The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-06-23
TIE BLIGHT OF REC0NSTRGC-
TfON,

Ti0N.
" hen wesplace the present condi-
ton ofthe people of Louisiana in
contrast with what it would have
been, had not the miserable mistake
of Reconstruction so called) fasten-
ed itself upon the minds of the p. s.
Congress at the close of the war, we
cannot but be startled at the vast de-
gree of unnecessary persecution, i'm
poverishment and humiliation our
people have endured. They have en-
dured it only because they were pow
erless to repel it. To say that the pol
icy of Reconstruction was only a mis-
take however, would be clothing a
hideous crime in the garb of inno-
cence. The people of the Northern
States had been, for nearly five years,
stunned with astonisbment at the
boldness and intrepidity of southern
soldiers and the wisdom and pru-
dence of Southern statesmen. They
saw and felt that they were waging a
war with a race of brave men who
would dare any danger or any death
in defense Of their rights. The en-
tire civilized world witnessed the
struggle and yielded willing tribute
of wonder and admiration to the en-
during courage Of the Southern ar
mics in a conflict so unequal. But
this struggle has long since closed
and passed into history. The mem
DRY Of its moments of gloom and
glory, has become now, to the heart
of the ex-Confederate soldier, only
the mere echo Of a magnificent dream.
When the armies of the South laid
aside the weapons of war, each State
in revolution should have been at
once rehabilitated with all the com
ponent functions Of a sovereign State
of the Union. The Republican par
ty, as q war party, controlled all the
machinery and powers of the govern
ment during the war, admitting that
they applied those powers to light
mate uses in mastering legions of ar
mics to subdne the revolution, and
admitting that all the energies Of the
party were devoted to serving and
saving the country, it cannot be de
MED that every act and effort of that
party since the establishment of
peace, has been devoted to serving
and saving itself. To do this, they
inaugurated and have enforced for ten
years, policy of persecution toward
the Southern States, which, for in
| justice, cowardice and want of mag
nanimity, has no parallel among civ
ilized governments. This policy,
they facetiously call "Reconstruc-
tion." Under it's provisions. a class
Of people, embracing four millions OF
creatures, inferior in race to our own,
and naturally deficient in every char
acteristic essential to citizenship OF
social status in a government like
ours, has been, by the single stroke
of u pen, elevated to a sphere of du
ties, rights and responsibilities which
they can never be able to appreciate
nor understand. AS to the emanci-
patton of this class from a condition
of servitude, the people of the South
have not and never will express re-
greet nor murmur, except, perhaps,
at the sudden and unceremonious
manner ofits accomplishment. This
remarkable but unnatural benefaction
of citizenship, bestowed upon the col
ored race, was not however a deed of
love. 1t was not inspired by an hon
est sentiment of sympathy or good
will, but it drew it's inspiration from
the necessity and selfish purpose OF
migrating that element upon the
body of the Republican party as a
measure Of political strength. Then
in the name Of Reconstruction .
this party commences a career OF
treason to the constitution, spoliation
and persecution Of southern citizens,
and usurpation of unlawful power,
which has not only spread devasta-
tion, suffering and impoverishment
throughout ten of the fairest States
of the Union, but has actually threat
ened and attempted the overthrow OF
the government itself. Under the
blighting influences of this malicious
crusade, we Of Louisiana have en-
dured and are still enduring as much
oppression at the hands of the Re
publican party and the general gov
eminent, as though secession had
converted US into u colony of crimi