The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-07-17
The Southern States.
From DIR, Holland In seribner.l

Has the government policy In its
treatment OF the reconstructed Staiesl
Has II had policy siuce the close OF
The war! IL IL has one, aud has had
one Is II not about time IL were chang
ed! II the present condition of these
States is in any respect the fruits OF
that policy, have we not had enough OF
| IL! Men of common sense aud CON-
mon honesty learn BY experience, aud
try 10 realize In practice what they
learn.
The Confederate States, or those
which called themselves such during
the civil war, have passed through u
political, social. aud industrial revolu-
ton. They were left at the close Of the
war utterly poor, with their industrial
forces and IN ichiuory DESTROYED, with
new political element TO be assimilated
or amalgamated, their political institu-
tious TO be reconstructed, and their old
political relations 10 the Union 10 DO
renewed They needed In this tremen-
dious emergency, the wisest and most
considerate iaea.ment. We have moth
ing to do with the question whether
they had sinned. aud deserved punish
ment. We are not called upon TO de-
eide whether, In the great disasters and
trials that have followed the war, they
have received only just retribution.
We have claimed that they belonged TO
tho Union. We fought for the Union,
and the re.establishmcnt Of the old re-
atons; and the moment the military
power of the Conlederacy was crushed,
4. lo huai,,aas ar
In the kindnest, firmest, most sympa-
,hetic aud most generous way, TO ro-
claim their afloclionate LOYALTY. Has
the government done IL? Has II tried
10 do il? South Carolina, Louisiana,
Texas aud Arkansas have an answer 10
Tho question, which Is pretty well
known Throughout. the Union.
In some Of the Southern States con-
di,ion approaching absolute anarchy
exists. Car1et-baggers, leading a host
of black aud ignorant men are, In two
or three Of those, pitted against the resi-
dent whites, on whose intelligence aud
loyalty tho future welfare of those States
depends. In others, u rebellion against
this state Of things has taken place,
which drives two.thirds Of the black
vote from The polls. Taxes are heavy,
and are too often absorbed by the cor
rupt schemes Of politicians. Men are
not only discouraged, but arc full Of tho
bitterness that comes from oppression.
They feel That they are wrongcd, that
they have no future, that they cannot
protect themselves, that the general
government does not and will not pro-
lect them, aud that nothing but death
or voluntary exile will give them
relief.
TO say that the national government
cannot constiiutionally help this state
of things, is TO acknowledge that tho
doctrine Of State rights, in whose name,
and by whose authority the Southern
Slales strove TO throw Off the national
rule, Is sound one. Tho national
government can help it, and ought to
have helped il long ago. by The au-
ihcrity of constitution which guarau-
tics Republican form OF government
to every Stale, and 1t could have pro-
tected the ballot-boxes Of every State,
and prevented mob from usurping
that form Of government. A mob is
not Republican form Of government.
No government is Republican, even In
It's form, whose balIot.box is not access
siblc 10 every voier, aud Is not preserv-
ed inviolabe from all corruption. No
government is Republican. even in form,
that Is controlled by mcrcenary alions.---
There are q half dozen States whose
governments have ceased 10 be Republi-
can, even ia form, when we come down
10 anything like strict definition Of tho
phrase. And these States, or some OF
hem have appealed TO the President,
again aud again, for help, 10 decide tho
questions which their conflicts have in
volved, and appealed iD vain. Why,
any policy, that would involve decis-
ion, would DO better than none, Arc
neciue slriGes? Give them military
government, until they are ready TO
govern themselves harmonionsly. They
would thrive and be happy under such
government because they would DO
protected. They eau have no prosperity
until they are, politically, at rest. Does
any one doubt, in The light which the
present state OF things throws upon tho
question, that military government, In n
half dozen States that might DO mention
ed, would have saved those States from
untold miseries, and advanced them in-
calculably further towards a sound re-
construction than they stand to-day? ls
our national government no.hingp IL
our Union without power? IL itcannot
control these State striCos, that In ono
State, at least, have gone on TO blood
she'd. we are at n loss TO know OF what
particular use II is. aud we cannot blame
The people Of the South for regarding
1t with q sentiment moro bitter than
contempt