Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-11-30
From the Chicago Daily Republican.
Resistance 10 reconstruction


From the Chicago Daily Republican.
Resistance 10 reconstruction.
Every days develop at the South
makes it palmer and palmer that the ex-
rebels are resolved TO yield to the Con-
gressioual plan Of reconstruction Only at
the end Of organized. obstinate, uncOm-
promising, exhaustive resistance. No
act Of theirs, from first to last, from Vir
ginia to Texas, indicates the least atom
of willingness 10 accept the most mag
unanimous terms ever offered to con-
quered people. The men who fully
appreciated the enormity of their trea-
Acn when they precipiiated eleven States,
prosperous, protected in all their rights,
and secure from oppression, into the
bloody and ruinous abyss OF secession
and civil war. have never been punished
for their crimes. 4 very few inhuman
gueriIlas, like Champ Ferguson, and
superiutendents of starvation, ike VIM
have suffered death, but tho arch traitors
have gone scot-free. Estates lbeied for
Coufiscatiun have been restored, and the
owners pardoned. Nowhere las the
conqucrer exhibited a spirit of ven.
geance. All that has been required for
n definite settlement Of our. national
ur ub:es is a practical and secure recog-
milton of the political creed set forth in
the Declaration of IndepeDdence-prin-
cipIes fundamental Of our free iastitu-
lions. But the ex-rebels, sullen and
intractaIle, spurn all propositions that
look to equal rights for all classes
BCfantIy they proclaim that they will
accept nothing less than n white mans
government. and, relying upon the
supreme anxiety Of the nation 10 settle
its difficulties at once and forever, they
expect to wear out public patience by
the unendiBg firmness and persistence Of
their demand, and ultimately win their
point from people subdued by long
suspense ana anxiety, and aching to
enjoy a season of quietude and rest, on
any terms.
Such IS the programme Of the reac-
tiouists. Everywhere in the excluded
States they are prepared for the struggle.
Concurrent, harmonious, organized
action is the cry, from Virginia 10 Texas.
The Southern imagination is fired by the
allegation that ''the great heart Of the
Northern masses burns with unquencha-
bic, implacable revenge, and seeks the
utter destruction of every Southern
right and interest" Popular ignorance
is enlisted and energized by appeals 10
its prejudices-by disappearing loyal
reconstruction as the work of "a faction
who are using the imbruted African to
subyert all that is near aud dsar-to
inaugurate war of races, and plunge
the Government into a mOngrelism
which can ouly end in anarchy or des.
pOtisu."
The key note Of this contest between
equal rights and monopoly of rights
was first sounded in Virginia, aud i;
now repeated in Georgia. Soon we
shall hear like signals from the other
excluded States. State conventions are
the order Of the day, whereby the party
Of resistance may consolidate and utiIize
It's strength. Toe purpose Of defeating
the constitutions to-le framed by the
approaching conventions is arowed with
a bold front, even while these organic
laws are inchOste aud iudeterminate ia
the brains Of the delegates, and while
the form and nature OF the provision:
are only matter for the mercst coniect
ure. Ii is boldly asserted, from tht
influences that have triumphed at th,
polls, that no hing will be presented thai
can be ratified, with honor and safety
to the State, which means with honor
and safety to disloyaI indictments.
The Republican party must prepare
itself for a siege Of cIrcun. stances. 1t
equanimitv and patience are about to b,
severely tried. The organized resistanc,
Of the ex rebels must be met with firm
ness and determination. We are abou
to enter upon the most serious and dan
gerous phase of tho reconstruction
imbroglio. II is understood that Con
gress stands ready to perform its whole
duty TO the country amid the new com
plications. That body will give tb,
reactionists plainly to understand tha
It's plan will be substituted by no NOR,
complaisant terms-that equal politica
rights IS the only basis of Teadmissior
into the Union, and that rebel resistance
and stubbarnness may coerce the impo
sition of measures more stringent anC
more unpalatSble. The duty of tn,
people, in this crisis, is to strengthen tn,
hands of Congress, which may be done
by widespread manifestations of al
approval of its course,
Let this appear, and the reac,ionist
will quickly come to grief. Thus. wher
discontinue and humiliation fall heavily
upon them, and in vain they scan tht
political horison for a ray of hope, the
words of the Yelled Prophet of Kkoras
san will exactly fit their self imposed AM
willful condition.
aye would be dlpes and victims, and We are.