The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-05-22

/ irritating distinctions on the ground
color or opinion. The reconstruction
laws of Congress. have partially fuI
| filed these requirements, but to es
/ tablish peace, security and reconstruc-
| ton, all considerations of enlightened
statesmanship commend US to go one
step further and couple universal
| freedom with universal suffrage
| CCheers. The existence of a
disfranchised class is a source oi
disaffection and a standing threat
and peril to the community. 1t Is
an impediment to reconciliation
and should be done away with /
know the rebellion has caused crimes
which neither God nor man can for
give; but true craftsmanship requires
US to rise above the resentments Of
the hour, however just and iustifi-
able they may be. IT you must pun
ish, punish individuals, but not a
class; all class legislation is odiOus,
and In this case, may become as trea-
sOnable and dangerous to those by,
as to those against, whom it is direct
ed. L want prejudices of color to
abat=, and bOstillties of races to wear
away, in the South, which will never
be the case so long as these
justly emancipated slaves aud their
former masters are disfranchised
This state. of affairs is big with
the seed of plots, conspiracies,
Instructions AM violence. We want
the Southern whites to accept the
situation, but those DISTINGUISHED
never will; this is human nature. and
easily accounted for. Hence let them
all vote and become reeouciied> to
each others political rights. Let the
strong arm Of the Government main
taia public peace, and repress an
archy and violence, thus facilitating
the developments of natioual prosper
lty, and the work of reg -neration will
have begun. The development of
prosperity is an important element of
reconstruction. Let. peace and Sc
curIty be re established, and the tide
of Northern capital and enterprise
will flow into the South: her
agriculture will revive on a new
basis; her commerce viii spread and
prosper, new towns Will arise, while
the old ones take a new start in the
way of Improvement. and the ex
rebel, now impoverished. feeling him
self outraged, will suddenly discover
all this change has been for his bene-
mt; that he has profited by the aboli-
ton OF slavery; that his property has
trebled and qu8drupled in value: that
opportunities Of enriching himself
are crowding around him; that free
labor, after all, is a blessing and not
an injury; then his political views
will undergo a change. A mans real
or supposed interests always have a 4
powerful influence over MS opinions,
and in most cases is powerful enough
to outweigh abstract considerations
of right and justice. You cannot make
an ex-rebel loyal by DISTINGUISHING
him; but wait till he commences to
make money under the regime, aud
he viii soon be recOnciled TO it. Tn
fortunately, the South can see moth
ing without ocular demonstration.
They are people without any politi-
cal or. economical foresight, easily
misled by appeals to their passions
and prejudices. The history of the
last seven years has furnished a num-
Der of almost incredible instances Of
their blindness; blindness when
they have driven away the Northern
merchant or mechanic, instead of
welcoming him with open arms, and
thanking him for offering to promote
their interests by attending to his
own; but they will not be blind to
the ocular demonstrations sure
to follow In a few years-peace
and security of person and prop
erty. Oh, that they could listen
to the voice Of reason. 1t says to
them: Gentlemen of the South -
The national resources of your section
are great; all it requires is the re
preston Of your spirit OfVl0lence; let
order and security be maintained. and
prosperity is sure to follow; out if
you let fegocity and destructiveness 90
unbridled, you may perhaps escape
the vengeance of judicial tribunals,
hut you are sure tC be punished with
beggary, ruin and starvation; your
past experience. gentlemen Of the
South, ought to warn you ag;Llnst
placing any dependence on the advice
of the worst enemies you have ever /
had-the Democratic party. IL the
legends of the middle ages the devil
secured wealth and success to
those with whom he had entered into
c0mpacts. but it was at the final eX-
.pense Of their lives and souls. The
Democrauc party has heretofore
been an unwilling instrument in the
hands of the Southern masters, but
the instrument has ruined Its master;
the devil has enforced the price Of
his services. Applause. BY mis-
representation of Northern character
and sentiments, the Democratic party
- on q
bellion. By false assurances of coming
----..-- = L. Aorth Il nn.--nL Il.