Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-03-10
Iradicai Dishonesty.

| Endicnl Ofshone>tys
A man might be a Radical as 40 ultra
let on any subject, because Of some pc
ouliar idiosyncracy. and might per
chance, be quito honest in n But II W
were 10 indicate the character for which
the party now known in politics as the
Radical party was most distinguished, We
should be compelled 10 designate !,
sweepingly as comprehensive Of dis
honesty. the absence Of good principles
aud the positive possession Of bad
Every indication Of sympathy in the
South with the uiterances Of the North
ern Democracy that they will not submit
to further usurpations by Congress, is
knowingly and wilfuIly set down by the
Radical journals as proof positive that
all but the carpet-bag and scallawag
whites OF the South, would in moment,
| if they dared, raise again the oonfeder-
ate flag and inaugurate new rebellion.
They continually insult the intelligence
Of the Northern people by telling them
that Southern whites are as rebellious as
ever, only because they express their
love of liberty, and their admiration OF
the constitution Of the Union, which,
among all the wicked involuntary oaths
forced on them, they have alone volun-
tarily and cheerfully sworn to sup
port. The Radical journals now
have the infamous and unblushing
malignity to charge on the South as a
crime its adherence of tyranny, and its
willingness to keep the oath which it has
been forced to takel Never was there
such a love Of the supreme and funda-
mental law Of nation 10 the bosom of
any people rs new pervades the whole
body of the Southern whites. But this
is crime Never was there moment
when the Southern whites had such
high appreciation of the Constitution,
and such an anxious desire that its prin'
ciples and protection might once more
extend as shield over whole, peace
ful and united country, as now prevails
among all honest classes of our white
people. And it is impossible but such
sympathies should be manifested toward
those in the North who would restore the
government of cur fathers. But this
again is crime The Southern people
have laid down their arms, on pledge
of the national faith. that they should be
protected in the avocations Of peace.
But the war ends not with conquest, aud
peace brings more restitution and dis
tress than war itself Yet it is a
crime to complain. Nothing can be
more apparent, and nothing is more
true than that the great Southern heart
would leap with joy at the assurance of
a restoration of good republican govern
ment, even if it must be on the condition
that the Southern States shall henceforth
be forever unrepresented In Congress.
But to ask only to be at peace is crime
The fangs of the Puritan tiger have not
yet enough torn and agonized people
they can distress with cowardly impunity.
It would rather fad its spoils and seek |
its prey among the smouldering ruins of
a destroyed country, than rising to the
virtue of the thirty tyrants of Roman
story, strip from the sun of national
prosperity the shroud which their own
yenal and cruel hands have laid upon it.
How is it possible that hatred of men so
soulless, and Of their kindred to the re-
hottest generations, should be eradicated
from the Southern bosom? How is it
possible that such eminent wickedness
should fail to be seen and loathed by all
good men the world over, or long 60 un-
punished