Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1872-01-03
Amnesty for the South,

/ Il
possible again to postpone action on il
without immediate and visible ruinous
consequences; yet overy consideration
Of patriotism and craftsmanship do
mands that action be taken.
At present, large number oil tho.
Southern peoplc,--the class who ia.
any way aided tho rebellion, after
taking oath to support tho national
government,--a excluded from al
political office. Whatever necessity
may ever have seemed 10 exist for
this exclusion has passed away. All
experience goes TO show that IL was
originally u mistake The danger
which it was aimed against had already
ceased TO exist. There was never any
danger of new rebellion, after Lee
surrendered. 1t was wholly needles.
to provide additional security BY dis.
Embellishments and exclusions. And
| if the idea was ever entertained that
these measures would be useful as on.
forcing lesson on the South, events
have dissipated any such notion. Re-
senled as AN injustice, they have only
intensified in the class they were aim.
ed at the sense Of being deeply
wrongcd people. The whole policy
of political punishment of the South
has failed to answer one good end.
But it has been powerful to work
evil 1t has been the most effective
agent against that union Of feeling
which became the nations supreme
need after external union had been
won by the sword
1t is not enough that tho stars ard
stripes should wave over Richmoad
and Charleston The flag ought to be
the symbol to all who look upon it
there OF what they respect and love.
1t is not enough that tho Union as.
scrts its authority and gives its pro.
lection throughout tic South We
need to have The Carolinain and tho
Louisianain as proud of being Amer.
cans us tho men of Now York and
Illinois. And the South itself 50:
premely needs hat its different classes
should sincerely respect each others
rights, and feel in their common citi.
zenship a bond Of sympathy.
How wide OF this arc the actual
facts needs no telling. The old white
population Of the South is in part sui.
lcnly Indifferent, in part bitterly re.
senlful, toward the rest of the Union.
The blacks and whites arc in two hos.
tile camps, mutually distruslfui, hurt.
ing their common interests through
malice and through ignorance. On
one side we have the hu Klux, on the
other corrupt and demoralized State
governments The devastations Of
the war, and the III adjustments of y
new social stale, arc aggravated in
their consequences by these embitter.
ments of feeling
The causes OF this deplorable state
Of things lie in part too deep for any
treatment but that Of time; in part
educational agencies are removing
them but willie the national govern.
ment leayes n grievous wound uH.
tended which it might heal, the gov.
ernment, and we whom it represents,
are guilty parties in the matter.
Realize the position of the average
Southerner. lie secs all around him
men respected and honored by the
community, the old leaders in politics
and society, marked with q stina of
political disability, They cannot go
to the Legislature, they cannot cit as
Judges on the bench. This, for their
support of cause which he himsolf
supported and probably still believes
was a good one. This, too, while men
just out of tho degradation OF slavery,
and worthless white adventures, have
places OF honor aud trust open Ia
them. Is il in human nature that n
man who sees and feels these things
should not be eXasperatcd by them Z
Is IL in human nature that he should
not be more cmbittered by such treat.
mcnt after defeat, than by defeat itself
10 the open field Can we altogether
wonder that he is somewhat careless
as to the ncgro's rights, whom tho
power that maintains the negro in.
diets what he considers grievous
wrong on him? We do not say that
this average Southcrnor is right in ALI
his rcasonings we do not say that his
sentiments or actions are according 10
the highest christian standard. But
we do say that they are according to
the standard of ordinary human na.
ture; aud that the government tha,
will not recognize and address itself
to such facts in human nature does not
know how to govern.
We say, then, let us have done with
punishing The South. Let us no long
cr humiliate those who have had SO
many humiliatious. Esnot the nation
strong enough 10 risk the admission
of these men tofull privileges Arc
we not f0rgiying enough TO have dono
with the ineic.ion oil pains and penal.
| ties Are we not wiso euough to
cease trying to promote peaco by -
lpolicy Of evaporation
| We ogn never SGT to the root oftbo
| Ku Klux trouble, we can never re.
store tho South 10 prosperity and
weld il in union of heart with the rest
Of tho nation, simply by measures OF
repression. There is work OF mag,
nanimily and trust 10 be done as we'll,
and it is full time that the work was
wrought.
Tho great measure should not bo
maTcd By any reservations and exac.
tions. If ivo hundred or fifty or
five men are singled out to remain
under tho ban, the practical benefit OF
the measure will DO greatly impaired.
We want to speak 10 tho Southern
people message OF free and fearless
good will 1t can only bear that mes.
sage effectively as it isunqualiied and
ubsoluiein It's terms - C6riSfida Union.
Coon MANNERs Young ioI'is should
be mannerIy. How to be so, is the
question. Mauy q good girl and boy
feel that they can't behave TO suit
Isf. 4. Al. 4