The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-12-05
The Attitude OF President Grant To-
wards the South.

The Attitude OF President Grant To-
wards the South.
The omission In the Presidents message
OF any enunciatlon of the policy proposed to
be pursued In dealing with the affairs OF the
Southern States has attracted considerable
attention; but it may be remarked, that
any reference to Federal politics, as such,
is, also, conspicuously absent. There was
some expectation that allusion would be
made to the campaign which ended in Presi-
dent Grants reelection, and that the occa-
sion would be seized Of anlmadvertlng upon
the material injury done the South by bad
government and ignorant and vicious legis-
lation. Upon this fruitful topic not a word
is said; nor are the s'wards Of the nation"
favored with 60 much as a passing notice.
It cannot be supposed that President
Grants reticsnce upon these points is owing
to indecislon or timidity; these are weak
nesses which General Grant does not pos
sess, his character leading him, on the con-
trary, to quick, II crude, resolves, and to a
logged perseverance in walking in whatever
path he may have chosen. Some other ex-
PLANTATION OF President Grants studious
avoidance or political and sectional ques-
tions must be sought; and we are inclined
to attribute his reticence to a wise determi-
nation to deal with the country as a whole,
without distinction OF latitude, and to treat
the whole people as citizens OF the Union,
without distinction dissection or ofrace. This
view fs measurably confirmed by the fact
that aver in his remarks upon Ku-Kluxism
President Grant does not name either North
or South, whites or blacks. The Ku-Klux
are simply spoken OF as RECKLESS and law
sless men," who shave associated them
sselves together in some localities 70 de-
"prive other citizens OF the rights guaran-
"teed to them by the Constitution OF the
s.United States" And that The President
is able, upon occasion, to rise above per-
sonal feeling and party prejudice is shown
by his presence at the funeral OF his great
rival and antagonist-Horace Greeley. 1t Is
not we'll to be over-sanguine; but we con.
fess that what is absent from the message
is paradoxically a cheering indication that
the Federal Government will deal justly
with us. President Grant gives the South
no warm assurances that he will aid In its
publication and development; but there are
no spiteful filings at "the rebels" no fulsome
praises OF the negro, no laudstions OF the
North at the expense Of the South. A Rip
Van Wlnkle, who had snoozed for a decade
and a half, would not be able to gather from
any passage la the Presidents message
save, perhaps, from its financial explana-
tions-that a bloody war had ragged for four
years between two sections OF the Union.
What The NEWS has asked for, from the
Federal Government, is Justice and Fair
play. It has been the habit OF the victorious
North to treat the Southern people as though
they were dogs and slaves. The Southern
people nave been distrnsted and villiHed,
an6 the solemn word OF a white man, south
OF the Potomac, has had less weight than
the chuckle or jeer Of o negro. This con-
duct has been encouraged by the individual
members OF the government, especially Of
It's legislative branch, and while 1t continues
the country cannot be united In feeling and
Ia purpose. The South does not expect that
the President will overthrow the govern
ments OF which the Southern whites com
plain. That would be Inconsistent with the
right OF The people Of the States to conuuct
their own affairs without the interference OF
the General Government. The people OF the
South know that they must work out their
salvation OF the ballot-box, and they can do
it, consistently with the rights OF every class
OF citizens, II the General Government will
stand of, and make its officials mind their
own business. In other words, it ia demand
ed that the Southerner be recognized az an
American, and that it be shown In practice
that all Americans have precisely the same
rights and privileges, whether they hail from
Georgia or California, from Michigan or the
Carolinas. Aud upon the message OF Pres
ident Grant we put the Interpretation that
there shall be no longer a South or a North,
in the heart and brain OF the Chief Magis-
trate, and that legislation, OF every kind,
shall be directed to the benefit and advance
ment OF the whole Union. Time will show
whether this view is correct, aud whether, II
correct, the President can persuade or drive
his political lle%utenants into adopting the
policy which he marks out for himself.
One thing is certain-If President Grant has
made up his mind to give the South a fair
showing, the Camerons and Mortons and
Conklings will never be able to bend him q
hairs breadth from his course.