The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1868-04-30
The Late Political Canvas.

The great contest is over, and as the
smoke and dust clears from the field we
are enabled to get a glimpse of the future
and to make such comments and criticisms
upon the past as even handed justice seems
to demand.
From all we hear and learn up to the
present moment of writing. We believe, that
Notwithstanding the tremendous efforts put
forth in all directions by the so-called Con-
servatives, we have given them such roi.u
as will send thrill of gladness 20 our
friends throughout the whole country.
Always confident in the soundness and
justice of their cause, Republicans, from the
very beginning of the contest, resolved to
conduct it upon principles OF honor and de-
cency, abstaining from low and contemp-
tible personal assaults, they determined to
succeed, alone, by persuasion, argument and
reason. Having, in this manner. appealed
to the masses whenever and wherever they
had an opportunity, the triumph achieved
has moral significance that cannot fail to
sink deep in the public heart.
In glancing at the course of conduct of
our opponents we do not mean to be under
stood as INDUCING in indiscriminate censure
or denunciatiOn.
1t was with pleasure that we noticed dur
ing the entire progress of the exciting con-
test that has Just ended, various active, in
fuential and leading conservatives who
carefully abstained from the use of gross
terms and toward whom we cannot enter
tain any other feeling than that of respect
on account thereof.
While we frankly and freely make this
acknowledgment, however, we lament to
have it to say, that there were large num-
her of the persistent and active canvassers
among the opposition who descended so low
From the hour that the canvass opened
down to the last moment of its continuance,
these reckless men seemed to conclude, that
the more degrading, insulting and outra-
geous language they could employ toward
the Republican party, and its supporters,
the more likely would they be to succeed in
frightening and drioing Southern white men,
especially, from exercising their own free
judgement.
The epithets intended to be used in their
most degrading and offensive sense of 'scal-
lawag," "mean whites" ''mongrels," tear
petbag men," 'interlopers," "vile trash,"
&C., were poured forth in a constant but
disgusting stream from the foul mouths of
some of these would be instructors and
teachers of public sentiment. A large por-
ton of the opposition press willingly Joined
| in this TRADE of abuse and denunciation.
| Outside and far away below this order
| and line of attack, and we trust having no
| connection Herewith, was another seemin-
| gly organized system of assault; we allude
| to the vile wrctches who skulked about and
concocted the most infamous productions
for some of the most infamous of papers not
only in but out of the State. The miserable
villains who were guilty OF this species OF
attack, seem to have had no open defenders,
but still they played fully their fiendish
part. The time will yet come when these
scoundrels may be unveiled and brought to
understand that day of reckoning may az
rive
But notwithstanding all the outrageous
steps thus taken to overwhelm our party
with Obloquy and defeat, we are disposed t.
overlook the same as soon as possible. To
forget all, we, of course, cannot, as long az
memory lasts.
With the deep seated and in many re
spects natural prejudices existing with lead
ing Southern men against giving the coloreo
man equal rights before the law, especially
in allowing the use of the ballot, we have
dealt and expect to deal with proper ant
just leniency. We think these prejudice
wrong and unjustly founded, but still W.
never have been disposed to abruptly ignor.
them. To allow them, however, to have full
sway so as to arrest and control the onward
march of human development and the es
Establishment of justice and right in the ad
| ministration of the affairs of Government
is a thing we could never consent to.-Neac
: bern Republican,