Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-11-08

Wv" @eAA INV --N N~n "AN
the stolid obstinsey Of the donkey,
swears that it will never abste a jot or
q title OF what it calls with q gloomy
gravity its "pFin0iplos, " no matter how
the people may vote. 1t appeals from
the people to the negro. 1t cries, like
RoDERICK DHU:
Come one, come all, this rock shall fly
From Its nTm base az soon as L."
1t learned nothing from the past, and
sees no further into the future than a bat.
Hear, however, the Numbering of the
Times. 1t says Of the people of the
SOuthg
The Democratic gains Of October in
spired them with new hopes. They saw
ia them indications OF renewed Demo
cratic supremacy,-tO be followed by the
repeal Of all the reconstruction acts, the
withdrawal Of the suffrage from the
blacks, and a restoration OF absolute po-
liticsl power In the South TO the white
classes who had il before the q In
somesparts Of the South, Il seems to be
well established, that they even antici-
pate 8 repeal OF the Constitutional
Amendment BY which slavery wa abol-
ished, or II all events payment TO the
owners for all the slaves that have been
set free.
How absurd and short-sighted all these
expectations are, every candid and dis
passionate man knows full well. But
they have had q most disastrous effect
upon the political action Of the Southern
States. They induced their white citi-
zens TO refuse 81 participation in the
elections, and thus not only threw the
whole power OF those States into The
hands OF the blacks, but implanted the
seeds Of q bitter hostility between the
RACES which may lead to the most de-
plOrsble results hereafter. 1t is precisely
here that the worst effect Of Democratic
SUCCESSES is 10 be traced. Upon the actual
policy and action Of the North they can
have little eject, They hold forth no
prospect Of the return OF the Democrats
to power In the nation next year, nor can
they bring about any change in the party
complexion of Congress for two years to
come. But they betray the people Of the
South into most lamentable mistakes Of
policy, s1d induce them to take q course
which will postpone the actual work Of
reconstruction for many years to come,
IL It does not defeat II altogether.
II says that the people OF the South.
since the negroes were vested with the
franchise in spite of them, and were pro-
tected in the exercise of votes in ded-
Rnee Of them, have cultivated q 'sulky
stubbornpees,' and allowed the negroes
to carry matters Ia their own way.
Such \ result is very much to be
deplOred. 1t darkens the future Of the
South and adds to the perplexities Of a
question already greatly complicated.
Hut the difficulties it interposes to the
successful working Of the reconstruction
scheme are not to be seeepted sc evidepee
OF its defects or ofinjustiGe 10 the leading
objects at which 1t aims. Harsh it is in
many particulars, and dangerous, per.
haps, 10 ia creation Of political power
OF ignorant, semi-0iViliEed elements.
lime however, and the healing infu-
eDees Of q restored Union, might be
relied upon to gradually remove its
hRrshness aud the danger would have
been materially reduced had the whites
accepted the situation, and exerted
themselves 10 mitigate its embarrrsss. /
ments. Their obstinate refusal 10 do
either of these things-their rejec-
ton Of the conditions prescribed /
and their ~antGgenism to the equality |
which CONSTITUTES the fundamental prin1
ciple OF the law, must deprive them OF
sympathy to which OthsEEsie they would
have been entitled, and lessen the infIu.
ence OF appeals which they may address
TO Congress on the subject. Even quaIi-
fed compliance with the requirements
OF Congress would have indicated a spirit
TO whioh the North could not have been
Indifferent. But the logged deRsnee
has thus far governed their pro-
ceedings, and the unyieldiDg opposition
not only to universal but to partial negro
suffrage, are indications Of Q temper