The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-04-17

and will only do it from q stern sense Of
justice. Bat there is that feeling, 7 am
glad to believe, in the country that will
arouse its honest sentiment. and lead to
q correction OF these abuses"
Senator Schurz, after urging the re-.
storation OF harmony aud friendly feel.
ing between the South and sister sec-
tions of the Union. as the greut and
all-important necessity of the present
age of the Government, says:
''This great object cannot be accom-
plished by means of force. It demands
policy resting on no narrow-minded
resentmonts, but a policy higher than
party spirit. There was justification
for restraining measures as long as the
legitimate results of the war existed.
But then that justification hns ceased,
and the viotors in the groat civil con.
fict were called upon by NIL considera.
tions of patriotism and political wisdom
to make the sovereign people feel that in
all our measures of war and policy we
had been guided by the interests Of the
States and not by tho feelings Of resent.
ment, hatred and vindictiveness. We
desired to be to them not naughty con-
querors, but well.meaning friends, that
they might see in the flag of this repub-
lie not the symbol of their defeat and
degradation, but the symbol of rights
and protection equally guaranteed to
them as we'll as to us-that they might
feel once more, I say. with us all the
pride and patriotic inspirations of full
American citizenship. The removal OF
political disabilities and general amnesty
were demanded, not as a measure of mere
sentimental generosity, but as o measure
OF the very plaincst statesmanship. But
years have elapsed since the result of
the war. and general amnesty has not
been granted yet. Down to this very
day lnrge and influential class of citi.
zens in the South nro still told by these
men in power that the public interest,
as it is administered by popular self go
vernment, is no business concern If
theirs, and that this great republic is not
ready to grant to them their equal rights.
Down to this very day tho jealousy of
race is nourished by the fact that many,
and by no means the unworthiest OF the
white men of the South, are deprived of
political rights and privileges which the
black man, late i'll slavery, enjoys. Down
to this very day The work of the ad-
venturers and demngogues who speculate
upon tho Ignorance of their followers is
facilitating corruption and demoraliza.
ton in Office; good government is i'm.
peded and q successful development of
the new order of things and social CO.
operation prevented in the South by
that narrow-minded, miserable policy
which excludes from public employment
so large class of mon who have such
great interest in the influence and sue
cessfnl administration of public affairs.
It is true the President in his last annual
message said good word for amnesty;
md it is also true that his most trusted
and powerful friends, his very loudest
spokesmen, are throwing every possible
obstacle in its way, and we have to see
the first instance yet when friend Of
amnesty is considered friend of the
Administration. And the battle e-ories of
the civil war are revived by those old
prejudiccs, and the rosentments are kept
alive as a stock of political capital to
secure the reelection of the same Presi-
dent who first appeared in political life
with the fairest promise OF universal
peace on his lips, and whose word for
amnesty has been drowned by she vo-
ciferous protests of his most Jealous
friends. Are we as honest men, are we
as Republicans, to palter in double
sense with the dearest interests of the
republic? Is this measure OF peace and
reconciliation to become subject of
thimbie-rigging iugglery-now you see
it, and now you don't see it? Is this
the manner in which we arc to bind to
us those men whom we want to become
good and patriotic citizens again2 Can
we thus gain their friendship and conf :
dence? Is this worthy of the great Re-
publican party of which we are oil so
proud? Not those who think ns I do
can be parties to such mocking per-
formance. We want an earnest and
straightforward policy, and if those who
shape the conduct of the party now will
not give that to us. our duty as honest
men commands us to seek it where we
can find it. The close of the civil war
imposed upon us another duty: that the
Republican Government and the free in
stitutions on which it rests should find
i'll us their strongest bulwark, nnd be by
US faithfully maintained aud religiously
preserved No republic can stand, no
popular liberty, no personal right will be
secure when the powers of the Govern
ment are left without any restraint on
the whims of those who WELD it. I