Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1872-11-09
Go to Hess Tor bargains.
The Spirit OF Discomfort.

There is lingering spirit of discon-
tent-the offspring of the late civil
war still predOminating in the
minds of few of our Southern peO-
pie. And, we are sorry to say, there
are individuals VIII, would spread dis
sension among our people at time
when they and the country are sadly
in need of repOse: The spirit of dis
content drove the Southern people
into wrong position in 1860 and
brought upon them the wcfst effects
of war that has been seriously felt
by the whole country. When Mr..
Lincoln was elected President in 1860,
now almost twelve years ago, the dis
content of Democratic leaders and
writer's, caused by a Democratic de-
feat, was made to spread in the South
err Democratic element until it was
ripe for rebellion and ready TO cOerce
the Southern States into a position
antagonistic to the federal govern
ment and the Northern, Western and
Eastern states of the Union. it is
true the Issue that resulted in the
election of Mr.. Lincoli-the extension
OF slavcry-had been raised under Mr.
| DgrliaDau's administration, and it is
also true that the spirit of discomfort
and bad blood aroused by this issue
hail shown itself long before the presi-
| DENTAL election of 1868 but shortly
after that event the discomfort of IL
section vas made to take the form of
dissension among the people of a com
mon country. And before the loyal
people of two thirds of the country
were aware of the imminent danger
that threatened it, the people of one
third .Of the country were forced into
open rebellion against the government
and its supporters. This war among
a free people living IL der a Republi-
can form of government, the best that
has ever been devised, aud in a cOun-
Try that had already gained proud
distinction among the nations of the
earth, was occasioned by desire to
strengthen and fOrtify the institution
of slavery, which had already gained
Il strong foothold in the Southern
States, and was exercising powerful
political influence that was thought to
be inimical to popular government.
When it was found that large
majority of the people living in the
free States of the American Union OPP
posed the further extension of slavery,
and cO;ild not be induced to vote for
a President who favored it, the Demo
Gratis OF the South of the Calhoun
school determined to fall back Upon
their State rights doctrine, and cause
the Southern States to secede from
the Union. Little South Carolina,
more under the domination of the
slave power than any other slave
State. was made to lead off in the
woTsI of treason and rebellion. The
spirit of discomfort and opposition to
the government of the Union had long
been nursed in this fiery little State,
that claimed to be endowed with a
supremacy as potent us the most
favored nations of the earth and
therefore she must I've honoretl With
the lead in the work OF destroying tie
peoples beat and only hope in republi-
can government. She wa. the first to
within her Jurisdiction was fired the
first gun of the war that ended not
only in humbling, but in breaking
down the arrogant slave power that |
contemplated the destruction Of popu
lar government IN America. The |
lead of South Carolina was rashly |
followed by all the slaveholding
State, and grim visaged war; took
possession of them and cursed them
with his direst consequences. In the |
attempt to extend slavery' and make
it national instead of sectional under |
the United States government, the
Democratic party was guilty of a
great crime against free government;
but when its Democratic allies in the
South attempted TO dissolve the
American Union, they made war
that aroused every patriotic heart in
the land--a war that has been such a
sad lesson to our Southernd iscontents
OF the past (the men who have labored
to breed discomfort and foment di.
visions among people Of great ard
glorious country, that the wonder is
that one should dare 10 raise his
voice at this time in an endeavOr to
renew the bitter sectional enmities of
the past. 1t is not the interests of
the South to cultivate a spirit of en-.
NIFTY TO other sections of the country.
we want to- forget the past and cult
waite the friendship of our fellow coun.
trymmen-the men OF the North, the
East and the West. We want the
friendship of the government at
TO aid us in recovering
our former prosperity. If we again