Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1868-05-21
1ddIed Wnifs Rome ros
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X<d Az memory has been cxccra-
fod Ihrttrh all succeeding time for
hIs h1nttlessness and cruelty. His
cfI|nH uas that he exultcd over the
saf|lrlncs and miseries of his people.
Ihcro arc some things which cannot
be forfotten or forgiven, and this was
ono 81 ihem, and It has given the
namo of Nero to inhmy. Up TO the
n1peor ccntury he has stood solitary
and n]one an object Of loathing and
horror mon his memorable pedestal,
and ii remains for an American Con-
urcs>, not only to rival but to shove
tbc Roman tyrant from his position
and assume his place. History will
forget the crimes and heartlessness of
Nero Ii the greater crimes and heart
loesners OF the 39th and 40th Congress
Ca. They are fiddling and dancing
after their Rome has been destroyed,
with only here and there few rem
nants preserved from the general
wreck
At the close of the war the Radi-
Gals fonEd the States of the South ex-
hauste1 by their tremendous efforts,
and impoverished by the lavish ex-
pendifures they had been compelled
to make. Their beautiful and produc-
tive limitations, which had added
millions each year to the national
wealth aud produced five-eighths of
tho nntion's exports, had been wasted
and many of their cities burned their
stock and farming implements had
been either stolen or destroyed, and
no people were ever found in more
depiorablc condition, or one better
calculated to excite the profoundest
sympathy. They were incapable of
further resistance, and had become
entirely satisfied of the futility of any
further Efforts to establish their inde-
pendence. They were willing to sub
NIT to the terms of the vic.ors, but
they expected such terms as power
full and chivalrous conquerors always
concede to a heroic but fallen foe.
Unfortunately, however, when the
war closed a political party held the
control of the Government, whose on
ly cohcsive principle was the power
Of public plunder, and which was at
the same time filled with malignity
and the determination to perpetuate
its politcal power. They believed
they saw in the condition of the
Southern States the opportunity to
secure the ends they so much desired,
and although for nearly three years
they have made loud professions of
an earnest desire to remove the tra-
ces ofthe war and restore the South
ern States to their appropriate places
in the Union, their legislation has
steadily and constantly given the lie
to their professions and tended pre-
cisely in the opposite direction.
Instead of removing the traces of
.ae war they sent an immense army
into those States, and, with the ex-
ceptioD of fighting, have kept up a
constant state of war, with the civil
law dead, and military law admins
tered at the point of the bayonet. In
stead Of restoring the Southern States
to their appropriate places in the
Union, ,they have erected them into mil
itary despotisms, and placed the con-
troll of the lives and property of the
people in the hands of "a set Of Briga-
der Generals, who were not, proba-
bly,, before the war, considered by
their neighbors to have sufficient tai
ent TO conduct successfully corner
grocery. In the meantime, the South
has been rapidly sinking into lower
depths of poverty, and her ability to
produce anything which can add to
the national wealth or prosperity is
rapidly growing less, and will contin-
ne 10 do so so long as the present
system is kept up; and ifit is contin-
ned for any considerable length OF
time, II will make that most produc-
tive and lovely portion of our conti-
nent desert wild, inhabited only by
tbriftless and idle negroes, who will,
year BY year, become more brutal
and barbarous, until they have fallen
to the level of their race in Africa,
with al of their horrible pagan prac-
tices and habits. Such will be the
incvitable effect Of the contamination
Of the schemes of the Radicals, as APP
piled 10 the Southern States.
II Is idle to argue that a system
which represses industry; which de-
morplizes and renders worthless the
labor system of country; which re-
duces the value of lands which re-
pcl5 capital and immigration which
makes uncertain all titles to property
which drives away the intelligent
and talented population to find that
liberty and repose which it cannot
find at home wich exalts the stupid
and besotted negro into a superior
being. and places the control of the
country in his hands; which offers a
premium for ignorance brutality, idle
ness md inexperience, and discount:
education, intelligence and energy
we say that it is preposterous to argue
that euch a system can result in any.
thing but ruin and barbarism.
And it must not be forgotten in
this connection that tho crimes and
fol|ies Of Radical legislation and mis-
rule, md the ruin which results there
from, arc not to be confined to the
boundaries of the section against which
thoy are directed The North which
has 50 long winked at IL, if it has not
approved these enormities, is feeling
now, hnd will continue TO feel, then
pornicious effects. So long as the
producing resources and energies OF
the South are dormant, so long will
she be unable to contribute anything
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