Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1870-08-25

cruel prejudices and the disorganizinl
theories OF the dominating majority y
and although long overborn BY mum
bers, still struggled on amid jeers
mobs, blows and assassinations, til
under the lead OF Abraham. Lincoln
they achieved success and graspet
the sccptre OF political power.
.E3t>4 ITS SECOND ERA. l.s,S
Entering upon its second era, ap
palling responsibilities At once arose
The slave masters IN the pride ant
arrogance Of power, instantly plung
cd the nation into the fire and bloot
OF CIVIL war. But the Republican
party rose with the crisis. 1t raisec
money in unstinted measure, organ
lzcd vast armies, created powerful
natives, fought bloody battles, crush
ed the most gigantic rebellion OF al
recorded history, and saved the na
tion's lite. II was then, amid the
clash OF arms, that the Republican
party saw that slavery was the re
lentless and unappeasablc toe OF the
country, was the inspiration, the hear
and soul OF that civil war and that it.
death would be the humiliation o1
the rebellion, the unity OF the Re
public and the development Of free
institutions. Against cowarlly fears
selfish instincts and unreasonable
passions and prejudices, it pro
nounced the doom OF that hideous and
horrid system OF human bondage
though it was upheld by the aggre'
gated interests OF three thousand
millions OF dollars, hcdged about by
the accumulated passions and pre-.
jndices, pridcs and ambitions Of sev.
en- generations, and .intrenched with.
in the social, political and eccles,astic-
al organizations and affiliations oi
life. by series Of xecutivc and
legislative acts it broke the chains
aud lifted from the depths Of chattle-
hood up to the SUBMITS of manhood
four and halt millions Of haplcss
and stood before the IA
lions with their riven letters in one
hand and their title deeds to freedom
in the other.
TIE THIRD ERA.
The war ended, the rebellion sub
lued. the bondmcn emanc,patcc, the
Republican party cntcbred upon the
third era OF its eventiul history
conquered by arms, the reb-
lis did not accept the just, humane
lnd generous ideas Of the victors,
nor did they return to their proper
allegiance and loyalty to the Gov
trnmcnt, but still bcmoaning the
lost cause" they remained unsub-
lued in will aud unrcpcntant in spir-
i and purpose. Though made tree,
he bondmcn were homeless, without
without employment, sub
Get to the cruel laws against free
people Of color, which had always
iisgraced Southern legislation, and
n the midst OF people exasperated
~ defeat, and maddened by their
oss OF power still longer to hold and
,ppress. Property was swept away,
industry disorganized, society disin-
anl States were without
awful Government.
THE WORK OYEECoSSTRUCTION.
Upon the Republican party devolv-
d the task of reconstruction. 10 its
Intrinsic difficulties were added the
atense hostility OF the ex-rebels, the
lingering prejudices long engendered
~ the slave system, the timid couE-
els of conservatism and the aposta-
y OF the Executive. Great interests
nd powerful combinations SOU sht to
o reconstruct the South as to place
he power in the hands OF the late
lave-holding class, and leave the
helpless frced..len in the abject con-
lition Of practical scridoln. Seldom
o history has there been imposed
,pon any body OF men = work OF
greater mag ,ilude or difficulty. The
might havc shrunk from
lnd avoided it. Tho were sorcly
cmp,ed to do SO. But they resisted
he temptation Of official power and
the threats OF Executive
Iictation and all adverse influences,
md with sublime fidelity and cour-
Igc addressed themselves to the her.
.ulean task. 10 aid in recognizing
Industries, caring tor,
and instructing the eman-
.ipated bohdmen in the new duties
Il their changed condition, the Re-
,ublicans established tho Frcedmcn's
bureau, which, by the wise expendi-
urc OF a few millions Of dollars, did
in incalculablc wo,k4for order, peace
ind the rehabilitation OF Southern
'ociety. TO reconstruct rebellious
States on the solid basis OF equal
lights. they gave suffrage 10 their eed-
men in the reconstruction measures.
70 secure citizenship anl clvll rights
o a wronged aud hated race, they
and adopted the Four
centh Amendment and enacted the
,,ll Of Civil Rights. To establish
~ irrevcrsible guarantees equal po-
itical rights and privileges. they
ldopted the Fifteenth Amendment,
md as acrowineac act for freedom they
provided by law for the enforcement
II these amendments thus newly en-
'hrined within the Construction
Thus the Rupu6licans, against the
'terncst opposition against misrep-
'csentation, against appalling OBJ
'tacles, have struggled on until the
'ebel States, reconstructed on the
,asis Of impartial liberty, have been
'estored, aud the sublime doctrines
If the Declaration of Independence
made assured and practical realities.
IN the progress ot the ages it has
,ecn given to few, in any form or by
my modes, to achieve 4 work so