Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-07-13
soliIoouv Of /. R.a,,.,-No. a


Radical.
But still wonder how came to be a
Radical? Let me see. I was trying to
ascertain few days ago who 1 followed
that caused me to become Radi-
cal, and since then have been prayerfully
medltating over the subject, aud begin to
doubt whether I am really Radical
or not. C7SFf f+5sr-,
/ l certainly never followed these impu-
dent Black fellows who met at Columbus
few days since, and resolved that negro
suffrage is a " foregone conclusion"
1t may be foregone Radical conclusions;
but can't see matters in that light. feel
alittle pride In permitting the people to
do what they like in the matter, and as to
the negroes forcing negro suffrage by Con-
gressional action or in another way,' it
rather stirs up the Irish blood in me, es-
pecially the 'ssnother way" If this is Rad
icalismand I'm one, 1 really wonder how
came to be a Radical? But, by the way,
talked to neighbor Brown yesterday and we
are friends again. / wonder how came to
call him a Copperhead? called on him
and told him my errand. d
- Yes" he replied, "neighbor JONES,
we'll talk the matter over; but before we
proceed let US pray over the matter"
And SO we knelt down and he prayed !:
Mercifnl Father, creator and dispenser of
all things, Thy works are beyond the COM
prehension OF man; Thy power and glory
Infinite and eternal. In Thy wisdom Thou
hast created the White man and the Black
man, and have given to each q mental and
physical structure peculiar to himself, and
| hast placed both here upon the earth for
wise and noble purposes" Thou hast made
them unlike, and yet hast not seen proper
to disclose why Thou hast SO created
them." :, Is 1t Thy will that we shall make
even that which Thou hast created un-
even ?" SIS it Thy will that we shall
make straight that which Thou has created
in different form? Is it Thy will that we
shall make equal that which Thou hast
created unequal?" ''Is 1t wiser for US
to follow the inequalities of Thy creation
than to establish new laws tending to a
reconstruction of the laws governing Thy
created beings?"
ans yered involuntarily, "Nay," and
tucutdlif iH4uIIeu hOW CouC w NC o
Radical ?"
"Bnt,', he proceeded, tive bless Thee for
renewed blessings; we bless Thee that the
backbitings and revilings of the past are
being retracted and forgiven, and humbly
ask Thy guidance whilst passing through
the wilderness through which we are wan
dering, and that Thou wilst renew our
faith, inspire our hope. and create within
us that living faith that will enable US to
again draw together as one people-the
children and followers of the true and liv-
ing God"
invountarily responded "AmeD," and
neigbor Brown and Iarose. grasped his
hand, and we talked until felt as if L were
Whig again. felt really ashamed that
had ever Leen so impudent as to call him
Copperhead, and told him so. His five no
Bile, manly sons gathered about US as we
Iconversed. WILLIAM. his eldest, was espec-
tally interested. We discussed the whole
subject. took it for granted that was a
Radical. and neighbor BRowN appeared
proud of being called Democrat. He ar
gued for the Constitution and Government
of the fathers whilst portrayed the beau
ties of Radicalism. He got the better of
me, and stopped to take breath and con-
slider how came to be Radical. sTF
He took advantage in this crisis of the
affair and said: "Now, you see. neighbor
JONES, when the fathers left this Govern
ment to US as a sacred heritage, they gave
it in its purity to US and our posterity."
"You propose to surrender portion of it
to another and inferior race" Here are
my five boys-and faithful sons they are
and you propose to divide their portion OF
this gift from our fathers with the Black
race" Sand for what?" ''You say upon |
principles of justice" swell, would not
justice dictate that we should divide with |
the whole of Africa, and send for the bal
ance of our beneficiaries in order to have
them enjoy their portion of the bread of
liberty and the cup of equality ?"
This was poser, and really wondered
how came to be Radical; that compre-
hended in my worldwide benevolence so
small a part of dear old africa,
The boys were pleased, and felt little
chagrined; but remained silent whilst
Brown continued:
Now, neighbor JONES. you propose that
my sons and the Negroes shall be equal; that
old TOMS sons aud mine shall meet upon
one common p atfolm, and all be Negroes
or all Whites, just as the superiority of one
race shall prevail over the other, and If
neither prevails, then to draw up and draw
down until an equilibrium shall be secured
between them" y
I pulled up, but BRowN's lever proved
too much for me, and began to see how /
came to be Radical. But" he proceed
ed, you may not feel as deeply interested
as myself" at the same time looking toward
his son WILLIAM.
I knew what he meant. WILLIAM and
my daughter were betrothed, and soon he
would be of my household. looked far
down into the future. My children arose
before me. My poor boys were again near
me, but not In mortal form, but visitors
from that final resting place where all true
soldiers are secure from the dangers of the
battlefield. Ilived my past lite over again.
ALI were silent.
I looked upon Brown as he extended to
me, with an honest countenance, large
book and small one, and remarking as he
conveyed them to me:
swell, neighbor JONES, we have canvass
ed this matter tolerably thoroughly to-day,
and here are the guiders to my faith and
hope for myself, my family and my coun-
try"
1 took the old books with reluctant
hand.
knew what they were without looking.
The Bible and the Constitution, and as
looked upon them and received his urgent