The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1872-01-10
The Political ThreShiRg- Ma chine

Grantism is political disease, that
greatly resembles, il it is not identical
with, BrownlOwism. Grantism is not,
as many persons suppose, nep9tlsm.
There may be rcputism that is anti
Grant, and even when nepotism in
trenches itself in the Presidential chair
it is not SO much public or partisan
policy as it is personal attribute.
Neither is Grantism the mercina-y hux-
tering of Offices to the givers of pre-
seDts, as this is also a mere personal
characteristic. Grantism and Brown
lowism are, in their essential features,
the same, but Brownlowisn, has had de-
moniac bitterness Of language, and
Grantism has more intense selfisbness
and greed. These are their distinguish
ing features. As craftsmanship, as pub
lie policy, there is no essential differ
ence between them. Brownlow, per-
sonally, is a generous, while Grant is a
selfish man, bnt they control similar
elements. They have the same line Of
policy, and they are supported by the
same mercenaries. As statesmen, they
recognize no broad principles Of politi-
cal economy; no grand idea of conyG-
tntional liberty no great duty ofpaeify-
ing society, nor even the purpose OF
developing rapidly the resources Of the
while country. Their platform is all
expressed in this, and the affectation OF
loyalty is an excuse for every malfeas-
ance; a sanctifeation OF the gravest
crimes; justification oftrampling nm
der foot political rights and Constitn-
t;onal guarantees. They hold that
majorities should not rule in the South,
nor, indeed, anywhere if the Radical
party avows greater loyalty than any
other.
Their political creed was tersely ex-
pressed by Brownlow as that ''rebels
were entitled to 10 rights. except to be
hanged in this life, and damned in the
next" In the application Of this creed
anybody in the South who opposes ex-
IRENE Radicalism, or who does not sns-
tain its proscriptive measures, is con-
silered rebel. 1t is not unusual in
Tennessee, Mississippi aud other
Southern States to hear men who were
at one time furious C"nfederates de-
nouncing as rebels, men who fought
for the Stars and Stripes on scores OF
battle fields.
!. 1t is the pecaliarity of this partisan
patriotism that such ex-relels as Long
street, MULES. Butler, Strokes. Arpell
/ and other Southern Radical leaders de-
nounce as not sufficiently loyal men
| whose devotion to the Union never
faltered. The key to the full under
standing of the politfch situation in
the South d"es not lie. as a majority Of
the good people in the Northern States
suppose, in the outrases Of lawless
Kuklux and the efforts to suppress
them, but in the fact that the leaders
of ultra Radicalism, in nearly every
Southern State, affected intense loyalty
to cloak their past record, and resortrt
to two desperate expeilients to retain
pOntIrur I'uwer tHau tuey useu TO enrIcf
themselves. When the COnfederacy
went down, it was natural that those
should get political power who were OF
the Union side. When loyalty, rnthe!
than honesty or fitness, was made the
shibboleth to Office, hungry office-seck
ers became frantically loyal. When Il
question an officials honesty came t.
I've branded as indicating rebel sympa
thies, there were great chances to stea
and loyalty grew fat, while the debt O
every Southern States swelled TO mil.
lions in from three to FIVE years. Thi.
increase of debt enforced increased tax
alton, and when the great body o
prOperty-Owners became dissatisfied
they were considered disloyal and only
very loyal men were considered wolth
to hold Office. How they could con
time to hold Office in a republican gov
eminent in opposition to the will o
the majority OF the people became til,
problem over which the Radical Leaders
pondered. They yfinally adopted tw.
expedients, and, with varying success
have been attempting to carry then
out ever since.
The first of these was to increase til,
luminosity of blacks to Southern whit,
people and thus secure the votes of III,
blacks for very loyal fellows. The Sc
cond was, getting the support Of thu
North and of Federal authority h,
making it appear that Radical Office
holders and blacks are the only peopl,
in the South who desire law and order
To stimulate the luminosity of black.
? against Sont .ern white people Loya
Leagues were formed in all the South
ern States long before Kukluxism hat
an existence, and in these Leya
Leagues the most violent liarangnel
sowed the seeds of hatred, and strife
When these agencies led to conflicts be
tween blacks and whites and to ont