Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-11-06
our OF THE nEPrHs.

1t was the gentle Cowper who closed
a didactie pastoral with the couplet,
Bewars Of desperate steps: the darkest day
Live till to-morrow-will have passed away.
Certainly the darkest day for the
South, and the country at large, has
just passed away. The march toward
central despotism was never SO bold In
our history, as during the past few
months. Fresh and unheard of usurp-
atoms environed us on every side.
President Grant had given over one
half the country to Attorney Williams
new style of martial law. The whole
War Department had been placed At
the service of this political Attorney.
Louisiana had been strangled, and Ala.
baIua seemed doomed 10 the same
fate, while the Brooks war In Arkansas
set precedent for similar Mexican
broils IN every other State, where
partisans of the Washington ring might
seek to foist themselves on an unwill-
ing people. The National Depart
ment of Justice was turned into a Blu
reau of Outrages, to maign whole
communities and States for political eff
feet. A system of Federal surTeil-
lance was set on foot, by which every
local partisan of Grantism was made a
Deputy United State Marshal, clothed
with the nations authority to harrass
and overawe the people. Thousands of
peaceable citizens, for the crime Of dar-
ing to act as freemen, were arrested
and dragged hundreds of miles to be
tried by courts organized 70 con-
Wet. They were refused bail in many
cases where whole counties offered to
60 security. The Federal authorities
assumed cognizance of all ordinary Of
lenses, srresting innocent and guilty
alike at the behest of their politi-
cal opponents, and superseding
the State authorities. Worthy citizens
were arrested for no crime at all, as at
Shreveport, La, where hundred mer-
chants were indicted for daring to say
whom they would employ and pay
wages to out of their own pockets.
Threats of arres were freely INDUCED
IN, TO terrify those not actually modest
cd. Troops were stationed in readiness
to support the infamies of Radical ras-
Gals, and United States cavalry secured
the country side like 50 many Spanish
bloodhounds in Cuba. Not content
with investing ignorance and thriftless-
ness with the franchise, Radicalism
sought 10 force miscegenation upon US
IN school and shop, theatre and hotel
The fate of the hybrid South American
Republics opened before US with d
grim vividness. The anthorsof all this
mischief seemed almighty. The Head
Tycoon proposed to himself third
term and indefinite terms beyond.
Louisiana cried out in agony, with
none to respond. Some were heartless
enough to bid her cease her hopeless
walls. Men high in favor at the White
House began to talk of remanding the
South to the mercies of reconstruction
for another decade. Whole States
were held responsible for the crimes of
a few outlaws, which were mas.nifed a
Thousand fold. Men hoped indeed, but
they hardly dared to nurse their hopes.
We had hoped before most fondly, and
had seen the cup dashed from our very
lips by cold and apparently selfish
and imperturbable North. 1t was in
deed the darkest day that ever lowered
over the cause of freedom in this coun-
try. Again has the old adage been
verified, that the darkest hour precedes
the dawn.