New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-09-12
SOCIAL TYRANNY IN THE SOUTH.

L
1t is not essential that tyranny should
always be represented with pair OF
manacles. It can, and most frequently
does, operate upon the finer sensibilitles
with greater force than upon the physical
organism; for this, that the reason is the
| sole detector of its existence after all,
and whatever Expresses the mind directly
is frequently more CALLING than that which
| Expresses it through the use of chains.
Martyrs have glowed with enthusiasm
when bound to the stake, because their
| physical imprisonment was the release of
| the soul. Men that are bowed beneath
the dread of punishment, whose con-
sciences are silent in the presence Of
power, carry greater burden than st.
Paul in his prison at Rene, because the
oppression is weight upon that faculty
which is alone capable of detecting
tyranny. Unthinking ignorance is sell
| dom aware of the existence OF tyranny,
because it is mentally incapable of dis
secting the evil Bad men accept of i'm
prisonment without associating their IN
generation with any other suggestion
than that of punishment. Idiots have
no comprehension. Of tyranny, because
they have no reason by which to detect
it. Then, since neither martyrs, sinners,
nor fools, confound chains with despo-
tism, it is plain that the two have no
| relation to each other. Tyranny is
quality that must operate upon the mind,
and it must be coupled with a sense of
injustice. The victim must feel that he
is being dealt unfairly by, and if he has
this feeling, whether it is justified by a
physical fact, or by sense of dread,
then he is subject to be commisserated
by all who appreciate fair dealing and
republican sentiment.
Have we tyranny in the South that is
often seen and constantly felt by certain
good men? Does the secession element in
our midst, which is strong to-day and
which was once very bitter, uphold and
carry with it sense of hostility toward
Union men which amounts to persecu-
ton? And if it does, is this not species
of tyranny which ought to be probed and
doctored for a cure? Can a faithful lover
of the Union, who spoke his sentiments
during the war, who warned his fellow
citizens of their folly and vickedness,
pursue his trade and calling in Louisiana
on the same footing with the men who
misled the people into secession, who
lodged the war, who made money out OF
the misfortunes Of those whom they had
misled, and who have been on the wrong
side since the rebellion was suppressed
| Is not the South envenomed with spirit
of hate toward quiet people who de-
precated the error of the South? Are not
the secessionists class unto themselves,
spiteful toward their neighbors who saw
and told them of the great and calamitous
failure which awaited them in the late
fearful contest
These questions are very plain. They
are not written in any spirit Of malice, or
with design to provoke bitter thoughts,
but with simple purpose to obtain an
honest answer. Let no hot-headed po-
litical aspirant rush at Us with sounding
brass and tiakling cymbal. He pro-
voked the rebellion, and he never will
have sense or honesty enough to confess
his error, or know how to conduct the
country out of its difficulties. We are
trying to talk this matter over with the
masses Of the people and for the people
we ask the privilege of speaking with the
people. Their speaking trumpets have
spoken, and will speak again to the
distraction of all good counsel. 1t is their
cue to misrepresent both sides, and in
| order to serve their own selfish ambitions
they are ever on the alert to separate and
hold apart the men who should do the
talking. We ask again of the people,
have they buried the Ratchet, and do they
forget and forgive as they should do? 1t
was great error, the war was, and no
one man was responsible for its evils. Yet
in the South the Union man is held to be
amenable for the very evil which he used
his noblest efforts to avert He is dis
carded in business. He is regarded with
lowering brows. He is almost an out
cast in the midst of his neighbors. He is
under the ban. His Affections are slight
ingly spoken Of. His failures are laughed
at. Even when he attempts to benefit
the community, the people refuse to help
him. This is the tyranny which we de-
scribed in the outset as being without
manacles but worse than imprisonment.
1t is senseless, because statement of its
incidents will demonstrate its ground
lessness. It is cowardly, because it takes
form that can not be resisted 1t is
ruinous, because the community that
maintains these prejudices against what
is inevitable can never pursue its true
pathway with unity and energy. 1t is
deplorable, because it is the sole capital
of political demagogues. Let the South,
then, Danish her social tyranny and be-
come liberal and republican.
IMMIGRATION.
The millions upon millions of acres of