The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-10-04
accepting the Situation"

The difference between the Republic OF
Washington and Jefferson, and the central
lied despotism Of the present day, is not
greater than the difference between the
Radical and Anti Radical significance OF
the well-worn phrase -''Accepting the Stu
v,v,,, 49,,
on the lips of Radical orators, and as q
panacea for all our ills it is the theme Of
daily disqusitions in the Radical party
journals. Morn, noon and night, with mo-
notonous sameness, the words are dinned
in Southern ears. There is but one varia-
ton in the ghastly psalmody. AT one mo-
ment the South is cursed and reviled be-
cause it does not "accept the situation;" a
moment later, and long ages OF fruitfulness
and abundance are promised to the South if
it only will do what Radicalism desires And
vet, in the face Of alternate wheedling and
denunciation, we know, and the Radicals
know, that our people do 'accept the situa-
tion," and have done so eyer since the fatal
morn when the ruddy cross and cleaning
stars faded from the Banner OF the South,
and nothing remained to us but the pallid
standard which heralded the advent OF
hollow truce-of a peace more hdeOus than
war;
The Southern people fought and were de-
feated, and they submit to the inevitable con-
sequences Of their defeat. They acknow-
ledge that slavery is dead They acknowledge
that the reconstruction governments OF the
Southern States are valid governments.
They acknowledge, without reservation,
that the reforms we need must be obtained
by peaceful agencies alone-by the ballot,
and not by the bullet. In word, the
Southern people take things as they are
and make the best of them, and in this sense
do 'accept the situation"
This, however, will not satisfy the Radi-
Gals in any Southern State; and still less
will it satisfy them in South Carolina, where
they rave and fret as though no hour of
reckoning would come. They demand that
we hug the chains with which our limbs
are sore; that we brand ourselves traitors
and rebels; that we shame the living and
dishonor the dead; that we cringe and kneel
and lick the dust-only too happy if allowed
to unloose the latchet of Radical SHOE
Nor is this all. They demand that in accept
ing the State government as legal govern
ment, we accept, as models Of purity and
ability, its every official from the highest to
the lowest; that We accept without remon-
STRANGE, as right and just, every law that
our mongrel Legislature may be pleased to
pass; that we accept every decision Of an
ignorant and incompetent Judge as final anu
irrevocable; that we refrain from murmur-
ing under the load of local taxation; that we
accept as perfect every part OF the machinery
of our government; that we TO not criticise ol
change any existing law, or attempt to ousl
from his seat any ofthe corrupt and rapaciou;
offlce-holders who grow fat-and insolent a
the expense of our struggling people They
demand that we swallow Southern Radical
ism. with all its crimes and fOllies OH it;
head; and, until this is done, they contin
ually will cry that the South is rebelliou
and will not 'accept the situation"
And the Southern Radicals may hoot anC
yell until they are hoarse. Our people yiel'
. ready obedience to the Constitution OF tn
State and the law of the land. They trus
to time to remove the evils which restrain
i, then growth and retard their progress. Blu
they never will call black white, the uncleal
clean, the corrupt pure; and never, as it
e understood by the Southern Radical, vii
8 they "accept the situation"