The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1874-09-26
Fana&icis1n and Liberty.

We are rapidly approaching a cri-
sis in the tide Of government, the So
luton of which will be, whether we
are to have the liberty of the many
or the fanaticism Of tho few. We
We're called upon at the close Of the
late war, to subscribe to certain ideas
of government which had, by force of
arms, becsme facts, and we were told
must lie lcgisloted upon, to make them
part and parcel Of the ..'implied spir-
it" Of the Constitution of our
fathers" We accepted all these acts
from the point Of the sword, and
"made believe" that We did not SEQ
the "arrow which was hid in the rose.'
The 18th, 18th and 18th amend
ments to the Constitution were offer
ed us, and We, in good faith, to secure
peace, and to enjoy the popular idea
of Liberty, gave them our support.
Reconstruction quick followed in the
train, and our model rulers suddenly
discovered that we were still rebel
lious, not fit for compatriots in the
Union, and that our love and vene-
ration for American freedom must be
kept whetted with display Of armed
forces, and our enthusiasm for Ameri-
can institutions plicked to life with
the point Of the bayonet. This pill,
sugar-coatcd as it was, has been cram
med down our Threats, not by reason
and argument, but by power, and for
six years our homes have reveled in
tho damning attendants of recon-
structed States-carpet-bag and seal
lawag thieves-brutal and insulting
negroes and the staggering soldiery
Of the model Republic.
We had begun fondly to imagine
that as all things must have an end,
that we, in the "order Of things" were
approaching tho termination of our
troubles. But the death bed heritage
Of the sycophantic Sumner, the man
who living breathed to US nothing but
wrong aud outrage, and dying, be-
queathed to his followers all his Bit
terness; must needs be engrafted in
the laws Of the land to satisfy the
cravings of the fanatical shliekers of
the North. We are asked to surren-
der to Legislation, and such legisla-
ton, tho management of our social
neutrality-suspicious. of society fixed
by tho hand of Natures God, and as
immutable y the hills, are to be
tempered with by this vile herd in its
onward march to the destruction, not
only Of government, but of our most
cherished traditions. This is the
point at whica, wo have arrived anu
We must pull up. A limit exists to
all human affairs, aud that is nature
itself. If it is imagined that, because
We have submitted to the destruction
Of all the safeguards and barriers
which have surrounded US as a people
to be governed, we will allow this in
vasion of our social structure, We will
submit for this wild Clomwellian idea
to assume shape, and stalk armed
cap-a-pie into our domestic homes,
and that without resistance, is a roe-
full and criminal mistake. us thy
servant q dog" that he should be
asked, aye forced, to accept the de-
gredation attending the Civil Rights
Bill. This is trying the temper of
our people entirely too far, and al
though we have been just defeated in
q trial of arms with them, it must
not be forgotten that We are Ameri.
cans, and what we are prouder Of,
the manly descende"ts Of men.
Besides, what guarantee have We
that this will be the last demand
made even upon our society, although
we cannot conceive any thing more
degrading beyond this concession,
may we not look in time for a reli-
gion to he foisted upon us, strictly
in keeping with their ideas, with the
Beacher "nest-hiding" plank as the
Salvation plan" Who can telli for
is it not in "close communion with
this Fox.withoat.tail like crew.
The puritan idea Of liberty may
be, and is despotic, but they will al
low none Other; their code of morals
and feelings Of religion may not be,
and IN MT IN strict ooco.a ,,:%,, &h.A