! Ont
of it rise dread specties and threaten
ing sounds. Let that gulf be closed,
and bury in it slavery, sectional ami
mostly, and all strifes and hatreds!
It is fit that the brave men, who, 81
sea and land, faced death to save tho
nation, should now, by their voice and
vote, consummate what their swords
rendered possible.
For the sake Of thu. freedman, for The
sake OF the. South and its millions ofour
fellow countrymen, for onr own sake
and for the great cause Of freedom and
civilization, urge the immediate reu,s
ion Of all the parts which rebellion and
war have shattered.
! am truly yours,
HENRY WARD BEECHER.
A MAN HIS OwN GaANDFArHsR.-Ths