The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1872-04-17
The Civilization Of the South

We find in the New York Tribune
the most impressive and appalling con-
fession of Radical misrule and incapaci
ty we have yet heard or seen. 1t is
impressive, TOO, in the singular vigor
of its 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 Re-
publican party, says:
eve have done nearly all that can
be done by legislation for the recon
struction of the Southern States; but
there is crying necessity for some
thing more. When we restored the
broken machinery of political admins
tration we only began the task. Civil
cation does not necessarily follow the
ballot and the right Of representative
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 Pc
culiar difficulties to face in the South
ern States. The white population as
J body was debarred from participa-
ton in labor Degeneration, and not
! disposed to cooperate cordially in
Northern philanthropic efforts.
} s'Nearly four millions of newly
emancipated colored people had to be
raised from the condition of slavery,
: ignorance, and absolute dependence
| upon their masters, to the dignity of
, independent citizens and voters. 1t
was upon them practically that We at
, tempted to build the new political
] structure. The situation was dis
Q couraging, but unavoidable; and it is
3 no wonder that the edifice founded
t upon ignorance and social degradation
t has disappointed the hopes of the san
guine. In some respects the blacks
, have used their new powers wisely. As
l people they have grown in manliness
of character, and in many parts of the
e country they have improved in habits
a of industry and in material prosperity
"Generally speaking, they have
a learned how to protect their persona
: and political rights. But 10 the intoxi
s cation of sudden political enfranchise
: ment, they have fallen victims to al
= Infamous horde of adventures from
:, the Northern States whose robberie'
d they lack the sagacity, and perhaps
b the instinct of responsibility, to pre-
IS vent. The sfnewdcr and more un
It scrupulous of their own people hav'
d Joined hands with these thicving car
'e pet-baggers, and the result is a reigl
1t of corruption and oppression entirel.
'e without parallel in the history of tn
II United States. One after another tn
70 unfortunate communities seem to b
re rushing into bankruptcy. Whateve
< little conscience may have now an
re then shown itself there in the manage
70 ment of public affairs, is fast becomin
D. extinguished. Aud, as it always hap
Mt pens, the rasca]ity of the rulers react
as upon the people, so that politically tn
IN whole country is lapsing into demoral
m cation.
as "The whites are doing nothing
- arrest this downward course. Many ,
y them are only a little less ignorai
q. "a. that the freedmen, and certainly lei
~ ambitious. The better class are SCI
w arated from their former slaves by
great gulf, which the infamies of ca
nc pet-bag rule and the absurd withhold
81 ing of amnesty are daily making wider
en This is longer except than we a
GU in the habit of making, but the tempt
gu ton is irresistible, for no word of GU
-, could more eloquently tell the tale
-, woe or enforce the realization of Il
,so forecast of Democracy before and
the time the deed of folly and of wrol
nd was done-that wrong being, as
,u- here admitted, "the raising to the di
w. nifty of Independent citizens al
ut voters" of a mass of semi barbara
we half-civilized incapables-building
is "the foundation of ignorance and 6
her cial degradation" If there be mea
,de ing in words, and in his there is alwa
ual a good deal, Mr.. Greeley, persiste
yer and enthusiastic emancipationist a
social equality man, mourns, in bite
ness OF spirit, over what was done,
:. at least the way it was done. Philos
of phic statesmanship had come to I'll
on conclusion long ago, and it is CO
me fort to find converts coming from I
Elk ranks of sentimental fanatics
Il Washington Patriot.
- A MANASSAS HERo.-General ]
n a NoConIr Vvoo ekorI;no. Tho Cbocp,