The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1872-07-03

Repu6Ilc. AND the q 'esIlOn ls, "Iil
his coatinued existence smong usen-
danger its nrat on? AS long as he
was Il slave lie was bone Of CO.. n
tlon between the Aboiilionists, seek
irg to set him free ut whateeor cost,
ard the Southcrncr, insisting upon
the guarantees of the Constitution.
Then, indeed, he did endangcr the
Republic. But though he is to some
extent bone Of contention yet, 40
not sec that he il longer 4 source OF
peril. His race now constitutes Jess
than Is per cent. Of our population
With each returning census, although
the absolute number of the race may
he greater the proportion will bt
found to be less. Its numerical
strength may increase, but its relative
strength Wi. constantly diminish.
AS a cause of strife among the whites,
as Il f,rilc instrument in the hands of
designing and unscrupulous men, the
negro is certainly disturbing eie-
mcnt, but great MS are these evils. they
arc not beyond the rectitying power
of time, prudence, and patience.
Tile tonanexs Of mankind to uaS, and
'Adr lous Of militfry t"me, is another
evil, which, according to the speaker.
will cndangcr the future of the Re
public, but which she will likely be
able to survive. With rg,ad to the
prejudlces and passions, which were
engendered by the late war, he holds
that they must give way in tho end
TO the lapse of time. lie says:
ut is not uncommon to hear the
remark that the passions and prcju-
diccs excited by the late civil war
will long endure, and cannot fail to
impcril the Union. This is not the
time or the place to discuss that war
Indeed, many years must elapse be.
fore impartial and philosophic history
will do exact justice to the actors il
that mighty scene. But this much
may now be safely affirmed, that i
the North believed, as it did, tha'
right was on its side in euppressing
what it regarded as a rebellion, the
South had equal confidence in the
Justice of her eaase. For four long
and weary years, against the most
,arfuI odds, and in the midst of pri-
va,iou and suffering that might have
appallcd tho stoutcst heart, her peo.
pic upheld that cause with hcroiSm
and tortitude never surpassed. L"
doubt their sincerity in the face OF
this fact, is simply to shut ones eyer
to tic truth. Tt' heap unmeritcd re-
proache: upon them is to disregard
the plainest maxims Of wisdom, char.
lily and justice. 1t is doubtless true
that tho great features Of the struggle
will meyer be forgotten. Tho influ-
cnce Cf u contest that placed America
in the front rank Of the warli'le ma
tions of the earth; that developed
characters, whcse names can never
lpass in,o oblivion; that made many a
battlefield heroic ground to be revcr-
cntialy troddcn by the feet of pit.
grims from age to age, cannot Q
efaced in q day. But, unless all !. E,
tory teaches Il lesson that is false, |, Z
bitterness Of feeling cngcndcrcd by
the strife will pass away; and cease to
Ishap, the condact of men,
The Senator next cnumcratcs tlat
which lie regards the greatest Of ali
the dangers which threaten the dura-
ton Of the Republic-thc tendency q
ccnralzaiion,- aud this he discusses
most cluborately.
The causes which are bringing
about this consolidation of power are
clearly stated, and the fatal result
plainly set forth. Among these CEN
:ral;zing agencies which the speaker
eIumeratos. are commerce, railroads.
and the telegraph; all ignoring state
ines, and inv oking the aid of the
General Government TO further their
interests-thc metropolitan press
the more rapid increase Of the urban
than Of the rural population. In the
opinion of-the speaker, this centrali-
zatiou, if accomplished, will moi
only imperil, but destroy the Repub-
lie Our country with its wide extent
of territory, and varied interests, re-
quires system Of State Governments
exercising all the powers of local leg
is.ation. A concentration of all pow.
CT at Washington would make the
Government the most corrupt under
the sun. -.
MERiTED HoNoR.-Tho Rev. J. L.
Martin, the esteemed pastor Of the
Presbyterian church here, has rcceiv-