The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1868-05-28

| of Abraham Lincoln, laid down their arms,
they would have been welcomed back with
| Joy, and the fatted calf would have been
slaughtered for their reception. The Demo-
cratic party is ready to inhict further rum
and misery on its unfortunate victim. 1t
has plunged the South in war OF seces-
sion and rebellion; it will next plunge it
into a war of races. Its unceasing labors
are directed to the bringing about OF such n
horrible calamity. 1t fans indetatigably the
flames of most barbarious hatred of race.
1t strains every nerve to excite the passions
and violence of the mob against the negro
1t cudgeIs its dull brains to overwhelm him
with ridicule and abuse. 1t recognizes no
rights which white men are bound to re.
spect. 1t does not recognize the obligation
of the nation to stand by those who have
stood by the flag when everybody else had
deserted it. But, gentlemen CT the South,
you can no longer trample humanity in the
dust. You cannot re-establish slavery, or its
likeness The negroes will assert their free
dom. They will not be deprived of their
civil rights. They will not surrender polit-
ical rights which they have once enjoyed.
Beware, then, of men whom you have made
brutal and barbarous by making it a crime
to teach them to be human. You may or
ganize Ku-klux Klans and assassinate refrac-
tory individuals, but such a course is sure to
lead to terrible day of retributiOn. Why,
then. rush on blindly to death and destruc-
ton Why give up your country second
time to misery and devastation Why not
take warning from the past and discard the
pernicious promptings and destructive poll
cy of the Democratic party? Four millions
of human beings who have once tasted lib
erty, and whose claim to justice is recog-
nized and backed by the moral sentiment of
the country, cannot forever be outraged with
impunity. Hence, if listening to the voice
of reason, humanity, and to all the consid-
erations of your own pecuniary interests,
you discard the policy of the Democratic
party, curb the spirit of violence and feroc-
ity, put an end to the burning of churches
and school houses, and establish and MAIN
tain peace and security, the negroes will be,
not your enemies, but your workmen, field
hands, tradesmen or mechanics. and regen-
Grated South will arise, Phenix-like, from
the ashes OF past CONGREGATIONS.
But If, needless of the lessons of the past,
you follow the lead and policy of the Dem
ocratic party there will be no revival of
prosperity; bloodshed and violence will
reign supreme; the grass will grow in your
streets; crumbling ruins will dot your
country, and in a downstream of blood and
fire the horrors of ST. Domingo will sweep
over the land. No calamity could befall
the more QlSdStTOuS 10 peace, |
welfare, and prosperity, than the success of
the Democratic party next November. That |
calamity it is our most sacred duty to avert. |
Men may disagree on multitude of qucs-
lions, and yet cooperate for purpose as to |
which they are agreed. You and may diff |
fer about the tariff, banks, the currency, in
ternal improvements, capital punishment,
and other questions of State or national pol
icy each one of US may have his own
opinions on matters not strictly connected
with the great issue; but we should all I'M
derstand that before we can afford to quar-
rel on minor topics, the main question must
be settled; that the integrity of the country
must be firmly cemented before the dsor-
ganizer should he re-adinitted to power;
that the new editice must be placed on I'M
perishable foundations before the destroyer
should be let in; that the roof must be put
upon the fabric of reconstruction and regen-
Grafton before the doors of power should he
thrown open to those who would not only
prevent its completion, but also tear down
the walls which we have raised.