The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-11-23
s. G..
saturlsy taKninEr rNoTember %. 1872
The Policy or. .Reoonciliatlon.

Satur1sy A"Kntnk FNoFember rs. l872.
Tho Policy Of. f.RsconciliatIon.
The skies are clearing up. Prospects
appear brighter. II begins to look as If
che policy. Of Gen. Grsnt's second term
will be really more friendly toward the
Sonth, and more conservative in its
geheE4! character. The overwhelming
success OF the party of the Administra-
tiqn in the late election, aided as it was
largely By Southern vo..5s, ass a1sasaT-
ably obliterated the lines of sectional di.
vision. and lifted the Government to the
firm ground Of being q Government for
the whole people, A very sensible effect
upon it lis apparent. We hope it may be
casting. ! Il 10 Iaoiiiied, and being in q
better mood Of feeling, aud enjoying nov
an ,unobstruoted view Of things. will be
able to see more clearly, il not the wrongs
OF tae past. at least it's own better course
in thefuture. The real condition of our
oppressed Southern States being thus
fairly embraced in the horizon Of govern.
mental observation, may properly come
within its scope for remedy and relief.
We are promised new line Of policy,
and q larger measure of confidence.
The policy OF the Cincinnati platform,
Bhile it failed to elect Mr.. Greeley as it's
exponent and advocate, struck its roots
. deep into the consciousness of the
'>conntry, as just and humane. and essen.
.tiM 10 the preservation of the rights
and liberties OF the Southern people.
The whole canvass taught this one thing
-as OF vital consequence and pressing ne.
cuessity. General Grant seems not un-
s.mindfulo OF it's lessons, and proposes to
meet it's requirements by modification,
or repeal Of the most odious of the ku
Klu1 laws. by .oblitekation of the 1igors
of martial law. and ny abandonment uf
.she. Suspicious. distrustful and harsh
regime Of the past. He con see now in
the light Of events, and by the blaze OF
success, what WAS plain enough before
to'6arofui observation, that life and pro-
!perty are secure here, that nowhere has
'tfesdoaa Of opinion more welcome than
,here, that submission to the Government
is normal and regular, aud that the
Southern communities, if they are any
aonger to constitute States OF the Union
and be parts Of the Government, must,
in some way, soon be delivered from the
body Of death to which they have been
80 unhappily Joined.
Fonr gears Of war, and seven years
OF delusive peace and OF bungling politi-
zeal reconstruction worse than war, are
surely enough. It is time the sore was
healed, aud the scandal hushed. What.
ever Of opposition on either side may ex-
ist, should oeiase. The South mas uc-
cepted the amendments aud acquiesced
in the measures of reconstruction, and
Graves final settlement and lasting
peace. The Government has no longer
any excuse, nor, let us hope, any dispo-
sition. to look unkindly upon her. All
the possible political objects hinging
upon bitter and sectional opposition to
::::s@ rehabilitation oi :he Svutn, naye
either been gained already, or are now
ont OF reach, hopeless and useless. The
Administration, riding the topmost wave
of national success, can, without COM
promise, do justice to maligned and
greatly injured section, and bring har-
mony to the whole land. It is an
achievement worthy OF General Grants
highest ambition, before whose laurels
those gained at Appomatto1 Court
House will pale and wither. Tho
victories OF peace, no less renowned
than those of war, are within his grasp.
Let kim lead another campaign and win
them. He has but to show the same
spirit which he displayed to Gen. Lee at
the surrender Of the Confederate forces.
He was then magnanimous. Let him
'be inst to the Southern States now. His
natural inclinatjons seem kind. When
he made his report on the condition OF
the Southern States, his tone was friend
~ as his report was truthful, Unhap-