New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-01-30
IlWEAF OF THE NTeHT . y
"a Before the curing az s strong disease,
b en- in the instant Of repair and health
The TT Is strongest evils that take leave;
laA al ahnu-

Cln their departure most Of all show evil
We are now as nation in the agonies OF
q cure. We are getting well, but like sick
children in the first stages oil cOnvalesence'
when the disease is mastered but yet lin
gers, we are disposed to be sulky and I'M
comfortable. We are neither sick nor well.
We hardly know what to do with our
selves. All this is, we think, especially
true of the late rebellious part of the COM
munity. Slavery and secession, twin de-
mons had taken violent possession OF the
Southern people and were gloried in as
good angels sent from heaven. To what |
pinnacle of greatness and prosperity they
were to exalt the South, beyond all precedent
10 the worlds history. They announced
new political gospel which had hitherto
been hidden from the world. They brought
down en- heaven new cornerstone
to use the language of great pollti-
cal prophet of the South, which was
wOrshpped with the same devotion as the
Ephesians paid to the wooden image oil
Diana which Jupiter so kindly dropped
down upon their territory. The disease
had terrible hold upon the people. 1t
amounted to a frenzy. At length it was
granted leave to withdraw. But the evil
spirit, though certain that he must go out
before the mighty exOrcism which con-
fronted him, resolved to die hard. 1t is
now nearly three years since we began to
cure the strong disease, but it continues to
show fight. 1t doesn't want to be cured
The South may well understand, indeed,
that we as a nation shall never take back
the accursed virus into cur political
sygtem, and that, now we are about
it, we may and must expect a radical
! cure. But she feels cross and
disagreeable. Would she but regard the
principle OF political economy, the senti-
meats of eternal justice, the lessons of stern
experience, and even the instincts of
pradent selfishness, she would save herself
and the nation a vast deal of trouble and
get soundly well long time sooner. But
she prefers to sigh over the past, rather
than glrd herself for the future. While she
would not perhaps, if she could, recall
slavery and renew rebellion, (of which we
are not quite sure), she can not bring
herself to the only reasonable course, to
abandon the inspiring principles of
those fell diseases, and build up anew
on wholly different Foundation. She
| II ka-ua1f IN mir
to the DEGREES of Providence, to the new
necessities of that progress which is march
ing ever the world. She wants to blend
the dark ages with the nineteenth century,
TO sew new patches on an old garment,
and to put new wine into old bottles.
She cries out for the Constitution
as il was," as il the world had stood still
for the last seven years, and objects to new
constitutions adapted to the wsrld to-day.
She puts herself during this her GONZALES
oence-for in spite of herself she is grow
lag better---into Che hands Of I certain
doctor at Washington, who assures her that
if she emily stands cut stsutly against a
radical cure she will carry her point, and
so remain sick as long as she pleases. This
seems to crafty her very much, for she is
Just in that state when she knows nj what
she needs. She wants to swallow what
will throw her into relapse, following the
advice of her doctor,
But here is our hope. In all these un
comfortable feelings, in this sulkiness and
stubbernness, experience tells us to dis
cover The signs of thorough healing
The old demon Of rebellion is rendiAg
and tearing the community, but i
is because he is soor to go out forever. HI
, does not like to go, de loves to lingel
about the old haunts, and will only depar
: in wrath.
) Let as not then be alarmed or dsheart
) ened.
? Even in the instant Of repair and health
The dt is strongest"
( We are on the eve OF better days, If th
friends of liberty and of government 0
/, the people, by the people, and for the PEG
{ ple' will only be equal to the stern dutie
OF the honr. II they will stand together
sinking personal and partisan interests ii
the great cause of freedom and impartia
justice, success is sure Instead Of th
; dubious question, "What of the night q
! will then cone the rejoicings of the peopl
at the dawn Of new era in the history Q
republican government.