The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-08-05
The Impolicy of Opposition.

To show the futllity and mpocy Of Southern oppos-
ton TO the republican programme In regard to recon.
structon IL s only necessary to pursue tho following
OF thought-That opposition should combine all Of
the Southern whites save those who adhered TO the
Union during the should be organized opposi-
ton, and at by means OF party machinery All exCon-
fsderaes should belong to it Its aim should be to pre-
vent the republicans from Carrying out their pro
gramme II should rest its caims TO tho support
Of the Southern people upon the assumption that
ex. Con ederate whites, should prevail, and that the
ideas and views OF the conquerng section should not
be permitted TO b. introduced Another assumption
would be that none but cxConederate whites should DO
elected Office Would not this DO Confederate
theory, and. II such party prevailed, would 1t not in
effect revive aud in operation Confederate Drin-
cples? This proposition will scarcely be denied Does
the North know this as well as we do. and can we
be so blind as to suppose that after nghtine Tor Tour
years at n sacrifice OF nearly half million iiyes and
loss OF three Thousand millions Of doisr there Is any,
tho remote, possibility that the North viii, under
any circumstances, allow US to resume and carry out
any programme OF our ovn--any Southern programme
least OF all squirting however iainty and fururoiy
al the Confederate sysem9 II we suppose such thing
possible deceive ourselves most grossly and act
under a delusion destined 10 work al inconceisable
amount OF mischief 10 the fortunes of those mos, dear TO
us. We are not speaking OF things as We could wish
them be- bu, they really The policy we should
IKE 10 SEQ would be Of such macnannity as would
leave opposition without the justification OF the meres
pre,egt But we remember that the conquered
party and have right TO dictate policy That IL the
Of the conquoror What we have SAID shows
the futilty Of organized opposition resting upon a
crate basisthe only basis which could be
crested. Would not be worse than futile? Would V
be IN the uigncst Oi ue>t
aerestss We think It would There eau be no reason.
able doubt on this point.
The wbos North would be convinced that we are stl
n the gall OF bitterness" that hate the Union, On
that are st determined to carry the contest. II
would DO in vain FOR TO explain our position BY fine
spun theories and nicely drawn distinctions. They
would all be secuted and we with them The answer OF
the repub.icanized North would be, "Yoi are con-
tumacous and dsoyal withoa, arms your logic that
OF who only want arms TO make that logic enec-
tive We VII not ,rus, you. We viii .raw your teeth
and cut your c!aws 70 prevent you from oe:ns dan.
eerous In the future" The meaning Of this would be
Acknowledgement and conhscatlou.
These in our view VIII be the Inevitable results OF
opposition to the republican programme: hence our
dread Of that opposition. We small difference
between those extremists the side Who advocate
ESTABLISHMENT and confscatou and those tho other
Who bent pursuing course that viii entail that
punishment upon themselves and their ueghbors and
will make parahs II all the Southern whites We hope
the tine will when will prove insersiole
10 the appeals Of honor-tr1e honor But the
ta!nly has not come when suffer false pride
beirav into the error, may We uo say The erme
acing for naught the present arc future of
the people OF this renowned ou: sfcie: Commonwealth