The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-11-04
O,,r Troubles.

Had our fclloW-citiZenSiG the H0T'h WIN
controlled the Govcrnmsnt aftersthc war
treated us diffcrcntlyA hadthey lrotec'eous
from the insults, outragcs, and ropberies OF
Strangers instead of suhjecting us to them
had they shown wisdom in reconstruction
and adopted measures nanitesting trust IN
the South rather than lie purpose OF infilct-
inc pains and penaltic, upon the southern
roon,c how different you'd have been the
no,itical situation Of The country! Section
alism would be dead so far as its controlling
power is concerned, aud real peace and har-
mony would now be in vigorous existence.
But having trihed with the best opportl'
nifty for good people ever had, and having
raised up a party consisting Of an illlterate
race, unscrupulous strangers, and unprln-
cipled ofice-hunters, to control the people OF
the South, they are driven In sell'defence to
oppose that party.
Have they good reason to oppose 1t! LOOK
at the southern governments controlled ny
the notified set put over us by the party IN
possession of the Federal Government.
Those States exhibit L wofulness of misgo-
vcrnment that is appalling to look upon.
Their treasures have been robbed, their citl.
zcns outraged, their taxes rHinously increas-
ed, their public virtue destroyed, their public
dignity substituted by disgraeeful disorder
and force, and SORROW and discomfort have
been cast over the territory like a pail.
How can the intelligent, the dccorous, the
honest part of the people in the South list
iesslv relapse into Il state of non-resiStancc if
not approval Of these horrors, these fearful
outrages upon civilization and virtue?
Thus has most llnwise if rot yindictive
party forced the intelligent people of the
South into IA position of self-defence
upon line Of color. That party is re.
sponSiblc for it. They have driven the
South to this painful extremity, and have
in that mode not only brought deep
injury upon The physical Interests OF the
South but have afflicted and oppressed
a people who are characterized hy As high
impulses in regard to all relations in life rs
any in this world, and whose devotion to
the welfare, the honor, and glory OF their
country has never been Sllrpa, scd by the peo-
pie OF any other nation in the world. And
we appeal to the history OF the nation for
proof Of this assertion. In distressing and
prosecuting such Il people-iu putting over
| them the elements Of hostility to order, pros
pcritv, and civilzaton-they have done an
almost irremcdiable wrong to the nation,
and inflicted an injury which it may take
centuries to remedy.
| Now, then, we are lighting a fight which
we cannot avoid We are as passengers
wrecked at sea, and must struggle for our
lives. The issue is sink or swim.
fthc Government continues to give coun.
tenance and support TO the elements OF de-
structiCn in the South we have described,
then it is not our fault; it is our painful
duty to 90 through the humiliation OF fight
ing these elements for the preservation Of all
we hold dear on earth
The contest is, therefore, peculiar 10 the
South. No such struggle has to be made in
any State north Of MASON e. DIXoS-a
| line which the result of Ne war should have
blottcd out, but which the party in power in
| the nation seems to lave been endearoring
| to make more and more distinct.
Let us hope for better times, however.
Let us hope that lolttude and manly dcyo-
ton to tue right in our local governments
may protect US, and that in time our fellow.
citizens may better understand the national
policy, and so direct it as 10 make Us all
brothers in decd rs in name.