Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-03-26
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Repeatedly of late appeals have come to
us from various sources, public and private,
in behalf of what our critics and cores
pondents describe as "peace." We are
assured that the temper of the dominant
party in the Government is not so fierce
and vindictive as it has been. we are in
formed that General Butler and John W.
Forney. the two most conspicuous Of the
ultra leaders of ultra opinions, are kind
and placable at heart, and that they sin
cereiy desire an opportunity to show their
friendship for the South. We are urged
to modulatc our tone to a pitch which may
be made to harmonic with the softening
tone of power, the charge that is laid
against us being this, that the standard of
our Democracy is too high.
To all this we might answer, says the
Louisville Courier Journal, that every hon
est standard should be carried full high
but we are willing to look at the matter in
detail. That the elements at large are
moderated somewhat is certainly fact
We doubt however, if it be a pleasing
affections which disfgured the surface Of
the body polite, have not disappeared
within, to assume q more dangerous and
fatal form ? 1t is an undeniable fact that
the question of reconstruction has ceased
to be an open issue. It has withdrawn
from the face of affairs. But it has not
withdrawn from the system. Questions of
finance and tariffs. questions of suffrage
and foreign relations, questions of peace
and war, must all be more or less affected
by this disease, which, like hidden rot,
lies at the root of the seemingly healthy
tree, infusing its slow poison through every
vein and twig.
The situation of the South is simply de-
plorable. There is indeed less violence
there than ever, for the policy which has
succeeded the reign of martial law il more
subtle and dangerous. But we are amazed
when we hear intelligent Republicans pre-
dict good fruit from it.
What can be hoped from power which
is founded on ignorance, vice and misery ?
1t used to be the practice of the wretched
despots who ruled in the East, when they
feared the spirit and capacity of some sub
ject whom they dared not murder, to cause
the intended victim to be secretly fed upon
preparation OF opium, called poasta. The
effect was, in a few months, to destroy all
the mental and bodily powers of the IN
fortunate who was plugged with it. The
detestable artifice, moro dreadful, as Ber-
nier tells us. than assassination, was worthy
of those who employed it. Yet Congress,
filed with enlightened politicians and
civilized Anglo-Saxons, have found in it
model for the reconstruction of the South
ern States. They caused pousta of negro
suffrage, martial law and misrepresentation
to be mixed and administered to the South
Its effects at first were to create undue ex-
element, but its permanent spell is to
deaden and destroy and the lassitude Of
to-day is its workings.
1t is folly to talk of 'peace," by which
is meant the concession of our consent to
policy at once SO base and baleful. So
long as the Radicals continue to dose the
South on poustd, we shall assail them with
out STINT or measure. Whenever they cease
to do SO, We can talk about COMPROMISING
minor points of controversy. On this one
great point the life and soul OF The nation
absolutely depend.