The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1866-12-09
The Policy of Southern Inactivity.

Mastery inactivity the policy OF
the South is the caption of an article
in a late number of the New York
News. 1t would have US remain pas
sive-watch and wait until popular
opinion insists upon the vindication
of the doctrines of our form of gov
eminent. We were welded to this
policy few months ago, but the rule
of faction that recognizes no obliga-
ton unfavorable to their partizan as
pirations, and which have been fully
revealed by the action of Congress
during the past week, convinces us
that we should raise our voice against
the radical efforts to extort from us
the surrender of our principles To
be lorded over and acknowledge the
authority of master race-to let our
tongues and brains remain tied or still
sink into mental inactivity and in
dolence which is unsuited to our
temperaments, and not in any way
likely to bring us any ultimate good,
while party in theirma zeal for pelf
and power are about to destroy
the temple Of liberty and bring
anarchy and revolution upon the
peoples entirely too much for us
to permit to pass without pro-
test. To do nothing, so far as po-
Iitical action is concerned-to simply
''watch and wait until time teaches the
masses of the North the necessity of
redeeming the republicanism of the
United States and instructs how to
work out the problem of the interests
of the South is something we cannot
consent to do. We must assure our
friends of the News 1--WE really think
them such) that we have ou5grown
the principle of passive resistance"
The doctrine will not do for us now.
We have discovered a Fabian policy
does not suit the young Republic that
has warred with itself and applied the
torch and the brand to happy homes
and free affairs within it's own limits,
because the fury of a fanatic few had
gulled and over-eXcited them. 1t is
true the masses will open their eyes
and find that they have been made
the tools and victims of designing
men; that party and party interests
were the considerations that produced
their actiOn-that the masses were in
deed the dupes, and that the now pre-
dominant party are certainly the class
ofpoliticians Shakespeare says some
where, would circumvent God.
And this we believe can only be done
by loud and constantly reiterated
opposition to the controlling party,
and which we fear our old friend, the
News, by innuendo, would have us bow
to, and go home on our plantations
and SOW the wind, and thus leave our
selves to be drowned by the whirlwind
of misrule and unjust taxation. We
are disappointed in the advice of the
News. We had, in the dreary days Of
our struggle, been cheered by the
hopeful words sent us through the
pages of this journal; but we are now
startled with advice which sounds to
US no better than the harsh clanking
Of chains in a prison cell. With the
proceedings of the radical caucus and
Congress before it, we cannot believe
the News was serious, when its editor
advised us to become erich and pros
porous, and that we should obtain fair
terms" from those now endeavoring
to secure the surrender Of our prin-
ciples. If we have the credit of
strength enough to endure, we GER
tainly have strength enough to raise
our voices. THE Government of the
United States is our only govern
ment, and in its honor and glory
must we find ours With the policy
of Congress laid bare before us, we
cannot afford to remain passive. Mas
terly inactivity to our mind is baleful.
Action of an Independent yet steady
course is our best reliance. There is
certainly better fate in store for US
than that of patching our rags,
hugging our chains and living as
slaves. We must make ourselves
heard if we would gain it.