The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1867-05-14
From the st. Louis Democrat. (Radical)
craftsmanship mot TO Control Res-
Till tOratiOm. TEaA .A syrer

& tOratiOm. .TEaA .-4 HEaI
The only danger that now threatens the
Radical party comes from the anxiety of
some of its leaders to secure a victory in
| 1863, Profoundly impressed with the i'm
portanee of that election, and persuaded
that the fruits of the war will be lost IN
| less the Republicans control the next adj
ministration, they may perhaps shrink from
restoring to political rights any State con-
trolled by the anti Republican party though
organized in full compliance with the re-
quirements of Congress. Party leaders are
not always to be blamed because they in
stinctively cling to power. Anxiety for the
success of party may be caused as well by
a sincere and noble patriotism as by any per-
sonal ambition, and rarely if ever has there
been time when the success of party
seemed more clearly necessary to the well
fare of the country than that of the Repub-
ican party now seems. But anxiety to win
sometimes makes men lose. Mcclellan
failed because he was too much afraid of
failure. "He who seeketh his life shall lose
it, applies sometimes to parties. For if the
people have any reason to believe that the
Republicans, in their dealing with the ques-
ton of reconstruction, are governed by a de-
sire to carry the next Presidential election,
rather than by regard for the welfare of the
country, the party will be in greater danger
of defeat than ever before. A'
The change of feeling at the South, and
the rapid progress toward reconstruction on
the Congressional basis, excite the alarm of
some Republicans. They say perhaps the re-
bells will succeed In controlling the 0rgani-
cations; perhaps the Republican party will
command no strength; then if these States are
to be restored in season for the next election,
we shall have them all voting against the
Republican candidate" What ofitq Pre-
sident Lincoln was elected in 1860 with all
the Southern States voting against him;
he would have been elected again in 1854,
if all those States had voted against him,
and if an election for President had taken
place last fall the result would have been
just the same. We protest against the idea
that the nation has anything to fear from
the votes of these beaten rebels; we protest |
against the idea that the Republican party |
has any right to delay reco 2structiOn merely |
to make its own triumph secure. The busi- |
ness of the party is to take care of the coun-
try. If reconstruction safe to the country |
can be obtained, no party has any business
to delay it for political purposes. And,
though there are very few Republicans who
can be reasonably supposed to entertain any
such purpose, the whole party would be
held responsible by the people If reconstruc-
ton should be so delayed as to induce the
belief that it was done to secure party
victory. 81 ~gte farsH.sEa
The danger is that other motives will lead
to resist the restoration of
Southern States when so organized that
they might be safely restored. For exam
pie, in some Southern States men who were
active and influential rebels are now the
most prompt to accept the terms proposed
BY Congress, apparently in good faith. They :
'ay, I'VE have fought and have been
beaten; You have the right to prescribe
erms, and you propose free labor and civil
md political equality we accept the situa-
ion and will make tho best Of it. Suppose
hese men succeed in controlling the now (
organization suppose they comply In good
aith with all the requirements Of Congress, ,
md apply for restoration. Some Rspubli- :
ebels,r they will say. I'VE must have
'tates controlled By loyal n>only." And {
n that ground alone some members Of
will vote to refuse restoration TO State
o organized. - te
The first effect of every such vote would l
q to strengthen those who claim that the 7
Iepablioan party delays restoration for .
easons might be assigned for refusal to adj &
nit the State applying, it would be repre- v
snted as intended only to secure a victory h
D 1868. Again, it would be regarded by
lany at the North as well as at the South 3
an act of bad faith. Coa1re1, has for1ally G.
Ra0HHoed the terms rhich u lriH reQHire Of ne G
outheTH States, and has declared faaf up0n r,
implying IN good faith viii fAese terms any !.
tate shall Be restored 10 REPRESENTATION. IL IL
in not do to insist that the Republican "
arty must control every State; no sfsP tkaf II
ozeress could take srOuld surely prove faisi Al
the Parfg. But to precisely that c0nstrnc n
Oh the action Of Congress would be liable :.
States orgaufzed in entire compliance n
it'll all the acquisitions Of Congress should
] refused restoration because controlled bT
en- who once sympathized with rebelho1. =,
It must not be forgotten that nearly al u
le men Of education, character or influence Q,
the Southern States were drawn into the
hirlpool Of rebellion. A governments
holly controlled By the men Who never
oh part in OF sympathiEed with the 10 "a
lllion, except in one on two States. wOuld
mmand the support Of only minority Of Al