The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-04-29
THE GEORGIA KNOT.

From the Missouri Republican.
Washington kilograms indicate that the
people of Georgia, with great unanimity, are
expressing decided preference for the rule
of bayonet rather than the rule of Bullock,
and are very willing to endure the embarrass-
ments of military government until Decem-
ber, if then they can have o chance to elect a
new Legislature, and partially rid themselves
of the corrupt ring of spectators and scala
wags who now hold power in that State.
The inhabitants of this much reconstructed
Commonwealth have learned wisdom by a
deal of sharp and painful experience, and
understand that, however humiliating the
situation may be, their lives, liberties, and
property are infinitely safer under the admin
istration of General Terry than they possibly
can be if left TO the exclusive control of Gov
ernor Bullock and his hungry satellites
Therefore it is that they hail the Senate bill
harsh though it's provisions are, as positive
blessing, and beg for its adoption. But,
according to report, the President is so
strongly opposed to the measure as it now
stands that, should the House ratify the action
of the Senate, he would probably interpose
q veto. Nor does any one seem to know
exactly what the President does want to do
with Georgia, except that it is intimated he
favors the Ingersoll bill, which provides for
the admission of the Georgia Congressional
delegation at once, aud permits the people
to elect a new Legislature in November.
Whether the Terry or Bullock dynasty will
dominate until then is not stated, but it
cannot surely be contemplated to treat
the State as a military province on the
one hand and as an integral portion of the
Federal Union on the other. Such bur-
lesaue would be too ponderous even for
radical consciences to tolerate. We do not
blame President Grant for his anxiety to close
up the reconstruction business and have done
with it forever, and he may rest assured that
the country is quite as anxious to witness this
consummation as he himself possibly can be.
But let us, by all means, have some guarantee
that the work, when ended, is not to be re-
opened next week. next month, or next year.
Five years have been spent in legislating the
seeded States back into the places they ence
vacated, and the nation, North and South,
has been kept in turmoil, money wasted
and business impeded simply to
crafty the fanatical prejudices of
radical politicians who will not have
peace at any price. Whatever may be the
errors and shortcomings of President Grant
we know that he has sufficient will and
energy to accomplish almost any task, how
ever arduous We know, too, that he still
retains a large share of the confidence aud
affection of his party, and now, above all
other, is the time to combine these potent
elements for the good of the country and the
| nerpetuity of his own fame. If, with the
| Georgia bill as text he can offer some plan
which will make the present phase of recon-
struction a fnality, so far as further inter-
ference by Congress is concerned, he will not
only prove true to the pledge Of "Lot us have
pence, but receive fun measure Of popular
| gratitude.