The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1867-03-07
BUSINESS AND RECONSTRUCTION.

] hey are deeply pOnuereu IN tue Coutn,
for there the wolf OF want pushes its
pinched nose into almost every house
hold, and men are compelled to look at
every avenue of escape iron their pres
cnt condition that is proposed, either in
Congress or out. The st, Louis Repud.
Acan, in an article upon business and
politics, thus speaks of the future
Let all who are forecasting the chan. |
ces for business in 1867 take special ac-
count of the political elements which |
may affect it. Never was caution in
that direction more necessary than nov
The measures which are finding favor
with Congress are the political ruin OF
the South, ahd they invoke with it the
commercial ruin of that section of the
country. These measures will do more
to send down a blight on the fields of
the South in 1867 than did in 1866 a
disastrous season almost without paral-
lei. There can be no prosperity at the
South under the withering touch Of su,h
legislation. If these measures pass
even if the menace of them is not speed
ily withdrawn-le no man look to the
South expecting to fud paying custo'
mcrs there. Aud if there is no pros.
perity at the South, will there be pros
perity at the North ? What refec;ing
man does not anticipate the answer to
such question!
The political aspect warrants the ex-
pectation that we shall have year OIL
more of commercial gloom, depression
and disaster. Prudent men villas all
should-be setting their houses in order.
They are not at the mercy OF men, who,
in aiming at the destruction of constitu-
tional government and republican insti
tutions, would laugh at the ruin of the
whole mercantile class as the merest
JagoteHe. The Age adds these remarks:
These are plain thoughts. They can
be understood in the counting house,
in the work shop, in the mandatory.
They are based upon course of politi>
cal action, the shadow of which is al
ready lengthenlng upon the history Of
our country. The adoption Of the mill,
tary reconstruction bill leaves no room
to doubt the real meaning of the Radi-
Gals. They intend to destroy the polit"
cal importance Of the Southern States at
all hazards. For this purpose, white
men are to be disfranchIsed, and negroes
raised to the elevation of full citizenship,
Under the system now advocated, not
more than oue-sixth OF the white men
OF the South can have voice in adopt
ing local laws for the South, while all
the adult male negroes will be brought
to the polls This will PIT the South
under negro government. That class
will fashion the laws by which property
and business are to be regulated, indus
try managed and labor made prosperous
The cotton and sugar interests of thai
vast region will be at the mercy OF un.
, educated freedmen, or speculators anc
adventures who will look to presen
profits at the expense Of future su5stan'
tial results. The elevation Of coloreC
men and the degradation Of white citl
zcns will also prevent proper labol
system from being matured and put il
operation. If the negroes are armed
with the ballot AID allowed to outvOt
the whites, they will not suffer sucl
laws to be enacted bearing upon labo
and laborers as are absolutely necessar.
in order to meet the altered condition o
affairs in that section of the Union.
These arc consequences that will in
evitably follow the adoption and enforce
ment of the Radical scheme of recon
: struction." Aud yet the political pro
gramme will be carried forward, regard
q less of its business aspect. The domi
:. nant party clamor for protection to honl
industry IRON foreign competition, Will
: at the same time they are striking dow
!, the business interests North and Sout
e by despotic and unconstitutional legisla
- tion with reference to a considerable po
ton of the nation TIE planters an
merchants of the South are afraid to en
: bark in business when they are threa
C ened with negro rule and domination
: Capitalists will not invest their none
q in States where the legislation is col
" troIled by negroes. The blow aimed
. the South thus rebounds and strikes tl
: North in a most vital spot. The dim
h. mutton of products in the South is 70
h lowed by a shorter demand for articl
II produced here, and that fact operat'
" upon all the business interests of Il
North. D..
is The RcJ ubl'can wisely declares th
Il the political ruin of the South will bril-
ts with it the 81" commercial ruin of th
! section of the country" If, therefor
~ the Radicals are determined upon Il
n. first, as is proved by their acts, they "
f. be responsible for the latter, with all
d attendant consequences upon the bu
NJ ness of the North. 1t is fears of IL
kind that are making stagnaut q
ie stream of trade at this time in all pC
r. tious Of the North. Business is waiti
s upon reconstruction. The labor a
H. capital of the nation are enslaved by
= few ambitious men in the Radical par
= II r.. A. c,La nf SuccasS ora tpilli