The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1869-02-20
From the Louisville Courier Journal.
GRANTS SWORD.

The Radicals papers are generally
agreed that the military prestige Of Gen.
eral Grant will haye salutary effect up
on the South. If they mean by this
that the people Of the South are to be
cocrced by the poEcr of the sword ac-
lively employed, into more submissive
spirit, they are possibly correct in their
surmise. Force can do any thing :. aud
since it has kept Ireland aud Poland in .
state of military subjection during many
centuries, it is not unlikely taat il may
be made equally effective IN this country.
But is this, after all, SO very salutary!
The idea Of forcing the Southern peo-
pie to submit TO unconstitutional legisla-
tion-to unite them at the point Of the
bayonet with a class Of semi harbarous
ncgrocs-is abominable 10 every ono Of
u sound and yirtuous mind. 1t il spc-
cies of despotism that is namelcss, on ac-
count Of its unqualified meauness. Ii is
unstatcsmanlike, unphilosophical and in
human, even to the negroes themselves.
There is so much absurdity on its very
face that the wonder is how the people
of the North can be deceived by it. But
deceived they are, aud so sweet is that
deception that they arc willing TO peril
their own liberties in trying TO elevate
the negro to political power. 1t is not to
be concealed that much of this unnatu-
raj attempt upon tho liberties of the
South is 4 species Of revenge. This may
be sweet in the mouth, but it will prove
to be bitter in the belly. As little as the
masses of tha North suspect it, they are
laying the foundation for the loss of their
own liberties. When the sword is the
instrument of tyranny upon part, it
will soon cleave the head of the whole
nation. If the liberties of the South
shall be crushed, the liberties Of the North
can not endure The Submission of the
Union to tho arbitrament of the sword
was fearful experiment. But the sub
mission of the rights of the people, as
citizens and as States, to despotism, is
the last experiment which fanatical and
corrupt politicians can make with the
proud old Republic. 1t will not only
call out the hidden antagonisms in the
bosoms of the American people, but it
will create new forces, and direct them
against the genius of popular govern
ment, and the end may be the loss of all
liberty.
But the experiment of governing by
the sword is the most perilous that peo-
pie, wishing to maintain Democratic in
stitutions, can possibly institute. 1t is
impossible for the love and spirit of lib
erty to be long maintained where the civ
il gives place to military rule. The
North may for time, maintain her pop
ular institutions while subjccting the
fallen South to military Government.
While sacrificing the white man to the
negro, she may, for time, retain her
rights. But if she persist, her whole
heart must become corrupt, her own con-
science defiled, her own will debauched,
and madc the slave Of lusts and crimes
inconsistent with her own liberty. Curses,
like chickens, come home to roost. The
wicked falls into the pit that he dug for
his neighbor. The oppressor ends by
ruin of himself. The tyrant is caught in
the net of his own devices. Once over
leap the sacred barriers of the constitu-
tion, and it is difficult to get back. Once
open the heart to the evil spirit of tyran-
ny, and who shall exrocise it, if it is foul
within !? No, no. There is no safety for
the North but in preserving the liberty
of the South. IF the one falls, so must
the other. 10 the grave wherein is bur-
led the liberties of the South must also
be borne the liberties Of the North, for
sepulture. God has ordained that he
who smites his brethren shall be brought
low; that the lawless spirit shall sooner
or later bring forth its own punishments.
The Radical party are fanatics. The
spirit of fanaticism inspires them. This