The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-08-28
BEL AIR MO- FRIDAY MORNING, AUGUST %, 1868.

trivial by comparison. Ifthis faction ever
desired to reconstruct society it was in the
interest of the white man. The word tax
alton hardly occurs in its history, and it
never aimed blow at the Supreme Court
or sought to cripple the government in the
person OF the Executive. 1t sympathized
with the South in the war, and that can be
forgiven by people who are at last COM
ing to look upon the republicans as the
South looked upon them when the war
began. If, therefore, the history of the de-
mocracy were darker that it is the history
ofradicalism would be infinitely beyond it
IN lntamy. 1t is upon these broad views
and judgments of parties that the people
move. The common mind averages great
results by processes of its own. Isolated
facts are forgotten, this or that virtue or
vice seems to pass away but the balance
OF history is made up at the polls, and Ken
lucky indicates the tendency
If the reaction of the public mind stimu-
lated by the history of the radical party
does not sweep the whole North the negro
vote will be of the first Importance in the
struggle. 1t may save the South to the rad
icals, but it may give it to the democrats,
and, regarding the possibility of fairly
divided North, Sambo may finally hold the
balance Of power. Some facts indicate that
the negroes may go very largely with the
democrats. Dull as we may consider the
whole race, they have seen enough to be
disguised with radical friendship, and are
certainly seeking political allies outside
that party. Negroes from the beginning
had determined upon their part of the al
lance with the radicals, and thus formed
expectations that the latter could not meet.
Confiscation tells the story in word.-
Northern restraint on the dominant party,
even its worst moments rendered it impos-
sible for it to carry out the virtual compact;
but the negroes will not understand that,
They only cherish resentment at the men
who promised, but did not perform.
Confscation, by giving the negroes
real as well as political indepen-
dence, might have made it possible that
they could sustain political opposition in
the Southern States /; but without hold
on the land this was not possible. With
out the power, therefore, to make their po-
litical independence effective, with social
facts, more cogent than radical orators, for
cling upon them that their interests were
identical with the interests of the people
among whom they must live; with
heart-breaking disappointment in view of
this and a bitter readiness to visit their
resentment on those who had raised such
high hopes only to betray them, theniggcrs
inevitably go over to the other side. There
is nothing strange in this, 1t would be
strange fit were otherwise, for they achieve
political revenge and act on the best view
they can take of their own welfare.
the case of the Presidency, therefore,
judged by the main facts seems to stand
thus The history of the radical party is
such that the people will not trust it again
on any terms, and that conviction threatens
to give the North to the democrats. If
however, this fails, there is possibility
that Grant may be beaten by losing the
whole South through the detection of the
negroes, who will go over to the democrats,
partly led by the natural influences of asso-
ciates and partly by resentment for the re-
!inquishment by the radicals of that meas
ure that was from the first regarded as ne
cessary to sustain their political opposition
to their former masters.