Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-07-26

dent had the confidence of the country in advance
greatness of the task to be performed well of
the posi- bities presented, could scarcely fail to
to be the epTy Of the World was within reach II
ld not require very great men to see and appreciate
such opportunities but II required what might call
three years of that Administration now behind
as part of the history of the Republic and what has
come of our hopesf disappointment which
makes further hope appear like mOckery This Ad-
ministration, which commenced its career under such
oped some of the very worst tendencies of pOt-
ica life that its continuance in authority appears as
danger and menace to free Institutions. In no
period of history perhaps has the selshness of
power ana the grasplng greed OF party stood more
way of manifest duty. Let us take a survey of the
field and trust to the evidence of our senses
THE FIRST DIFFERENTIATION OF THE SOUTH
The first great object of policy should have
been to renaonalize the South to revive among the
Southern people feelings calculated to attach their
hearts again to the fortunes of this Union For let
not indulge in the deluson that the holding to-
gether by force of its component parts is o basis
upon which a Republic can safely rest or long en-
dure. 1t requires that bond which binds together
the hearts of the people, and not their bodies only
and to create that bond was fOrus the highest OBJ
lect of statesmanship. We read of King Frederick
Great, that he was fond of occasionally eudgeling
such of his subjects as dspleased him. One day
huITiedly turn corner at his approach The King
overlook him, and asked Why did you run away
L
esty,' replied the trembling burgher. "'Well, you
rascal, said the King, do you know that l want
my subjects to love and not to fear I" And to
produce that love he gave him a sound drubbing
Such methods of creating sentimental attachment
sa y nay4 passed mo more tnan century ago IN de
not inspired by caresses of that kind, and in
Prussia they have long since come to the conclusion
that It requires very different methods to build up
and hold together great empire. In order to re-
viye patriotic feeling and national attachment in
the South. we had to convince the people that we
their friends and not their cOnquerors only;
that we had their welfare at heart aud not adj
vantage. Olly when we made them believe in the
purity and unseltishness of intentions could
hope TO regain their affections Let see what
done by the Administration and the ruling party
ROBBERY AND RUINoUs NusGOvERNMENT ENCoUR-
AGED IN THE SOUTH.
The great social revolution grown out of the war
had resulted by logical necessity, in the enfran-
ehisement of the colored people. Only by the
else of political rights the free laborer maintain
his independence; but the colored voters untUtored
and inexperienced, fell under the leadership of
| scrupulous adventures. l do not say that this
coud have been entirely prevented. Ii was one OF
the usual consequences of great social revolutions,
but Its effects might well have been limited IN time
and extent by wise policy. As 1t was system OF
| robbery and ruinous misgovernment ensued when
has hardly parallel IN history Most 81 those states
We're with incredible rapdity burdened with enoT-
nous debts without any equivalent. Scores OF mli-
lions disappeared, If by magic IN the capaclous
darkness of private pockets. Impoverished as those
| States were by war; they were now stripped naked.
| The public expenses became absurdlY extravaganza;
| the taxes unbearable. Under such loads industry
was discouraged ndflagged. Enterprise sank down
with hopeless despair. Production diminished, and
incredible as may SEEM while the rest of the
try progressing prosper0usly the value OF real
property in many of those States appeared in the
census of 1870 after five years of peace far below the
| figures exhibited by the census of 1861 Such have
been the effects of sO-called carpet-bag government
! in the South. Who responsible for this Those
! governments were and ut this moment carried
in the name and under the auspices of the Repub
ican party. 1t was through them that the Southern
people felt the touch of degrading power. 1t IN
| them that they saw the spirit working. Was that
| impression wrong Consider Impartlauy what rea-
| SONS they had for it.
| DIsFRANCHIsENIENT AND ITS CONSEQUENCES.
While the most reckless and rapacious of political
| bloodsuckers were thus plundering those communl-
ties a system of political disabilities was maintained
| which excluded a large number of the intelligent
and property-hOlding men from eligibility to
| Office and thus from active participation in the
administration of public affairs. A large number
| of those who had the greatest stake in good gov
! eminent thus told that il was no business of
| theirs. While iii this way the side the work
OF the punderers facilitated it not wonder
| full that on the other the summons Won shall love
! this Government did not meet with enthusiastic re-
Spouse. Iheremova OF political disabilities, although
studousy put off until it could longer be denied
| aye, until the Cincinnati Convention had shown
that the question could be trilled with no longer
| and when amnesty was granted il was done with
| such useless restrictions and with such grudging
grace as to make it appear that those who gave il
| would much rather have withheld it. 1t was simply
| the first victory ofthe Cincinnati movement. Look
over the legislation of Congress touching the late
| bayonet law, the ku-Klux law. they now
present themselves in retrospective view.
| apparently good. Grave disorders had occurred in
the South. Voters had been teTrouzcd in the excr-
sons had been cruelty prosecuted, oppressed, NAL
! treated, killed by organized bands OF marauders.
| The laws Jsp0ke OF We're OStensbF intended to
protect the rights of citizens and to repress such
disorder WelEmeaning persons, to whom even
when opposing the passage of those laws always
gave credit for good intentions, were drawn into
their support by their generous sympates for those
character of those laws, what their effect and what
the secret aim Of some of the master spirits who
ing the rights OF some, break down the bulwarks of
the citizens against arbitrary authority, and by
transgressing all CONSTITUTIONAL limits OF power
endangeT the rights OF all. Not only did they
awaken In the breasts OF many, however well dis
posed, the grave apprehension that government OF
ruling party assuming SO mueh would stop at moth
ing but such measures served directly to sustain in
power the very Adventures who, bytheir revolving
system of plumber were violently keeping alive the
spirit of disorder which that legislation to re-
press. Some of the very worst of that thievine
Congress, bawling and pressing for the extremes
measures, with no other view but that every sucf
power, and extend their freedom to steal.
THE LAWS CONVERTED INTO INSTRUMENTS OF
| TYRANNY.
| How much they care about the protection of the
rights of citizens and the lives of innocent persons
do not know. But am certain that they value sucl
laws especially a political machinery to contro
ballot-boxes as securing extension of their plum
dering license. How will these laws serve that pur
pose? You will learn by studying the history of thu
South during the last few years. have been in
| formed that at this moment in a certain part o.
North Carolina, over 500 indictments found in som'
| way under that legislation are held by the United
States authorities In tervorem the heads of 81
many voters and their friends to make them yot
| and exert their influence at the impending Stat
election the managers of the Grant party direct
1t is thus that the ruling party makes itself felt il
those States. 1t is in this light that the majesty
the National Government appears to those people
not as friend to lift them up from their prestra
tiOn. to guide them out of their with gener