The enquirer southerner., 1874-12-25
BALTIMORE. Dec 18th. 1874,
Editor Enauirer=S Southerner

4 1<kl1LOE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES --=7saz,
As 1874 will soon pass away we cannot
more fittingiy show our appreciation of its
stay with US, than by recalling the events
it gave birth to anu must leave to US and
generations unborn, as legacies. Like its
immediate predecessor, it has been a year
of wonderful development and mighty
changes, which, if carefully studied and
fully comprehended, cannot fail to eventu-
ally bring to our troubled land much Joy
and probably sincere and lasting peace
1t began existance in dark hour and en-
robed in heavy fall, which terrific panic
too securely folded around its young life,
and though it manfully struggled to throw
off this bitter inheritance and hope some
times fattered its efforts, We must now, at
its grave, admit that all its labor was in
vain and it must go down to posterity, in
some way, darker year than 1873. Dur
ing its existence thousands of enterprises
that once carried happiness to more homes,
have passed away and left behind no ray
to urge forward those who once enjoyed
their resources. To he more specific there
never was year when the mechanical or
manufacturing enterprises of the country
were more seriously and prominently dam
aged and endangered. On every hand can
now be seen, establishments, that began
hopefully and promising with the year,
closed and ruined To many the reason
for this sudden and calanit 'us stop of ma
chinery is quandary but TO an observer
the cause is plain and the reason has just
been forcibly given by distinguished son
of New England, Genl Banks. l will
quote his words, which 1 take from re-
cent lecture in Boston and delivered to
large commercial and influential meeting:
"Tne financial and all the business en-
barras sments under which We at the North
were pressed were due to the condition of
affairs in the South, it was impossible that
a portion of the country should be in an
archy, and its 1000, 900 of people suffer
Ing an invasion of their social and political
rights, and the other portions be unaffect-
ed" ..-... -.-.. ...-. .-
No one could have more explicitly and
truly depicted the real cause of our present
great embarrassment, and l am one among
the number tnat believes the lesson of 1874,
in this line, will prove of incalculable val
ue to the entire country. The above treats
of the darkness that must ever surround the
memory of 1874, and from its considera-
ton we will turn to what the South con-
siders its exact opposite, the "Tidal Wave"
of October. In treating the political de-
velopments of 1874, l must confess that
my steps will be considerably embarrassed
i.y desire to look at them as my people
do yet with the knowledge that cannot,
exacly, do so, for cannot see in the re-
cent success of the opponents of Radical
ism all the hopes and blessings that many
believe will come with their accession to
power. Our days are being passed in
sadly corrupt age and we can never be de-
livere6 from their horrors until the people
throw off the yoke of party serfdom and
place in control uf their affairs men who
nave not worn the harness uf that political
infamy which was the outgrowth of the
war and breeds only corruption where it
touclles. We must return to old ways and
"put only patriots on guard or We will
bequeath to our posterity a land filed with
political towards and a government with
out stability, integrity or strength.
If we claim that the Democratic or Re
publican parry is now led by such men and
allow this belief to hold us for few years
more, our children will be forced to receive
from us an inherita, ce that will cost them
far more suffering than We, with one great
and horrid war, were compelled financially
to bear, and sadden bt II The CLAIMS of po-
I,icaI tyrany will be SO securely leyited
that neither they nor their children will be
allie to break or sever the woe with rivers,
nay oceans of blood. Do not think that
the events Of the year have made me skep-
teal, | am sane and write calmly for l
honestly believe every word you read, and
| tell you that unless party organized by
and for the people (who are the g"vern-
men,) elect the next president of the Uni
ed S.atcs, these days of suffering, will lie
looked lack tn as "tI e halcyon days of
yole." do not expect you, Mr.. Edit to
argue with me entirely but am conf. ent
n some of my views YOU viii Sofdt lily
sustain me. YrH know sod polt Claus
cannot lie trusted" and that "O2ly patriots
sIoull lie pnt on guard" now join with me
and by your love for country swear you
vail never rest until the first are des,ined
and tie latter placed on guard.
When this grand and good result has
been acc )mplisned freedom and peace will
bless our land and the lesson written by
tue hand of 1874, be properly appreciated.
H.