The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-08-28
REPUBLICAN POLICY TOWARDS THE
y .H l... SOUTH. ..-r

The stock of all the political broth
served ss~the Democratic table consists
mainly of one staple, to wit: the tyranni-
cal treatment of the South by the Admin
istraton. Gen. Grant and his party are
charged with ''keeping alive the passions of
the war" and endeavoring to coarce the
South by military power. He is repre-
scented as an unprincipled tyrant who over
rides law and constitution, substituting
bayonets for the processes Of the courts
and aiming at imperial absolutsm. These
charges strike US, as they must all persons
not blinded by prejudice, as utterly base
less and absurd. Yet we are constantly
reminded in our personal experience of the
existence of considerable numbers of men
who sincerely believe them to be true.
These men, honest themselves, are gene
rally the dupes of INSCRIPTIONS public
speakers and writers, who everywhere cir
culate through the press and on the plat
form these unmitigated falsehoods.
A few days since, we met young law
yer from one of the back counties of this
State, who had been soldier in the Con-
federate army. lie was man Of superior
education, graduate of first class uni
versity, and gifted with fine powers. In
conversation with us he expressed his con-
vction that General Grant intended to
maintain his place at the head of the gov
eminent by force, if necessary. lie did
not object to this himself, as he thought we
needed strong government, but he feared
il would result in war, and the people had
suffered so much already that he deplored
war on their account. For himself he had
rather fight than eat, but for the people he
desired peace; and fearing that Grants at
tempt to seize the government would result
in war, he opposed him. If he could be
sure there would be no war he would not
object to this step on the part of the
President. This man gave every evidence
that these were his honest convictions.
But when he admitted that he knew moth
ing Of Grant personally, and had never
been at Washington or in the North, and
personally had never read the papers of
but one side, we could easily see how his
mind might rest in these absurd convictions.
Now, if an intelligent and educated gentle
man and lawyer of ability, really be-
lieves in such absurdities as these, what
must be the condition of the masses of the
people, who are destitute of education,
few Of whom read at all, and at best only
prejudiced local paper, intensely hostile
to the administration? No statement is too
monstrous for them to swallow. They are
Inc passive tools in the hands of 'unscrupu-
lous demagogues, turning a deaf ear to
reason, and blindly but honestly hating
General Grant as a tyrant who ought to
be overthrown.
This picture is not overdrawn. 1t is
sadly true of the mass of the people of
Virginia, and We call attention to it, not
because we like to, but because it indicates
the great work that we have to do in edu-
eating the people up to sound political
faith. 1t leads us, also, to cultivate
broad and liberal spirit. We are not to
judge a people by our own standard, but
try to put ourselves in their places before
giving judgment. We must learn to look
at questions from the standpoint of our
opponents; to correct their errors under
their own eyes. 1t will then appear clear
to us how these people may honestly hold
opinions which we we'll know to be base
less and absurd. And then the knowledge
Of these interior facts will tend to inculcate
a larger charity and forbearance on our
part. We shall be able to show by q
kindly and fraternal spirit that so far as
we represent the Republican party it is not
hostile to the Southern people and then,
by showing hearty interest in the up
building of the waste places the war has
made, we shall secure fair hearing for
our arguments.