The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1872-08-14
Senator Schurz and the Duty Of Recon.
ciliation to the South.

Senator Schurz has largely added
to his reputation by his able and cx-
haustivc speech, made at ST. Louis on
Monday last. lie reviewed the career
of the present Administration, and
exhibited how it has disappointed
every hope, and how under its ans
picos the law had been converted into
the very instrument of tyranny.
General Grant, whatever. with his
dogged pcrtinacity, lie may have
proved in the field, has stgnally failed,
either as statesman, or a civil ruler.
For these he has no capacity. The
fact is, and it has been mado to ap-
pear, through the sufferings and dis
asters of the past few years, that on
all subjects of craftsmanship, he is
simply stupidity dull. For these he
has no capacity of, or inclination for,
comprehension. He is withoutability
to comprehend the true nature of our
Constitution, or the character Of our
institutions. Hence, there has been
little respect or account for free gov
ernment, and hence his rule, by such
mon as Conkling, Morton and others,
who, like the Bourbons, never learn,
and still in time Of peace believe in
the hates Of war. And this at timc
whom both the general welfare, the
necessities Of the times, and liberty
itself, demanded the equality Of all
the States and people, the cessation
Of arms, and return to the peaceful
agencies of se1Egovcrnment, irrcspec-
tive Of Federal interference. whether
by its political power or the harshcr
coercion Of the bayonct- Events have
all, with their sad history, demon
stratou that reconciliation was impos-
siblo under the present Administra-
ton. It's hand has been against the
restoration Of the South. And to-day
the staple of all the speeches made for
General Grant is the keeping alive Of
the issues Of a war closed seven years
since, and Ct all tho passions which
surround and belong to condition Of
discord and disscnsion. Not one word
40 we hear Of q common concord and
fraternity. And yet without this
how can the country ever be one in
reality and in happiness Under
General Grants Administration it has
been one merely in name. The South
has been left at the mercy Of plunder-
crs and thieves. Every effort for
honesty and reform has been met
with the mailed hand from Washing
ton, at the throat, sustaining the un:
principlcd and depravcd in position,
until at last hopo has almost yielded
to despair. And this with free Amer.
lean Commonwealth, and free Amor
can citizens. These can never be
free in reality until the mailed hand,
on which the robber relies for his
security, is removed, and this can only
be effected by change in the Federal
Administration AS Mr.. Greeley we'll
says, "tho blacks have been cnfran-
chised. The present question is the
cnfranchscmcnt Of the white race"
One Of tho most vital Of the points to
which Senator Schurz refers in this
connection, is the great duty Of con-
ciliation to tho South. lie well says:
"Thc first great object Of our policy
should have been to rcnatl0nalize the
South, to revive among the Southern
pooplo feelings calculated to attach
their hearts again to tho fortunes Of
this Union. For, let us not indulge
in the delusion that the holding to-
gcther by force Of its component parts
is Il basis upon which Il Republic can
safely rest or long endure. 1t re-
quires that bond which binds together
the hearts of the people, and not their
bodies only; and to create that bond
was for us tho highest object of
craftsmanship, In order to rcvivc
patriotic feeling and national attach
mcnt in the South, VIC had TO convince
the people that VIC were their friends,
and not their conqucrors only; that
we had their welfare at heart, and
not our advantage. Only when we
made them believe in the parity and
unsclhshness Of our intentions, could
We hope to gain their affections. Let
US sec what was done by the Admin
istration and the ruling party.
"Thc great social revolution grown
out Of The war had resulted, by logical
necessity, in the cnfranchiscmcnt Of
the colorcd people. Only by tho cx-
crcisc Of political rights can tho free
laborcr maintain his independence;
but the colorcd voters, untutorcd and
inexperienced, fell under tho leader
ship Of unprincipled adventures. AS
it was, a system Of robbery and ruin
Gus misgovornment cnsucd which has
hardly parallel in history. Most OF
those States were, with incredible
rapidity, burdcncd with enormous
debts without any equivalent. Scores
ofmiIions disappeared, as if by magic,
in the capacious darkness Of private
pockets Impoverished as those States
were by war, they were now stripped
naked. The public expenses became
absurdly c:itravagantj the taxes uH-
bearabIc. Under such loads industry
was discouraged and Tagged. Enter