The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1868-02-08

ance of opinion discloses. Norris it fair
to assert that measured wrongs, and sui
f4rings,- which the policy inAicts on the
people of the Southern States, the sub
iscts of the torture of aremorseless tyr
amy. Ill
Eyey day shows the ~revengeful pas
sionsS, by ministering to which its au-
thors gained the lower they abuse, to
be dying away. A thousand manlfes
tations amidst the masses show the bet
ter fcelingto be spreading-that enough
has been done for the punishment of
opinions, however guilty they may have
been pronounced to be by an arbitra-
mcnt, from whose decision there is no
appeal; and that it is unnatural and un-
christian to continue indefinitely vim
dicative penalties, t,Iat fall On whole COM
munities; tearingtheir political and social
systems into pieces; planting d'scords
and hatreds, between classes that would
else live %contentediy in peace with each
other; d~"popuiating the marfs OF com.
t'mercr; turning the most fruitful regions
Of the earth into mnrass or tangled Will
lrrne~s. whtr. those who once cultivated
, it ar- haunted With the dread Of famine,
and employer and employed look iuto
! i, others zee in blank dtspnir; and
jectiug all there is OF intelligence,
Arlu alton. and enterprise, and thrift,
h barJar"vs rule Of cIass-which,
~Iatever their future capabilities may
Z, have not|,i@g and know nothing, and
ire notor;ouSIv mere instruments in the
kands f designing and INSCRIPTIONS poll
Clans, in Il game Of ambition.
1t is not, We believe, in the American
mature, that a policy, leading directly
to such results, can be long Supported by
the people, after its nature is plainly
developed, ever if ii had not exposed
among its accepted instrumentalitles
the necessity ofoverthrowing their cheer
ished ideas Of essential rights, and en-
hibited in its pemicious influences on
their material interests. Much might
be expected from the calming of the war
passions. under the soothing influence
of time. the returning sense of Justice,
and a re-awakened feeling Of brother
hood but it is no purpose Of reproach
in saying, and a great encouragement
to know, that the wrongs inflicted upon
us have come recognized and felt, as
wrongs done to the whole country ; and
that, in the prostration of our rights and
liberties, a blow is struck, which vibrates
through the whole frame work of'Ameri-
can Government, and s~tartles men every
where with alarm for themselves.
Our cause is felt to be the cause of
constitutional liberty. Our escape from
the AFFECT servitude and desolation to
which the policy of Radicalism would
condemn us in our our own land. will be
the rescue from destruction, of all the
cherished forms and mun;mrnts which
our tarthers who built up this Govern
ment Tor us, thought aud meant TO be
strong enough to preserve it tor their
posterity and mankind.
The work and heat Of this great con-
stitutional stuggle is to be borne at the
Nprh. There freedom of speech. and
the rights of lawful suffrage, are NOT yet
arrested by the military dictatorship ;
and men have yet the privilege of voting
against the expressions they feel. The
power is with them-the con.e sequences
of failure, although dishpartening and
full of gloom for a political and financial
future will be vastly less il the pres
ent, to them, than to us, who will b.
help'essly bound victims to a cruel ex-
pertinent. TO US it is a matter Of life
and death. Success will be to them a
security from evils against which they
might, even if they had failed, have
hoped at some future day of relief. But
to us, forthem to fail is the contamination
of ruin-a starless future of impaaetrable
gloom.
But, although the peril is great, all
is not lost. The heart of the people has
been touched and their eyes have been
opened. The rushing sounds of great
multitudes rising to tho rescue of the
country from the hRds OF the spoilers,
comes from all quaxers. All around the
horizon there is Tghtning of clou Is, as
thouob the houukf ddiverance was at
hand. UnmiA 1ksounds OF indigua-
ton and way Akloudly, when
ever the vi h. could t
heard I'M IL
most sii
shad FITS
80 gror