New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-02-14
THE ROAD TO PEACE.

this question at times, and wonder that so
simple a matter should be shrouded in mystery
and passion. We can well understand now
newspapers like The World should denounce
the friends of speedy reunion OF the states
The hatred of the Rebel South Is not surpris-
ing. A faction who regard John Wilkes Booth
as a second Brutus can scarcely be expected
to deal Justly with the negro. And yet the
leaders of these men know better Senators
Dixon and DoOlittle for instance, arc the
champions of the anti-negro policy They are
gifted men, not without wisdom and patriotic
impulse. The Presidents Cabinet, formerly
Republican, and, with one or two exceptions,
entitled to great respect, know better than to
advise policy which means the return of the
Rebels to power. These men do not err from
ignorance
What is the inner history of Reconstruction
Certain States go out of the Union and form
an antagonistlc military power. The greatest
war of the century follows and the North tri-
umphs Here lies the South at our feet. What
shall we do with itg Hang the leaders, says
the President; "talc the lands for the negroes,
utterly destroy the Slave power, stnp IL OF
every remnant of nationality Tins was what
! the President and his supporters urged. We
have no Remembrance that Mr.. Senator Dixon
for instance, whose soul now Ovcrfiows with
love for the Rebels, ever entreated for Their
lives from an angry President while we do
know that Mr. Raymond was so anxious to sec
"rebelion" punished that lo would willingly
have done execution himself upon the person OF
Mr.. Davis. They never meant 10 hang any
body. Yet their policy was in harmony with
that of Congress. That body met the Presl-
dent half way, and went with him almost to
/ the verge of the Democratic party. Now that
we look back we see how lonely we were.
! We REGARDED Lees surrender as the golden
| hour. We felt that the generous nature OF the
| American would never consent to political
punishment that emancipation without sui
| frage was illogical aud anomalous We urged
Reconstruction that would be generous, per
petual and effective. The Republican party
| had made the negro q freedman, and under
| the direct pressure of President Johnsons lead
erslip. hestated to make him freeman. We
| did not even give him the security OF prop
| erty. Under Slavery he was as well treated as
! sheep or swine. The President gave him
nothing but nominal liberty, manifest only IN
rations from the bureau, and military contracts
from his former master. The truth is, the
President was dOgmatic and insinceTc, while
the country was very angry. The President
looked to the Electoral College in 1868, and
wondered how he could induce eleven Southern
States to pronounce for Andrew Johnson. The
party was merely in passion. IL stood over
| the ruins left by war; battle-felds, and death,
and demanded Vengeance. Triumph is the
| "highest Vongeancew said the brave man.
and Mercy the sternest punishment" "This
"is scntmentalisn" said the President and
Republicans generally. ave must hang some
"body. We must hang Davis, and as for the
"negro-giyc him ratons' 81 have captured
so many cannon, arms, wagons, mules
and negrOes" "And negroes y Here was
our blunder. The negro was cOntTaband OF
war TO us, and the Republican party was will
ing to treat him merely as cOntraband of war.
! In this temper We entered upon RecOnstruc-
| ton. If the President had remained in har-
mony with Congress, we doubt whether we
! should have obtained Impartial Suffrage. We
knew how difficult it was for The TRIBUNE to
get a hearing when we first suggested that
| policy The conservatives, the haf-and-halfs,
the facing bOth-ways politicians. the towards
who dreaded any new issue, and the bum
"mers," who preferred to remain quiet and
steal than to advance into a doubtful struggle,
all fought us bitterly. "YOu will lose Penn
sylvania," said Mr.. Cessna. lyon are giving
Gus the creased cartridge of the SepOy," said
other politicians then radiant and balmy with
the drippings of the Presidential sanctuary.
We were about to ruin the party, as we had
done hundred times before. Let us feed
the negro, but not elevate him." they cried
"this is white mans country So said the
President, SO said the party; but the President
meant one thing, while the party meant an
other lie meant to keep the negro out and
bring the Rebel into secure these eleven States
in the next Electoral College. The party
paused. Plainly, if eleven Rebel States came
in, the next President might be Andrew John
son, but the next Administration would not be
Republican The moment they OWNED this
there was a panic and the truth came to them
that nothing could save the Republicans but
the negro In thirty days Impartial Suffrage
was the huTah-cry, and the result, which to us
was full of anxiety, was accomplished by the
selishness of men who saw possibility of
the Rebels obtaining all the offices.
From that day Reconstruction has been driven
hither and thither on the viewless winds of
party passion The Republicans did not seem
to understand il. 1t was not agreeable. There
was the nlSRcr III IL, anu VIC hdu Cdilleu inc
niger long enough; and this carrying the mig
ger around with us, as the Egyptians carried
their mummied dead, was not wise. Instead of
making Reconstruction thorough, il was done
in that half shuhlng apologize way, MS some
thing disagreeable, very astringent remedy to
be taken in small doses. So bill after bill was
patched together, only to be splintered and
torn by the Presidents feet. Instead of laying
down this principle that loyalty makes citizenship