American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1869-07-17
Mr.. Stephens, Of Georgia.

The opinions of this distinguished
Georgia statesman are entitled to
consideration. While he admits, as
all thinking men do, that republican
institutions in this country are in
great peril, he believes shat there is
hope enough Of the restoration of the
Government to its Constitutional ba-
sis to enlist the best energies of all
genuine lovers of liberty in the land.
We entirely agges. with him that so
far as freedom goes, there is no diff
ference between Imperialism and
Capitalization, and we are glad to be
able to concur with him in the opin-
ion that we are not reduced to the
necessity of choosing between alter
natives So desperate. 1t is our duty
as men and citizens to struggle
against both, and to obtain some
thing higher, purer and nobler in the
future destiny of this people. Nor is
the probability, or even the posi-
bility, of failure any excuse for not
making the manly effort. Popular
apathy and stupidity and corruption
in high places mayprove insurmount-
able obstacles to patriotic effort. But
Who will consent to surrender the
liberties of his country on a chance
of failure i'll the attempt to save
them? How many battles would Lee
have fought against heavy numerical
odds had he stopped to reason on
the chances of being beaten Grant
that it is a forlorn hope we are called
on to lead or follow, is not the prize
grand enough to stir the soul of eve
ry man born to the precious heritage
of freedom and desiring to hesueath
it to his children But the cinprise
is not SO hopeless as this train of
thought would imply. Whatever
other people may think or feel, it is
certain that the men of the American
Democratic party from the Canada
line to the Rio Cranie, do not mean
to lie down under tlespotism i'll any
form imperial or central without Il
struggle to throttle the monster.
And the Democratic party today
holds in its ranks a majority of the
American voters. The victory of
that party in one general election
settles the question against empire
or Capitalization, and will be the sig
nal for the restoration of the Govern
ment on its constitutional basis.
With such hope to cheer us on, is it
not pnerile and cowardly to fald into
despair, give over all effort, cry out
{ oil is 1nst aud ,I,,1- xx-illi,,pr II
disgraced slaves under the yoke OF
upstart masters There is no occa
sion for despair when we see before
us the rapid disintegration Of the
Radical power that is the parent OF
all our woes. The imbeeslity and
dead failure of the administration
this party has 80 lately elected, has
given it its, death stab, in the first
four months of its existence. Dis
appointment, modification, jealous
les, heart burnings, and scllism, art
tearing the Republican organization
to pieces. and its frightened leaders
are casting about for new sensational
issueS-ew the fearful one Of /
great foreign war--to revive thu
coaIra ge of their followers, and to holt
on to the rapidly waning confidence
of the people. All the signs of thu
times portend reaction in favor o
the Democracy in the next fall elec
tons. Shall not we of the South d,
our part Shall we not agree witt
Mr.. Stephens, when he declares tina
"uW friends of Constitutional ti6eft1
in ere'y section Of the State, mus
unite in the granl effort to &tre them
seIces from the impendfmy catastrt
pie ?'-.Hobile Register.