The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-11-02
General Grant in the South.


General Grant in the South.
WHAT WILL TIE SOUTH DO If GRANT BE ELECT
ED "A SOUTHERN VIEW OF THE QUESTION
from the Louisville Democrat, Demo
cratic) Oct. B..
We have been'asked very frequently, and
by those most interested. what would be
the eff, ct of the election of Grant upon the
South? When we look Upon the vindic-
tive feelings exhibited by the radical party.
their utter unscrupulousness and disregard
of life or property in securing power, and
when We remember the disturbing element
in the South, our apprehensions can scarce
" exaggerate the ruin that will come.
Still we would like to encourage the South
ern people. We would like to relieve them
of the dark fears that we and they have,
and to be able to give them some assurance
of safety in the event of Grants election.
Let us say in the beginning that from a
calm and considerate view of.the canvass.
| founded not on the opinions of one, but all
parties, we believe Grant will be defeated.
This is our sincere and candid belief. Yet
we must not deny that the result is by no
means certrn. The questions are so new.
the people SO unsettled, the indications so
unreliable and the great lever of control
held by the Radicals in Congress so pow
erful, that the election of Grant is possible,
and we look at that possibility.
Let us say. once for all, that all those
who advise the South to resist who assert
that it will resist; or under :he circumstan-
ces think it ought to resist are wrong.
There would be no help to them from the
North they must not believe it. There
may be some in the North who urge them
to take up arms, but these are mere dema-
gogues. If a resistance was again organic
ed in the South it would be met as it Was
before. by the whole power Of the North,
and crushed as it WIS before.
We say this not because we believe there
is the slightest intention in the South to
resist, but because we see the silly utter
ances Of some Southern and Kentucky pa
pers are caught up IN the North and ased
There is no SUI h design in the South.
They are powerleSs and know it. Before
any Southern resistance to oppression
can come it must he first organized and
commenced in the North It would then
be right and proper for the South to s,ike
a blow for her freedom, but it would be
madness to strike n blow before that time
There will he therefore, no resumption oil
hostiities. The question recurs. to the
internal condition of the South. We dc
not beliyS disturbances in that section viii
J greatly increase. We do not believe the
!. radicals themselves will carry ont the
threats of their speakers. and we do no,
| LII, al, mr.
confidence in his humanity or statesman
; ship, or his consideration for the the South
ern people. We rest our hope on lower
level, suited to his cha acter and capacity
Grant is discplinarian. He is arbitrary
but he will hare no orders but his own
The probability is that he will depend
, more on the army, which ffe knows. thai
on the people he does not know. He viii
not have much respect for these bogus gov
ernments in the South, but he will aim t.
J keep up sort of order by the military.
! There is another point in Grants char
, acter. Although he is now the head or in
strumcnt Of Radica|ism. Grant is, by edu
: cation, prejudiced against the negro. 1t il
!, not the prejudice of a philosophic states
e man, who sees their Incompetence to dis
>. charge the full duties Of citizenship. bu
tie narrow prejudice Of caste. and it is pei
: sonaI against the negro. When he come
d to be tried. when his natural peculiaritie
= are allowed to come out, just as he wOu!
, have been cruel rs n Shareholder he will b
- cruel and violent as a ruler. The stron
L. prejudice will find vent. The negro wi
S not be protected in his sphere as he woul
g be under Seymour but it is likely he wi
g be Prosecuted. 1t will be n vindietive go,
:. crnment. The negro, when he commit
Is any violence, will be extirpated, and til
e race will be treated by Grant with cruelt
e and contempt. The Southern whites ma
II expect little sympathy from him; tn
Southern negro need expect none. 1t wi
.,,c bad government in the Louth-as ba
n az car be. Still, it will be a goverrmen
u. Grant is not a man who will allow his ru
to be ,,n'lity. He is much moro like
to be tyra.,t than King Log. He ma
II oe arbitrary, ,:olent, vindictive; but !
will not permit ana. -chy and a disregard
his edicts-and tyra.,t is better than
mob.
To the Southern people we would sa
remember how little the happiness Of al
|. person depends on the government. lfv
are not mistaken, order will he preserve
! ue peace VI w dISaW VIII pTct""'
- republican governments will be gLne' o.
a. as general thing, the people will Hot
= disturbed in their homes. They can PHI.
!, and cultivate and harvest. They can liz
~ hot so prosperously as before--but sti
u life and property will be untouched. W
u speak OF a general rule and not of partic'
if lar cases.
: We dc not see that they ought to de
%, =: pair. How many persons live happily eve
~ in Mexico? Ireland has. many prospero,
- and happy people in it. Hungary and p
L. land contain many natives of wealth, livir
y. peacefully and happily, In the South, u
y ,, der tyrannical government, the poop
II may live peacefully even under Grant. "
~ would not recommend emigration nut
~ less Intellectual revolt. If, as we do not n
y. prehend, Grant sqould be elected, there 'c
no remain much, if not alt, That domesl
-. peace Mat governments cannot disturb, al
~. at last strong hearted people like Il
~ Southerners will be abfd to live down o
- preston and see before them long care
IN of freedom and prosperity.
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