The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-01-19
A New Reconstruction Argument.

From the Tribune
Neglect of general causes is common mistake
in political discussions. A writer in the North
American ReUteaO for January has seen this
defect, and undertakes to point out the "Climatic
Influences as bearing upon Secession and Recon-
sruction." The celebrated development hypo-
thesis of Darwin is herein made to do good ser
vice by an application Of its principles TO the
problem of Reunion we are all trying to solve.
For, obviously the first thing we need to be
sure OF is, What broke up the Union that is to
be reconstructed?
The causes commonly assigned are INSULT
Gent or, at any rate, impertectly stated.
Slavery, we say, was the root of secession; but
why was it ? The Northern colonies held slaves.
Why did the North abolish the institution, but
the South retain it? Whence came the aristo-
cratic form of society az the South, and the doc
trne of State RIGHTS? The answer our reviewer
would give 10 all these questions 49, Climate.
1t is climate hich devoted the South to agricul,
ture, and to that form OF it which employed
slavery, and out Of which grew the planter class,
and at the same time the poor whites. This
exclusive devotion to this form OF agriculture is
further responsible for the adherence OF the
South to free trade.
If the Rebellion grew then not out of slavery
alone, but out of all these causes which them
selves sprang from one antecedent and still
existing cause, the destruction of slavery and
the suppression Of the Rebellion do not consti-
tute perfect guarantee for future peace. The
South maintained its peculiar institution against
the opinion of the civilized world; it may renew
it under another form and another name il like
causes are still operative and are not counter
acted by others. The first remedy suggested is
the general establishment of manufactures.
which are democratic in their influence and
would avert the tendency OF questions con-
Cerning free trade and protection to become
sectional.
The second remedy is equal suffrage, to break
down the control of an aristocracy, lifting up
the poor white as we'll as the negro, and releas-
ing both from the tyranny OF caste. I'm a
country" says the author, "whose natural ten
dency to aristocracy is such as has been pointed
out, what danger may not be apprehended from
the presence of Pariah caste whose deba3e-
ment and incapacity tor selfprotection invites
10 their subiection? In the North, there is
always a division into classes rich and poor,
learned and ignorant, high and low; but they
are never permanent. They are like the sea and
the clouds; the drop which stagnates among the
weeds to-day, tomorrow may reflect the hues oil
the rainbow, The constant interchange of posi-
tion, preventing settled castes and class spirit,
is one safety. But where in a State, especially
one OF aristocratc tendencies, there is q class
distinction drawn, permanent and unchange
able because based upon natures brand setting
off a race prescribed ignorant, and necessitous
there a weight is thrown into the scale on tho
side of aristocracy which 1t seems impossible
TO counterbalance.n Ifit can be eounterbalanced
it is only by reconstruction oil society in fac
as well as in name.
The argument for negro suffrage is thus draw
from the aristocIatic tendencies of the South
and the ballot demanded as means of perm0