The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-10-19
Southern Troubles and the Pros
poets of Reconstruction.
New York Herald.

| new iofh HeThiu.
II the Southern States were In con
dition OF absolute tranquility, II th,
equilibrium between the two races wa,
maintained justly, and life. properi,
aud respects for right were assured, a,
they are in well-governcd cities, thes,
facts would be without parallel in the
history Of humanity. Where has il
ever happened that, with the social
foundations broken up by war which
desolsted every fireside. with millions
of slaves. not merely made free but en-.
dowed wi h political rights, of whose
limitations they could have but vague
comprehension; with the enfrsnchiscd
class favored by the protection and
countenance of the conqaeror, whose
generosity 10 60 far sbased by his fnnc.
tiobsries that he bec0mes an oppressor
where with these elements has il ever
happened that tho people bsva taken
their places again In the new order
with such good will. such content, such
acceptance Of incslcnlable changes as
10 leave nothing further in that way 20
be desired? II has never happened end
never will happen while nen are affect
ed bv the common human emotion and
passions. Furthermore, we do not be-
licve II has ever yet happened In the
world tha: a people accepted the hard
consequences OF disastrous defeat
with even so much OF heroic patience
as has been shown by our people in the
Southern States.
So FAR, therefore. from seeing any just
cause for surprise In the occasional
ebullitions OF fury that disturb the
South, the greater reason for wonder Is
that such events are the exception ia
the general condition; tha, the people
with such widespead unanimi,y, have
returned to their everyday life, to the
occupations and pursuits Of peace. and
that the restoration Of order aud indus.
try measured by production 10 well
nigh complete, and that crimes are nc
greater in number and no worse IN
character than rum ani idleness will
account Cor in any community equal,
free. One might fancy from the atti
tude the government assumes when II
hears of a Southern riOt--and IL never
hears of such an event save with the
characteristic exaggeration of the po'
li,cal adveuinrers with whom II Ia af,
tilia,ed-that II expected the energetic
ant hot.tempered people Of the South
ern States 10 assume, in the presenc,
Of spprehended outrage, the placid de-
meanor of a procession of little SUNDAY
school sainte brought up to receive
the gift in each Fat little hand Of a uice
orange and pretty picture. But gov
ernmnents wisely administered cOnsid
er The character of the people subject
to their rule aud ehdeavor TO control
them such as they are, and do not pu
In their place hn imaginary people &c
be rulhessly crushed n they are no.
ready to adapt themselves to some ar
biirary standard of good behavior
Judged properly, II Is clear as noon
day that not M event has occurred in
the South that we have not abundant
reason TO expect would occUr--thai
WAS not IN fact prepared and made IN
evitable by the government aud its
creatures; and also not an event has oc.
Cured that would not have occurred
in anv Northern State in the same cir.
cumstances. DO we at the North IN
times Of disorder control our tempers
and our actions 30 well that we can af
ford to threaten military occupation 10
districts where popular apprehension
iakes the form Of administering some
swift justice? II in the rural districts
of any Northern State IL was confessed
by irdividnals Of any particular class
Of the people that a scheme was on FOOT
among their fellows to spread fire and
slaughter through the com munily, who
believes that anybody but the cOroners
would ever have occasion to investigate
the case? d?
Prepare deliberately the event thai
will irritate and excite n people aud
that must provoke them to violent acts
if they are human; then wait ill the
violence YOU are prepared for occurs
aud send yonr troops to occupy theiI
cities. IL this the spirit OF reconstruc.
ton that is to make the country one
againp This Ia the pau that seems the
wisest to General Grants Atiorney--,o
the head of the national department oi
justice. IL Mr.. Williams proposes 10
himself results such as were sccur.
ed by distinguished man IN ano,h.
er department of justice IN former
age, he chooses his means accurately
IL he wishes that his illumination Of the
national justice shall become NJ infamous
In this country as was that of Jeflrsys
IN England he will continue as he had
begun. Already he has narrowly miss.
ed the splendid reward of the Chief
Justice.ship-.he price Of his services
in such a reconstruction OF Louisiana
as has accomplished the worst purposes
that the worst Of party plunderers could
possibly propose TO themselves. Aud
again he lends himself TO the further
application Of similar projects, Grant,
indifferent. as he seems to opinion, keeps
himself out OF IL, and stays away ~ II
thereby the results might not fall on
his record. Aud the commander OF the
army, ~ clear-headed In politics as he
Is IN war, though oustcd from the ma.
tional capital by an intrigue, that he
might not be In the way Of projects to
which he could never assent protests
that there is no occasion TO send troops
into the Southern States. But the man
who ''reconstructed' Louisiana, and
who would, n left alone. have recon-
sirucied Arkansas. is evidently ready