New-York tribune., 1867-04-27
RNAT rs CONSERYA9LSMH

HHAT rs CONSERVA7LSMg
In nothing is the benefcence of the Militar%
Reconstruction more st1ikingly evinced than in
the changed tore of the journals that, in its
day, were the oracles Of the Shareholders Re
bellion. True, they do not profess change
of heart nor had we right to expect any.
Their feelings, their impulses, are little bet
tered but the situation is utterly changed,
and they fully realize the fact. Read and won
der at such sensible, moderate inculcations as
the following clipped from a leading editorial
in The Richmond Examiner:
"PARTIEs IN TIE SOUTH
"prued ernst n the formation Of parties in
the Southern states II by this il meant to dcprecate tho
can be no doubt Of the Wisdom Of the advice and Of tho
wickedness of negccting It, But If our contemporary
cal ORGANIZATIONS Whatever he will find out before the
Summer sOlstcc that no protest VIII avail 10 that end
win vSdn wG tScnsnT s1 as The wte people OF every
Northern state and the Blacks the few Northern States
where they have political rights into two parties on tho
issues most material TO them-thO Radical and ConserVa
"Parties are the inevitable growth of governments.
They exist in all. but cOnspcuOusy IN those IN whioh
large body of the people participate IN the choice OF
in the south but parties not made or unmadc by
protests they made by nothing; they grO~ a., .
wc hcTS shod hS honest
people any alarm II the Radical party or the kepubl
can Union party, the JacObns IN short by whatever
they called cannot be beaten on her record In
every Southern State IL will arise simply from one of two
cause.-the Ignorance of the Blacks, or tho Indifference
and folly OF the Whites.
IT is undenaby true that Conservative people of vir
gnia may lose power. and forever in Virginia by
resisting the inevitable. by sllen inaetion, or by .
But equally true that with honest execution Of
the late acts OF Congress- however cunnngy devised 70
destroy us with frank and fair treatment Of the coOred
people such as Virginia gentleman was prond 20 accord
them when they were slaves, and with friendly expana
tOn and advise such becomes US to any
respectable White and Colorcd man IN virginia can oe
satisfied that American citizen hc should labor Tor
the destruction Of the Radical party; H. 49,. ,.or,
"What we want especially In Virginia isa frame-wOrk
on which To begin building Conservative party. SOhh
moved in this matter and with the happleSt effect me
best of the COorcd people in those States viii vo'e WIN
they born and near whom they will lie III dratb
But here nothing has been done to counerac the Mes
10 n position OF hostility 10 the Whites"
The above are not our views, certainly
but, as The Examiners, do they not evince
gratifying progressg What that journal pro-
poses is, that those whom it distinguishes as
the Whites of the South shall, by argument
and by general department. convince the
Blacks that they ought TO vote as those Whites
do--that is, against the Republicans. Who can
object to this effort
Let us suppose now the Editor of The Er-
dminer before an assemblage of Blacks, en-
deavoring to persuade them 10 vote for his
ticket, and one or another of the Negroes shall
see fit to PROFOUND to him these questions:
"Y0u say, Sir, that we ought to vote to-
"gether: admit it. Now, then, why assume
"that the requisite accord is to be attained
"only by our voting with yOuy Why should Mt
"you, rather, vote with us!'
Nnn all ha
"urge its support on that ground. Very well:
"re are Conservatives: we have recently been
"bessed with Freedom and Equal Rights. and
eve are anxious to conserve, 10 secure. 10 per-
"petuate them. viii you showlu how and
"why voting as you wish will achieve our
"end If it will do it now. would it have
done it two years ago! If not, what has pro-
"duced the changes"
"YOu indicate hostility to the Radicals as
"the basis of your political action Please state
"frankly whether we do not, under God, owe
"Our opportunity to vote at all TO Radicals
"and Radicalismf But for them, should ye
"ever have been hOnored with the address You
"are about to make usi In short, do you not
"detest the Radicals mainly because they have
made us free and constrained you to seek
"Our votesg"
Would MT the Editor be somewhat both
cred to give plain, straightforward answers to
these questionsl
The Selma Daily Times even more ration
ally and practically accepts the situation, as
follows:
In entering upon the work OF reconstruction LET not
impede at the outset by that old Bourbon error ~
learning nothing and forgetting nothing So far rs pos
sibe, must discard the bitter feelings aud memories
OF the past aud act nationally and phosophcauy True
not permitted to devise the scheme of reconstruc
ton that has been devised by Congress and 10 us II left
the mere mechanical work Our work when consum-
mated Will enbOdy design conceived aud mapped by an
architect who consulted his capriceH and prcindiccs
than the harmOnes Of the architecture the convent
Of the builders but while our work VIII be un-
pleasant and purely mechanical, should execute IL
materials for the structure furnished These
materials not the Paran marble. they such az
would have selected but such they are we have
10 them.
1--WE are now as IL were, out Of DOORS without roof
shelter and our families. Let construct the
building are to dwell In as 10 render as comfortable
circumstances Will allow. We are much mistaken II
such De not the course dictated by prudence, common
sense, and patriotism"
All this is wise and cOmmendable; but in
what sense does it tally with Conservatism
What is it that "the South" labOrs TO con-
serve and what is her present conception of
Conservatism! We know what il was in 1854,
in 1860 in 1861, in 1865 but what is it in 1867!
and what does il promise to be in 1868
LEGISLATIVE TILL4INY
Mr. George Wilkes has rendered the cause of
honest legislation a signal service by his ex-
poe,,ra of bn circun,otopcoo unIor which his