The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-10-22
The Period Of Transition.

The Period Of Transition.
The period of political transition which
commenced Immediately after the war IS
progressing. not with as much rapidi'y rs
The nconlc lat least of the South) couiG
wish, hut probably with as much speed rs
i safe in matters of such magnitude rs are
those involved.
II is impossible that the policy of war
marty, and the measures engendered by war,
can be suited to condition Of peace. The
Republican party, under the guidance OF
the spirit and passions Of war, has pursued
= policy utterly inconsistent with true ke-
nubl;canism. Instead Of the liberality OF
Renub,icanism and its justice, which claims
that lust government derives its power from
the consent Of the governed, we have had
arbitrary power exerted over Il large part OIL
the Union through military satraps. 10
adapt itself to peace, and its name, the he
publican party must abandon IT'S measures
recognize the supremacy OF the popuial
will. secure the freedom of the citizen, ana
leave the people to choose their own rulers.
Either this change must come over the
Republican party, or that party must, a.
war parties generally have done, give place
10 new political organization on ne"
basis.
The northern Democratic party the an
tagonist of the Republican, Is embarrassed
in great degree, by the war issues ana It's
conduct during and since the war. Ii has
made a great many blunders. Its prom-
nent men are entangled with lnconsist-
encies that seriously damage their party.
Many of them uttered opinions and senti-
nents before the war that made their par
fic;pation in it great Inconsistency. ana
while. when the war came, perhaps the
Democratic party furnished not only It's
oreatest commanders, but its main strenS'h
in men, they have been betrayed INTO as
sa,lts upon the management Of the war ana
the Government that enabled the Repubil-
can nartv TO llsurp all the fcldt of the vic
tory over the South, while the South, so TAI
as the zeal with which they conducted the
war is concerned, finds no cause to consider
them more forbearing than the Republicans.
The Democrats have made Us sufferers by
endeayoring to make reconstruction odious,
ana 1Olllllm TIC AaeNi'''' 'NN''
view. while they have bitterly opposed
universal suffrage ut the North, which was
fixed upon us chiefly through their agency.
Thus they are involved at every turn by H.
consistencles. that with all their strength OF
voters, have continually subjected them 10
defeat since the war.
It is evident that both the great parties at
The North must undergo great changes
The Republicans must abandon their War
Dolicv. their war rancours and malignltles,
and adapt themselves to the name they
bear, or be amihilatcd by public OPINION
in due time. The Democrats must cut
loose from their old issues, and repudiatr
their old leaders, who are involved in gross
inconsistencies and desperate follieS, or they
can never gain triumph. They must be-
come practical, bring forward new ana
strong men. fit for the theatre in these
times and entirely free from the preludiceS
and passions Of the past.
1t is plain that circumstances are now
coercing changes in the political world that
will entirely remodel parties. Old issues
and policies are dead, and parties will not
lie properly organized until the old poltl-
cal hacks are set aside along with those Is
sues.
The South is lOoker-on, ready to take
that side which is most just. most practical,
and whose policy is best calculated to pro-
mote the local prosperity and contentment
of the country, and in that way the peace,
harmony, and power of the nation.
Should General GRANT take proper
survey of the field, and inaug1rate. in
accordance with the liberal opinions
he has so often expressed, policy
calculated to do this-to impart equality
and Justice to all sections-to promote
industry and restore confidence every
whereof he does this, and firmly holds the
reins of Government in his own hands, he
will place his Administration upon rock,
and speedily solve the present political COM
plcations. He will thus secure to himself a
second term. If he does not, the political
transition through which we are passing
will find another solution; but whatever Ii
be it will bring peace and order to the coun-
try, and the rights and freedom of the citl-
zen along with it.