Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-07-09
T'hs Question OF ,7B.

ss But the reasons for opposing
the Democratic party are national rather
than local. They concern the spirit and
conduct of the General Government in re-
gard to the vital question Of our political
situation. No man who takes time TO
think Of the subject can suppose that the
tremendous conflict of the last half century
upon the question of slavery, which was
not question Of labor only, but of polt
ical convictions and Of social philosophy,
could end in long and terrible war that
destroyed a whole industrial system and
radically and totally changed political and
social relations without leaving a situa-
ton which is not settled because Of what
is called reconstruction. 1t does not fol-
low that everything is precisely as it was
before, with the exception of slavery,
merely because there are no armies
in the field and because the Stntos
have resumed their relations in the
Union. Reconstruction is not completed,
rs we sometimes hear asserted, because in
the nature of things 1t is q very gradual
process. Certainly the Democratic party
is not strong among the whites of the
Southern States because IL is the party OF
union, of liberty and equal rights, but be-
cause it Is known to be hostile to the par
ty that maintained the Union and pro-
claimed freedom and established justice
And with equal certainty the Republican
party is not opposed by the same class be-
cause of its alleged corruptiOns but be-
cause of what is called its unconstitutional
exercise of power, the proof being its pro-
lection of the colored class. If this is So
and as general statement 1t is undeniable
if the policy of reconstruction, as the
most intelligent of the Southern Demo-
cratic journals concede, is not accepted"
but is merely acquiesced In under protest.
then the hostile spirit remains and recon.
ftruction is still but formal and is in no
proper sense completed,
1t is not surprising that this should be
80. 1t is only surprising that anyone
should suppose that it is not so. 1t would
be q most serious mistake to enter upon
the election of 1876 with the theory that
there is the same kind of homogcncity in
the Union that there is in the State of New
York, and that the only question at stake
is one of persons, and of the economical
administration of government In which
all agree. 1t would be rs If the English
Wings in the beginning of the eighteenth
century had supposed that because the
Jacobites were not in arms they were
friendly 10 the revolution and the new dy.
nasty. The Democratic party, as we have
often said, will necessarily bo controlled
by its strongest element, and that element
is not composed of the theorists of North
ern newspapers, but of the Southern lead
ers, who have q great and substantial pur-
pose TO achieve. That purpose is not a re-
newal of the rebellion nor an attempt to
dissolve the Union, but il is TO perplex and
defeat the policy of equal rights; to sub
ordinate the colored citizens to the white,
and TO this end to render the amendments
nugatory by obtaining control of the Ma
tional Government; by refusing to pass
necessary laws or to execute those which
are already passed.; by repeating what
is called unconstitutional lcgislatiOn by
changing the Constitutions of the States,
and making the late slave States a political
unit against the general policy known as
Republican. This is the purpose of lead
ers who have no especial affection for the
Union nor any strong faith in republican
government; who are many of them, intel
ligent and proud, but who are Americans
mainly in name and by birth, not by pro-
| found conviction Their predecessors,
whose theories and purposes they have in
herlted, were accomplished politicians,
| who studied men and were trained in pub.
! lie affairs. They long controlled the Gov
ernment through the Democratic party,
and when they thought they could control
il no longer they attempted to destroy it.
Many of them still survive, and they have
educated those who are to succeed them.
These leaders are very patient and wary.
! They believe that the people of the North.
ern States have no real sympathy for the
colored race; that they are essentially
traders, mercenary and timid; that they
can be easily fatigued, and readily divided
under plausible preteXts of Cancellation;
and these leaders hope by apparent defer
ence TO the wishes OF their allies in this
| part OF the country to regain the ascen.
dency which they lost fifteen years ago.
This is the spirit and the purpose which,
under cover OF the Democratic charges OF
corruption and unconstitutionality against
the Republican Administration, hopes to
return to power in 1876. The contest is
! really one of vital American principles and
OF political progress. 1t is especially not
one of men, but of tendencies and meas
ures. The actual situation, not its theo.
retical aspects, demands tho most careful
reflection of every good citizen. We freed
the slaves. They had been the victims of
system which for generations had i'm.
bruted them. They had no habits of self
help; they had no hope, no ambition, no
relations TO society; they were carefully
held in abiect dependence. Freed by a
great war, they were left without property
without education, without skill, without
habits of industry, without knowledge of
affairs, of intercourse, of rights, and
among an imperious master class,
who saw in the freedom of their
slaves the memorial of their own
humiliation and defeat. The instant
the National Government under Andrew
johnson betrayed and deserted the Repub-
lican spirit and gave sign of Democratic
sympathy, the master class made serfs OF
the freedmen. Then we gave them the
ballot as a means of defense; the ballot
to the class we have described amOngthos
TO whom servile Difference was tradition,
and who were the most practiced and con.
summate politicians. Rememberthis sit
uatiOn; remember our system of govern.
ment-the separate power of the States,
and the dependence of the States up.
on the Union; remember the traditions
and convictions Of the late master class,
and then say whether the peace, prosperity
and progress of the country will be more
probably secured by intrusting the Nation
al Government to the White League and
the party which sympathizes with it and
supports it, or to the party which has
proved its fidelity to freedom, Justice aud
| equal riTltS -HurDcr'S Wc9bll