The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1868-10-29


Another great object and end was to lif
the African as far and as fast as could
wisely be done. Humanity dictated this
The interest of the white population o.
the south demanded it, as the two races
we're to live upon the same soil. The
common interest called for harmony oi
purpose an Of fee ling.
Under this state Of facts, wise men
would seek the aid of the Lost intelligent
and influential men of that section OF
country, taking care to guard against any
influences springing from their prejudices.
Have these obvious truths been regarded
by the men in power? Has not recon
structiou failed because they dlsregarded
them? The first step toward restoring
order and producing harmony between the
races was in all ways to minister to the
prosperity of that section, which prosperi-
ty would be shared alike by the white
man and the negro. The industry of the
south should be made profitable. Unless
the employer made profit on his cotton,
he could not pay the laborers. Failing TO
do this, disaster brought not only poverty,
but confusion and discomfort.
True statesmanship, then, would have
stretched out helping hand but what
was the first act of the men in power? 1t
was to put monstrous export lax of six
cents pound upon the cotton raised by
the labor of the negro upon the plantation
of the white. Struggling with the evils
of poverty, with the difficulties of their
new positions and relationships, the first
feeble efforts of their people to gain the
means of liy elihood were blasted by an un-
wise selfish and gindictive act. | say un-
wise because it has had much to do with
the failure of the republicans to restore
order in the south. The negro, cxasper-
ated by the failure Of his ruined employer,
became hostile to him. The employer,
losing the little credit that he had before
in the north, renewed his efforts under
still greater difficulties than before. l say
it was selfish act. because it was done in
the interest Of the eastern manufacturer,
already rich from the fruits of the war,
and protected by enormous tariffs. This
tax of six cents pound upon all cotton
exported was simply imposed that he
might buy it for price six cents less
than it was worth in the markets of the
world. Isay it was vindictive act, for if
you will read the debates in congress when
this tax was levied to cover the selfish in
terests that prompted it, you will find
that it was urged upon members from the
western states, who voted against the in
terests Of their constituents, upon the
ground that it was to be imposed upon the
south as a penalty. And thus We find
that the black and white man Of the south
were alike stripped Of the market value OF
their staple product, under circumstances
of such great difficulty that they were
hindered, and not helped, on the road to
prosperity, by the men in power.
might go on and show how. in addi-
lion to this wrong, they were trampled
upon by military despotisms how they
were placed under the unrestrained power
of vagrant men, who gained wealth and
official positions by miDistering to the pas
sons of the public and keeping alive dis
order These men who now in the senate
Of the United States, without censtitu-
ents, vote down the senators of New York,
Pennsylyania, Ohio, Illinois aud Indiana,
gained their power over the south and
over US because they misistered to passion
in the north and stirred up in the south.
No fair-minded, thoughtful republican will
calmly sit down and Look oyer this action,
aud not feel that the policy of his party has
been unwise and hurtful.
During the progress of the war, another
national difficulty grew up, which excited
alarm in the minds of thoughtful men.
1t was found as our debt rolled up its great
volume, that the government bonds
were taken in the northern Atlantic states
and our union was thus resolved into debt
or and creditor states. This is perilous
relationship. 1t tcould not well be avoided;
but the evil might have been mitigated, if
there had been wise and economical ad-
ministration.
But the men in power saw fit to have ii
otherwise. They drove out of existence
by heavy taxation, the currency of all state
banks. They thus graspsd the exclusive
power of issuing paper money. They gave
to the holders of government bonds the
privilege of issuing bank bills under what
is known as national banking system
This was a privilege of enormous value