American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-08-10
Liberal Ticket.
The Signs Of the Times.

"A AOW 00y o SlAOO Ouft1ACS AJuAu-
ner published his letter to the col
Ored people, advising them as their
true friend to support Greeley and
Brown, taking the position that the
freedom and lawful rights of the
negro race were accomplished facts,
and that the road toward keeping
them intact lay through the accept
ance of the olive branch of peace
held out by Southern men by their
enthusiastic advocacy of the Liberal
ticket. Then comes the letter of
General N. p. Banks, former Speak
er of the House of Representatives
of the Union, now a distinguished
member of Congress from one of the
Boston districts, a laboring man in
his youth, an abolitionist always,
who says that the era of reconcilia-
ton now arrived is that for which
he has most ardently longed, that
the South has met the North half
way, that she acknowledges the ex-
istencc Of equal laws, and that is
sufficient for him. Sumner and
Banks do not ask the South to get
down on her knees, and admit her
self in the wrong all these years
they do not ask that she approve
all the acts of their party since the
war; they only ask that she submit
to the will of the people of the
United States, as heretofore ex-
pressed at the ballot box and by the
votes of the two houses Of Congress.
These men know very well that the
feelings and judgment of all true
Southern men were opposed to the
measures of reconstruction while
they were living questions; they
know full well that the Southern
mind yet remains convinced of the
wisdom of the course then pursued
by her, but they see further THAT the
South, true to Democratic institu-
tions and principles, acquicsces in
good faith, in the will of the MAORI
ty of the people Of the Union, and is
ready to carry out, in perfect fair
ness, all the laws upon the statute
books This is all that any true
patriot can wish OF desire, viz:
That the will of the people shall be
the law Of the land. If these men
are right in their views of govern
ment; if it shall turn out that peace
and prosperity, safety of person and
increase and preservation of proper
ty, shall be completely secured, and
perpetuated, why she will not be
the loser. If, on the other hand, it
shall turn out that all their theories
of government as applicable to the
negro race and the Southern States
are fallaciOus, why we of the South
stand out in bold relief as a patri-
otto and noble people, possessed of
wisdom and fortitude, indescribable,
willing to bear our burdens, and al
most to wear the crown of martyr
dom, in order to preserve intact the
great fundamental principle which
underlies Republican Government,
viz: That perfect respect is due the
will Of the majority; which, as all |
things are human are fallible, may
sometimes he wrong, but must be
existent nevertheless, as a great
general rule never to be deviated
from. By this course we become a
people to be admired and respected
Of all men; we become those who
hold the balance of power, whom
all will trust, whom all will respect,
and whom, in time, the country will
follow as it has in the past. We
seem ''tO stOOp," but we do not, We
really soar alOft "to conquer"
The opportunity afforded the ne
gro race to follow the lead of the
lifelong advocates of its course, of
those who bore cOntumely and
violence. who stemmed for more
than thirty years the tide of pro-
slaveryism, in order that the slav-
ish blacks might, if possible, be-
come possessed of liberty, education
and the refinements of civilized
man, is such an one as will never
come again. By pursuing this cause
pointed out by Sumner they retain
the friendship of those who have
borne more for their sake than ever
men did in free land before, and
they will also secure the respect and
of the dominant ace OF
the South, thus proving themselves
person of gratitude and good sense.
What motive hut their good can
Sumner have in embracing their {