The Opelousas courier., 1872-04-20
The Civilization Of the South.
From the Washington Patriot

L
most impressive and appalling confession
ofRadieal misrule and incapacity we have
yet heard or seen. 1t is impressive, too
in the singular vigor of it's diction, the
sad thoughts within, the consciousness
of wrong-doing, being revealed through
the clearest and most transparent style
There is no mistake as to either. We can
afford room but for an extract, which
however, contains the substance of this
strange self implication. The Tribune,
speaking not of itself, but of the Repub-
Ecan party, says:
"We have done nearly all that can be
done by Legislation for the reconstruction
of the Southern States; but there is q
crying necessity for something more
When we restored the broken machinery
ofpOlitical administration, we ouly began
the task. Civilization does not necessar-
lily follow the ballot and the right of re-
preventative government; it is the fruit
of moral and intellectual culture, and we
never shall get it by reconstruction acts
or amendments to the Constitution. At
the close of the war we had some pecu-
liar difficulties to face in the Southern
States. The white population as body
was debarred from participating in labor
of regeneration, and not disposed to CO.
operate cordially in Northern philan-
thrOpic forts.
NEARLY four millions of newly eman-
cipated colored people had to be raised
from the condition of slavery, ignorance,
and absolute dependence upon their mas
ters, to the dignity of independent citi-
zens and voters. It was upon them prac-
tlcally that we attempted to build the
new political structure. The situation
was discouraging, but unavoidable and
it is no wonder that the edifice founded
upon ignorance and social degradation
has disappointed the hopes of the SAN
guine. In some respects the blacks have
used their new powers wisely. Asa peo-
pie they have grown in manliness of
character, and in many parts of the
country they have improved in habits of
industry and in material prosperity.
"Generally speaking they have learned
how to protect their personal and poIiti-
cal rights. But in the intoxication of
sudden political enfranchisement, they
have fallen victims to an infamous horde
of Adventures from the Northern States
whose robberies they lack the sagacity,
and perhaps the instinct of responsibility,
to prevent. The shrew1er arc more IN
scrupulous of their own people have join
ed hands with these thieving carpet bag
gers, and the result is region of cor
ruption and oppression entirely without
parallel in the history of the United
States. One after another tile unfUrtu-
nate communities seem to be rushing in
to bankruptcy. Whatever little con-
science may have now and then shown
itself there in the management of public
is fast becoming extingnished.
And, as it always happens, the rascality
OF the rulers reacts upon the people. so
that politically the whole country is lap
sing into decentralization.
THE whites are doing nothing to ar
rest this downward course. Many of
them are only little less ignorant than
the freedmen, and certainly less amki-
tious. The better class are separated
from their former slaves by great gulf,
which the infamies of carpet bag rule and
the absurd Withholding of amnesty are
daily making wider"
This is longer excerpt than we are
in the habit of making, but the tempta-
ton is irresistible, for no word of ours
could more eloquently tell the tale of
woe OF enforce the realization of the fore
cast of Democracy before and at the
time the deed of folly and of wrong was
done-that wrong being, as is here ad-
Initted, ''the raising to the dignity of in
citizens and voters,' of mass
of semi barbarous half civilized incapa-
bles-building on 1.-The foundation of ig-
noranee and social degradation" If
there be meaning in words, and in his
there is always good deal, Mr.. Greeley,
persistent and enthusiastic emancipa-
ZIONIST and social equality man, mourns,
in bitterness of spirit, over what was
done, or at least the way it was done.
Philosophic craftsmanship had come to
that conclusion long ago, and it is COM
fort to find eunverts coming from the
ranks of sentimental fanaticism.