North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1866-09-05


of our government. However humane the
ends sought and the motives, it is in fact
a course of instruction, preparing our gov
ernment to be despotic, and famliarizing
the people to stretch of authority which
can never be other than dangerous to lib
erty.
l am aware that good men are withheld
from advocating the prompt and successive
admission of the exiled States by the fear,
chiefly, of its effect upon parties, and upon
the freedmen. .....'..-r. a
1t is said, that if admitted to Congress.
the Southern senators and representatives
will coalesce with Northern Democrats.
and rule the country. Is this nation. then
to remain dismembered to serve the ends.
of parties Have we learned no wisdom
by the history of the last ten years, in
which Just this course of sacrificing the ma
tion to the exigencies Of parties plunged
US into rebellion and ware -..
Even admit that the power would pass
into the hands of party made up of
Southern men, and the hitherto dishcnored
and misled Democracy of the North, that
power could not be used just as they
pleased. The war has changed, not alone
institutions, but ideas. The whole country
has advanced. Public sentiment is exalt-
ed far beyond what it has been at any
former period. A new party would, like
a river, be obliged to seek out its channels,
in the already existing slopes and forms of
the continent. .. ......
We have entered new era of liberty
The style ofthought is freer and more no
BILE. The young men Of our times are re-
generated. 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 interests of society are NOV
ing with increasing wisdom toward intelll.
gence and liberty. Everywhere, in church
es, in literature, in natural sciences, in
physical industries, in social questions. as
well as in politics, the nation feels that the
winter is over, and a new spring hangs in
the horizon, and works through all the ele-
ments. Tn this happily changed and ad-
vanced condition of things, no party Of the
retrograde can maintain itself. Everything
marches, and parties must march.
I hear with wonder and shame and
scorn, the fear of 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 before so poor. The popula-
ton of the North is nearly double that of
the South. The industry of the North, 10
diversity, in forwardness and productive
ness, in all the machinery and education
required for manufacturing, is half
century in advance of the South Church
es in the North crown every hill, and
schools swarm in every neighborhood
while the South has but scattered lights,
at long distances,like liz shthouses twinkling
along the edge of continent of darkness.
In the presence of such a 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 contrib
ute, in time, most important influences or
restraints, we are glad to believe. But, if
it rises at once to the control Of the govern
ment, it will be because the North, demor-
allied by prosperity, and besotted by grow
cling interests, refuses to discharge its
share of political duty. In such a case,
the South not only will control the govern
ment, but it ought to do it
2. 1t is feared, with more reason, that
the restoration of the South to her full in
dependence will be detrimental to the
freedmen. The sooner we dismiss from
our minds the idea that the freedmen can
be classified, and separated from the white
population, aud nursed and defended by
themselves, the better it will be for them
and us. The negro is part and parcel of
Southern society. He cannot be prosper
Gus while it is unprospered. It's evils
will rebound upon him. Its happiness and
reinvigoration cannot be kept from his
participation. The restoration Of the South
to amicable relations with the North, the
reorganization of its industry, the rcinspira
ton of its enterprise and thrift will all re-
dound to the freedmen's benefit. Nothing
is so dangerous to the freedmen as an un
settled state of society in the South. On
him comes all the spite, and anger, and ca
price, and revenge, He will be made the
scapegoat of lawless and heartless men. =
Unless we turn the government into vast
military machine, there cannot be armies
enough to protect the freedmen while
Southern society remains insurrectionary
If Southern society is calmed, settled, and
occupied and sooth2d with new hopes and
prosperous industries, no armies will be
needed. Riots will subside, lawless hang
ers on will be driven off or better govern
ed, and way will be gradually opened up
to the freedmen, through education and in
dustry, to full citizenship, with all its hon
ors and duties.
Civilization is growth. None can es-
cape that forty years in the wilderness who
travel from the Egypt of ignorance to the
promise land of civilization. The freed
men must take their march. l have full
faith in the results. If they have the sta
nina to undergo the hardships which ev-
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