The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-10-14
Time TO be Generous to the South.

New, 1t seems to me that the time las
como when We, who have been generous
as well as Just to the blacks Of the South,
should begin to be generous, or, at least,
Just to the whites Of tho South. ZAP
plause.) They arc our enemies no longer.
They did oppose the measures which we
deemed necessary to the public safety and
well being, but these measures were
carried and they no longer oppose them.
They, through tile Democratic National
Convention at Baltimore in July last, gave
m authentic expression of their senti.
ments. They said: "Wo accept tho re-
suits Of the war. We accept EmanciPA.
ton. We utterly repudlate that the
slaves are to bO paid for, or the Rebel
debt paid, or anything like this. We ask
only 10 he admitted on the common plat
form of American citizenship, standing
there equal with those who were once
our slaves, equal with you who were once
and are now again our cOuntrymcn." l
think that the offer ought to be accepted,
I think that tho Northern people, who
fought against them, who vanquishcd
them, can now afford to be generous and
can now unite with them under one flag,
with one law for rich and poor, white
and black, and we Of tho North will re-
member what is good and Just and graft.
flying in the past, and will clasp hands
with our late enemies, now our country.
men, In genuine, in hearty and fraternal
union, Those were my sentiments. You
have heard them in tho past. You know
how often they have been exposed to
bitter hostility from old friends. ATen
could not see that my efforts to go bail
for Jefferson Davis had nothing to do with
him; llc was but one man. It WINS m
overture to the white Southern people.
There were millions Of men who felt that
act as kindness to their section. For
their sake deemed It wise to do as l did.
And SO on other occasions like this.
Before three days had passed after the
surrender of Lees armies, was pleading
with my Northern brethren to forbear.
| told them, "You will make q great mis-
take II you stain your victory with one
drop Of blood" "a gentleman here whis.
pered to Mr.. Greeley that the train wonld
start in five lninutes.) Since 1 have but
five minutes more let nc improve them To
this purpose. You see men all around
me who say | shall he defeated, but | can
not be defeated. may not succeed as
candidate, but the effort 1 am making to
bring this people into more trusting re-
latiens with each other cannot fail 1t
must succeed. This day men are on the
stump all over the country trying to prove
that Grant has been more magnAuimous
toward the Southen States than have
been. don't want to contradict that;
want the two parties running the race
to sec which can be the most magnani-
nous and generous Suppose am
beaten. They cannot go back on the
record I have made any more than the
record which the party made at Baltimore.
If were beaten tomorrow you would
find them coming in next Winter with
bill OF nearly universal amnesty. SO
then in q few years we will drag them up
to It. Do your dtty, therefore, citizens
of Pennsylvania. Do whatever you think
right and best. l believe that out Of all
this strife aud contention, this bitterness
and prescription, a divine providence Is
working out benifceut and glorious ends
for the future Of our whole country
Horace Greeley