The Van Buren press., 1868-05-15
From Memphis Appeal.
Reciprocity.
IL never We, received blow from man,
But did pay it back with interest"

]
society. Merchants engaged in business give
way to ~ baleful influence ;snd even women.
/ leaving their more elevated sphere, In making
their neighborly calls. indulge in it."-Attd
{ Ca Nero Era, Aprii a.
This is the wall of the renegade South
ron who advised the South to accept
"the situation" offered As the best thing
the people could do, because, as it ar
gued or rather represented, if they refus
ed, it would be thrust upon them anyhow,
with additional enormities. With a
smooth tongue and oily words, he en-
deavored to persuade them to accept the
degradation which was generously ac-
corded, and submit willing necks to the
ignoble yoke provided for them. With
all the speciousness and casuistry of
which he was capable, pretending to be
sincere in his care and concern for their
welfare, he co-operated in every way with
those who sought and are still seeking
their enslavenent The worm when trod-
den on, if it have a sting, will turn and
plant it in the heel that crushes it, And
now, this sleek faced hypocrite, bemoans
the fact that the people whose energies
he would paralize, whose natural pride he
would humble, whose last vestiges Of lib,
erty he would de stroy, have some spirit
left, and spurn and defy Judas the betray-
| er.
Why should they not feel and manifest
an intense spirit of intolerance Ay,
that's the word. What tolerance has
been shown them? What lenency, what
commiseration, what forgiveness for and
torgetfulness of the past, have been
vouchsafed to them? What promise,
upon which the slenderest reliance could
be placed, has been held out that their
wrongs would be mitigated and their
griefs assuaged? Broken and bruised
and battered, they have been permitted
to drag on existence without hope, with.
out word of comfort or cancellation, with
with the weapon of the despOt's execu
toner at their throats. Is this living?
Have those whose ancestry left them
honorable names and title deeds to chiv-
airy and fame, no remnant of the old vir-
tue that glowed IN their fathers hearts,
no spark of the patriotic fire which burn
ed with never dying radiance, and warm
ed their blue blood to deeds Of heroism
and renown, to speak in the language of
eloquence to defy oppression, ay, even
encroachment, in any shape, and assert
their birthright to be free? Are they,
'mie the wreck and ruin by which they arc
surrounded, to be " silent still, and silent
all p
Such expectations were the hight Of
folly 1t is downright lunacy. Nay, it
is worse it is toe acme OF hypocrisy. 1t
is only surprise, thus expressed, with a
venomous hatred at heart, covered by q
fair and smooth exterior Is it not pitiabe
to behold men, who have grown gray
beneath the over arching and protecting
wings of a free Government, and drunk
of the yelling waters Of truths perpetual
spring, thus lend themselves to mean,
low, miserable cunning, that holds the
word of promise to the ear. but breaks it
to the hope? Astonished that men of
noble natures should loath, abhor, con-
tenn and despise the minions of l.gain-
ed power, who with sneaking subtlety
would rob them of their inheritance,
whose heritage was glory? And this is
called intolerance! y ] drive from my
sight; l expel from my counsel or com
munion, the thief who would put his hand
in my pocket and abstract its contents,
and this is intoerancew l hold no in
tercourse with, forbid the visits of, and
exchange neither salutation nor look of
courtesy, with him who defames Inc, is u
spy upon my actions, would
Rob me of that which not enriches him,
And makes me poor indeed"
and this is to be ntolcrant! Would that
all were so, and the law Of custom, once
held paramount, rendered it base to be
otherwise.
But we arc told this esprit ofpolitical
intolerance seems to pervade all class
cs and conditions of society" Thank
God for His benign kindness, if it be So
This is then the turning point of our des
tiny. There is still virtue left in the
land, and we are not yet all fit to be slaves
Merchants engaged in business give
way to it's baleful influence do they 7
Patriotic merchants! Turn not away
from such well-dong Lend not the in
fluence of your countenance in traffic and
trade to those who would undermine
your business, destroy your credit, and
introduce an incendiary to make bon,
fire Of your accumulated treasures And
the women oo,-the big hearted wo.
men of the South. who girded on the ar
NOR OF their sons, and husbands and
brothers, and gave them to battle with
the inspiring kiss Of patriotism, and the
fervid breath animating lovcupo their
lips. ....
This is, indeed gratifying intelligence.
1t is the awakening from troubled sleep,
into which the agony Of nightmare has
pressed world Of labor. 1t is the dawn
Of new morrow, and myriads OF crys-
tails are shimmering in the sunshine, and
tho very air is vocal with the melody OF
birls. There are mothers yet, aud wives
and sisters and daughters who are worthy
to wear the crowns their mothers wore,
when Liberty was born in the New World,
4.