American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-05-30
The Political Acorn.

1t is undeniable that at times in the
history Of every people, from the sim
plest and most insignificant causes, the
greatest events result. In the South this
truth has been verified by sad and bitter
experience. The ambition of a few indi-
viduals, as in Arkansas and Louisiana,
has been the acorn from which has sprung
a tree overshadOwing with political evil
the people of those States; the upas plant
indeed, whose poisonous breath has blast
ed agriculture, paralyZed trade and bust
ness, and left in the place of settled and
established government licentious license
and wide spread anarchy.
A few political Adventures in the South
have been the active agen' in producing,
if not the sole Cause of, the Iliad of woes
the people of these two States are endur
ing. In the beg inning of these political
agItatiOns very few white men were iden
titled with Republican politics; still fewer
were noticeable at political meetings, as
the directors and controllers of recently
eniranchised political sentiment But
these few even got Office, and the influ
ence of their evil example bred contagion
through communities disorganized by the
war. Partisans tlocked to their standards
and they in time became chiefs with fol
lowers TOO. Official preferment begot Il
lust for spoils, which the revenues of Il
Stale were unable to satisfy. or course
al pretended to be working for the gen
eral good and the particular advancement
of the colored man persitidge became the
armor OF stealth, and patriotic pretension
the unfailing indication of an intention to
rob. How the South was despOiled it is
useless to relate The impoverished con-
dition of the people shows more etfectually
than words how thoroughly it has been
done. But robbery and spoliation do not
close the catalogue of evils they have
brought about Disasters of another
kind followed quick In the wake of
plumber and oppression. In an effect
ual struggle to regain control of their
domestic affairs the people of Lou
siana encountered Federal bayo-
nets, the menacing guardians of
the Adventures who despoiled and plum
dered her people. Whether these men
had the faculty of making the worse APP
pear the better part, or whether the policy
of the Federal Government is identified
with their success, it is impossible TO say.
ANY wa, they were sustained by it; and
Louisiana has retired disheartened from
the contest.
Arkansas, however, has not been dis
posed TO yield without a struggle. Fortu-
nately for her perhaps the quarrel began
in the Republican party. Possibly to this
circumstance she owes the prospect OF
controlling her own affairs. But the
troubles she is passing through are none
the less on that account the creation Of
Radical excuses. But for the horde of
adventures that tlocked across her Dor
ders IN the early days of peace her gov,
eminent would now he peaceful, and
political aglIations would not have stilre
up to bloudshed and riot her quiet and
orderly ciuIZeIs.
Whether ii is called the policy of recon
s1ructiun OF the adventurous spirit OF in
divldual malcOntents, the baleful effect
upon The prosperity and the business in
ter, SIS of these STAGES has been the same.
They have been thrown back in the race
of progress Il quarter of century No
man living can fix a period when the evil
consequences OF these troubles will cease
to perpicx The broken commerce anu
stunted prosperity OF communities aid
dcted to trade cry ont against the evil
doors. The generation just coming into
life will incur the burdens and share Ill
the distrcsses that will be left rs Radl-
cal legacy for years to come, even If we
are approaching Il period when agitation
and dismay will cease. If, however, these
sad experiences constitute an eXamp pie
and warning to the other States, they have
not been in vain. 1t is, nevertheless, like
ly to be the only good that can be ex-
tracled from Radical rule in the South
st. Louis Repu6lican, May IA.
About eleven O'Clock one night a
policeman met negro carrying trunk
along the street, and, thinking he had dis
covered an item, he collared the negro
and told him to drop that trunk and eX-
plain. Il kin do it, sah," replied the
stranger as he put the trunk down. DE
family what was boarding me has been
axing for money, and rs dey was gwyne
out tonight | thought I'd gil into some
family whar dey respected de panic" He
was allowed to go on.