The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-05-03
The Republican Party the Best Friend
of the SOuth

NoTHNG could be more erroneous than To
suppose that the Republican party is the
enemy of the South; on the contrary. that
party is, and has been, the best friend that the
South ever had.
We use the term "South" as inclusive not
merely of one race, but of all the people living
in that locality. And speaking of the South
in this sense, we have no hesitation in re-
peating the assertion that the Republican party
is, and has been, her best friend And we say
so, because that party has ever advocated
such an organization of society at the South
as would inevitably secure the highest pros
perity and well-being of all her people.
Everybody acknowledges now that slavery
was very bad thing-destructiv not only of
the best good of the slave, but equally de-
structive of the best good of the master. We
presume that the American Tract Society even,
would not now hesitate to publish in its books
and tracts the truth that slavery is a sin.
Nobody now has the hardihood to propose
the re-establshment of slavery. Such pro-
posal would be secuted at the South as well
as at the North. But in this general acknow-
ledgment of the evil of slavery, this posthu-
nous verdict of the nation against it, what a
justification have we of the course of the Re-
publican party This was the doctrine urged
by the Republicans from the beginning. 1t
was opposed and denounced but it is now
shown to have been truth.
The vital principle underlying the Repub-
hcan organization in the past having been
shown to be correct, let us for a moment con-
template what would have been the condition
of the South had she organized her society
upon that principle, as did the North, in the
earlier days of the republic. We can very
easily see what she would have been by look
ing at what the North is. The South has
always had the advantage in climate, soil, and
natural resources generally. Nothing has
hindered her growth but her peculiar insti-
tuition" Without slavery, Virginia would
have been to-day what Pennsylvania is, South
Carolina might have been another Massachu-
setts and Georgia might have rivalled New
York. The South is what she is in education,
development, and wealth, because throughout
her whole past history she has been cursed
by a state of society that was at war with in
telligenoe, virtue, economy, and all the great
forces of civilization. Had she adopted Re-
publican principles, a different fate would have
| awaited her.
Not only were the principles of the Repub-
lican party essential to the highest good of the
South, but it's policy was equally beneficial in
its tendencies. If we go back to the stand
point of parties before the Rebellion, it is now
plain to be seen that the Republican policy of
the non-ertension of slavery would have resulted
in the greatest of blessings to the South. 1t
would have saved her from running into the
horrible contest from which she emerges so
wasted and desolate. The restriction of
| slavery within specified limits would have
resulted, doubtless, in the final, gradual abo-
lition of the institution. But that end would
have been accomplished without the terrible
upheaval of society and the appalling destruc-
ton of life and property which we have wit
messed. The policy of the Republican party,
in opposing the extension of slavery, has been
wonderfully vindicated by the events of the
past six years.
Finally, we do not hesitate to say that the
present policy of the Republican party towards
the South is conceived in a spirit of the highest
| g0OQWlll LOWarub IldJ SeCIlOu Vi our country,
and is the only policy upon which it can
speedily be restored to permanent peace and
prosperity. Equal rights before the law,
equal and impartial justice, this is the only
basis upon which a just and benefcent recon-
struction can take place. We tried the con-
servative or Johnsonian plan of unequal rights
and aristocratic privileges for two years, and
it gave us the Memphis and New Orleans
massaCTes.
The Republican plan of equal and exact
Justice to all has but just commenced to be
put in operation, and already its beneficial
results are most manifest. Never before was
there so good a state of feeling prevailing
among all classes at the South as to-day and
simply for this reason, that all now stand
upon an equality. Under this great Republi-
can principle of equal rights, the reoonstruc-
ton of the South promises to proceed to a
happy conclusion. Society there will be re-
, organized upon a correct and permanent basis
and the South will speedily enter upon an era
of growth and prosperity such as she has
never before experienced. She herself viii
soon perceive that the Republican party is hel
/ best friend.
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