Des Arc weekly citizen., 1867-03-09
WATCHMAN, WHAT OF THE
 NIGHT?

Political revolution necessitates an agitation of the public mind, and amid the varied changes that are created and destroyed, the inquiry will often come up, tell us of the times? Just now. when the pent up fury of Radical wrath is rolling like huge volume of flame, famed by it's created current upon the heads of those who -once dared, and do yet dare think differently with them, the question is Of signif-
 sr=ss sl5ori, sstrt oEihe times? That point has been reached, and American history must record it, when .Judg- ment has flown to brutish beasts, and man has lost his reason.n But a little while, ago, and we of the South were warred upon, plundered, villified and abused, because we dared desire sepa- ration, from the American Union. In this we failed; we were, as our con querors claimed, whipped back, to all of which we. submitted. But now. strange to say, those who whipped us back would lcgislate us out. More. than this, their pulpits denounce us as not christian; their schools and colle- ges boast our immortality; their press pours out bitterness. and scorn upon our heads, and treats with ridiculc and contempt our prctcnsions to equality. By the acts of their legislative bodies we are cheated of our rights, aenied the privileges ceded to us at the sur render, are driven from all participa ton in lands for which we paid dearly are plundered by revenue, ' cheated withtariff, imposed upon by taxes, and the right to say nay to these things ta- ken from us. The constitution, that sacred instrument by which the States were so long governed, is disrcgarded. The lines of demarkation between the powers ofth executive and congress are lost and rampant the dominant party runs from radicalism to moboc- racy, and onward to despotism. Watchman, what of flthe night? False views of government have obtained. and lost in their feryid attachment to power, the Radical party discardine honor., principle and humanity. bear down with the strong arm of majority upon the resistless South, and call their oppression justice. We ask where is justice in these things? Have old land marks been so far removed that no power can be exercised for right? If against their darling scheme an honest executive raise his voice and intcrposc his strong arm, his. power, is reduced and his policy disrcgarded. Dare the Supreme Court deSsssIo . gainst their fa- vorite measure, that Court is composed of imbeciles and ifs decisions shall not prevail. Verify, these things arc; yet the South crouches not at their feet to beg for mercy. They have none to show, she no sins to answer for. Her. course has been as honorable as theirs have been perfdious; and she can fear naught that the consciousness of right will not enable her to bear. Fanati- cism is born of discord and flourishcs with agitation; take from the creature it's food and it dies. Hence the most consistent course for us is dignified silence, patient waiting for the time when, these extreme views now enter tained by the dominant party shall be brought in subjection to the more con servative policy of justice, and if this time never comes, patience. will bring its own reward. ea
 reA- Louisianians in Washington say if kl<.- R l------- .