The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-04-02
"THE NEED OF THE, HOUR"
Beecher's Paper on the situation.

DccChcT dpcT Ou tho 'oiOutSiOus
From the New YORK Independent.
The present political tone of the
American people reminds US of Robert
Browning's coupler
$50 with sullcn 'AlPs for best
The land seems settling TO its rest"
The fifteenth article, like alamc man,
goes. limping toward its goal, and will
have a rough Journey before lit can
finally enter the gate of the constitu-
ton. OF course, we look forward to
an ultimate adoption; but the day is
further In the future than some over
sanguine people predict. .ins Z r.
The ghost Of the negro. entering the
State House at indianapolis, has fright
ened the Indiana Legislature out of a
quorum. Ohio--motler of patriots and
and chief heroine of the war--stands
now like rebel, and will not ratify.--
GeOrgia-fickle, obstinate and disloyal
-conspircs once more against the I'M
ion, and writes II verdict against liberty,
equality aud fraternity. l.i u..a., .
1t is quite evident that Grant does
not want the negro question to cast its
Ethiopian shadow on his administra-
way before he assembled his chair For
months before the inauguration, he pri-
vately urged its speedy and final settle
ment His inaugural very plainly said :
=" wish to devote my time to furnishing
the whiskey rogues and to paying the
nations debt; so don't let me be trou-
bled with the everlasting negro"
1t is equally evident, however, that
the negro question is not yet settled
Nor, from present appearances is it
likely to be settled during the first or
even the second year of the, new adj
ministration.
We have not known time since 1860
when the negro, as wronged man
waiting for justice, has been less an OBJ
ject of interest and sympathy, or when
an appeal for his rights would not
awaken warmer response than now.
This apathy is due in a great measure
to the general conviction that the ques-
ton is already practically settled-a
conviction as short-sighted i'll white
men us it is disappointing to black but
due in still greater measure to the fee
BILE pulse of moral feeling which the
Republican party has manifested ever
since Grant became its leader. This il
lustrious man (whom we have no wish
to dispraise) commands everywhere the
confidence, but nowhere the enthusi-
asm, of the American people.
The Democratic party (cver lying in
waltz have now Il greater opportunity
to regain their lost leadership than they
have had at any period since they first
lost it.
Under the present auspices at Wash
ington (unless we greatly misjudge the
signs of the timcs) the Republican party
will gradually grow weaker and weak
Ell, and their opponents steadily strong
er and stronger. The moral sympathy
which formerly united the Republican
ranks into an irresistible phalanx is
now becoming dull and chill in each
mans breast. The elected leader cares
for no great idea, and does not seem to
suspect that his party is at this moment
beginning to fall off from him because
he is lifted to station which is one
plane too high for his genius.
Then, too, like ball Oh fountain,
Congress keeps alternately tossed up
and down. The omen was i'll when Con-
9ress refused to pass law making suf-
frage uniform throughout the land. The
omen was i'll when Congress, by an ex-
press vote. struck out from the 10th az
ticle the right to hold Office. ..4
1t is hard to hold this tickle nation
steadtastly to moral purpose when its
Chief Magistrate has no genuine SYM
pathy for moral ideas, and when its
chosen representatives are constantly
compromising their own convictions.
Both President and Congress ought
to unite in advertising joint proposal :
Wanted-a Moral Purpose"