The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-01-12
Conscious virtue.
(From the Detroit Post. |


The Southern people are as proud of what
they call their meek, submissive, frank accept
ance OF the situation as some insane people
are OF having two legs. They have somehow
got the idea In the one case that the pheno-
menon OF being biped, End in the other that
Lees surrender and all that ensued therefrom
Involve some mysterious virtues to which the
attention of the world must be constantly di
rected. Hence we can scarcely ever take up
newspaper from that section without being
regaled with the magnificent attitude of the
Southern people. When they surrendered,
they surrendered everything. They only ask
ed how they could get back into Congress and
nave all their ancient rights. With an unex-
ampled magnanimity they gave up fighting,
the very moment they discovered they could
not hold together any longer. Then their on
ly question was as to the least possible penal
ties they would have to pay in order to resume
their mileage, salaries, hotels at Washington,
and vote i'll the legislation by which they
were to be governed. Whatever Mr.. johnson
required they yielded, or pretended TO Weld.
because they knew as far as he went he rep
resented the whole Government They were
exceedingly interested in politics in those
days. Elections were held at the easllest pos
slbie opportunity; governors were nominated
and chosen the congressional delegations with
few exceptions. were packed with the most
enthusiastic rebels that could be found, and
Federal politics were the nearest and dearest
objects on earth. No one thought of the ma
terial development which has so suddenly oc-
cupied the brains and hands OF all parties. as
we learn from the Southern journals. The
wonderful resources tor the enlargement OF
which the Southern people now ask 10 be let
alone, were then hidden as deep from mental
as IRON ocular vision. 1t was not until Con-
gress had something to propose and -Andre~
johnson TO oppose, that Jne southern people
lost that interest, because holding off from fed
eral politics meant an excuse ora least, con-
sequence of therejection OF the terms which
Congress insists upon. The strange apathy
followed, The scent ofthe barn-yaId, the iouI
air OF the mine, was far preferable TO the odor
OF kadicallsm, and the corruption at Wash
lngton. Agriculture, CONNIE rec, metalltlrgy
and manufactures have become the only sub
Jects worthy the attention OF a patriotic
Southerner. In short since they believed
that Congress had no power, with Mr. john
son In the way, to insist upon any further
condition, they have refused to yield anything
more. -
There is nothing particularly strange about
his Nobody, this side OF heaven, the millen-
mum or the Sunday school books which en-
balm the memory OF scrofulous youthful piety,
IS apt TO yield II dispute anything more than
he is absolutely compeliedto. And we do not
regard the Southern people as remarkable
specimens OF that anomalous subnissiveness
which only asks what Is demanded in order
to obey. 1t is not strange that the Southern
people in bargaining first for their lives, sec
ondly for their property, thildly for power,
should make the best possible bargain they
could for themselves. But to parade what lit
tie they have paid, drop by drop, in eking out
the bargain with miser's reluctance, as a
great virtue which calls for forbearance is as
ridiculous as mans claim to generosity in
trying to settle for stealing horse by paying
hall ITS value It's human nature, it is true,
but it's very poor quality of human nature,
and is as much matter Tor boasti.. q as the hulop
OF hunchbsck, or the bowiegs OF man who
is afflicted in that manner