Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1866-09-11

ten years, In which just this course
of sacrificing the nation to the ext
gencies of parties plunged us into
rebellion and war? -
Even admit that the power would
pass into the hands of a party made
up of Southern men, and the hith-
erto dishonored and misled Democ-
racy Of the North, that power could
not be used just as they pleased.
The war has changed, not alone in
stitutions, but ideas. The whole
country has advanced. Public SEN
timent is exalted far beyond what it
has been at any former period. A
new party, would, like river, be
obliged to seek new channels in the
already existing slopes and forms of
the continent.
We have entered a new era of lib.
erty. The style of though is fear and
more noble. The young men of our
times are regenerated. The great
army has been school, and hundreds
of thousands of men are gone home
to preach truer and nobler view of
human rights. All the industrial in.
terests Of society are moving with in
creased wisdom towards intelligence
and liberty. Everywhere, in churches,
In literature, in natural science, in
physical industries, in social questions,
as we'll as in politics, the nation feels
that the winter is over, and a new
springs hangs in the horizon and
works through all the elements. In
this happily changed and advanced
condition of things, no party Of the
retrograde can maintain itself. Every
thing marches, and parties must
march.
I hear with wonder, and shame,
and scorn, the fear of a few that the
South once more in adjustment with
the Federal Government will rule this
nation The North is rich-never
SO rich the South is poor-never be-
fore so poor. The population of the
North is nearly double that of the
South. The industry of the North,
in diversity, in forwardness and pro-
ductiveness, IN all the machinery and
education required for manufacturing is
half century in advance of the South.
Churches 10 the North crown every
hill, and schools swarm in every neigh
borhood while the South has but shat
tered lights. at long distances, like
light houses twinkling along the edge
of continent of darkness. In the
presence Of such contrast, how mean
and craven is the fear that the South
will rule the policy of the land /! That
it will have an influence, that it will
contribute, in time, most important
influences or restraints, we are glad to
believe But if it rises at once to tie
control of the Government, it will be
because the North, demoralized by
prosperity and besottsd by groveling
interests. refuses to discharge it's share
of political duties In such a case
the South not only will control the |
Government, but it ought to do it.
2. It is feared, with more reason,
that the restoration of the South to
her full independence will be detri-
mental to the freedmen. The sooner
we dismiss from our minds the idea
that the freedmen can be classified,
and separated from the white popu-
lation, and nursed and defended by
themselves, the better it will be for
them and us. The negro is part and
parcel to Southern society. He can
not be prosperous while it is unpros-
pered. Its evils will rebound upon
him. Its happiness and reinvigora-
ton connot be kept from his partici-
patton. The restoration of the South
to amcable relations with the North,
the reorganization of its industry, the
Transportation of its enterprise and
thrift, will all rebound to the freed
mems benefit. Nothing so danger
Gus to the freedman as an unsettled
state of society in the South. On
him comes all the spite and anger,
and caprice and revenge. He will
be made the scapegoat of lawless and
heartless men. Unless we turn the
Government into vast military ma
chine there cannot be armies enough
20 protect the freedmen while South
arn society remains insurrectionary.
If Southern society is Gained, set
led, and occupied, and sootbed with
new hopes and prosperous industries,
10 armies will be needed. Riots will
lawless-hangers-on will be
lriven off or better governed, and
way will be gradually opened up to
reedmen, through education and in !