The Portland daily press., 1875-03-31
The Only Choice.

cOupllSHeu gigantic WORK. Ine enQ OF tne
war found the South impoverished, distracted,
but still defiant. While giving up slavery in
name it endeavored to retain it in substance
by enacting statutes which in effect reduced
the newly freed race to cruel bondage. Laws
were passed that negro could not be wit
ness against white man; that system Of
apprenticeship should be established in which
the old masters should have the preference !;
that colored men she uld not lease lands; that
Ia certain ofenses where white persons were
punished only by imprisonment colored
offenders should suffer death; that negroes
should not be permitted to take up their
abodes in large towns, but should be obliged
to till the soil owned by Others or else be-
come vagrants and then be sold into service
The South was sustained in this course by
the Executive. The rebel soldiers held con-
ventions and elected legislatures and sent to
the national Senate and House their most
prominent leaders, and the President of the
United States advocated their admission.
The administration of Andrew johnson was
a scene of bitter strife between the admins
trative and the legislative branches of the
government. Four years of valuable time
were absolutely wasted.
When the Republican party assumed abb
solute control of the government six years
ago it had the reconstruction question to set
tie. 1t will not be denied that the work has
been done thoroughly. The constitutions of
the Southern states have been altered to
srit the new condition of things. The rela-
tions of the two races have been fixed.
Slavery has been completely overthrown.
The proper relations of the states to the fed
eral power have been definitely established.
The black facs have been secured in their
freedom, have been educsssssd: and have been
taught how to use their politicai, -iish IS.
Tranquility has been measurably restored in
the South. The last act of the Republican
Congress was to settle the perpiexing ques-
tions which disturbed Louisiana and Arkan-
sas. This record cannot be impeached. The
Republican party has achieved these results.
1t now remains for the country to hold them
In whose hands are they safest, in the hand:
of the men who aided in securing them. Of
In the hands of those who opposed every
measure of reconstruction from the start?
The opponents of the Republican party
are fond Of saying that the Southern ques.
ton is question of the past, that the issues
growing out Of the war are settled, and that
all men have agreed to abide loyalty by the
results. They claim that new issues are
before the people, and that the Republicans
should be driven from power because there
is a corrupt lobby at Washington, and be-
cause plunderers have had control of the
state governments at the South. But while
making these professions some of the more
indiscreet leaders have already given the lie
to them. 1t is well to consult the record
before trusting these men.
Conceding for the moment that the old
issue shdpe been settled, and that new ques-
tions, questions of administrative reform,
have come to the front, let US inquire as to
the men who purpose to carry these reform
into effect. We find that they are illiberal
unprogressive, reactionary; that they have
opposed for the past quarter Of a century
every measure of true reform, every measure
which time has proved to be judicious and
beneficial; that they have no settled line of
policy, and are in union on no one issue
that wherever for rare and limited periods,
they have been entrusted with power, they
have abused it; that every northern state
which has permitted its administration to
fall into their hands has rejected them on
the first opportunity; that they have shown
their progressiveness by jumping from one
cast-of Republican platform to another in
order to obtain power, and by rejecting every
plank of these platforms the moment thes
| had the opportunity to show their faith by
| their works; that they have evinced thei
| liberality by discarding, when strong enough,
every liberal who has been enticed into
| trusting them, and by elevating to positions
l of honor and trust party hacks and hide
bound politicians; that they have proved
| themselves false 10 every profession, divided
| in council, weak and uncertain in action
These are the men who ask the confidence o
the people, who seek to depose the father
and advocates of all the great reforms o
the past twenty-five years. Whom will th
people trustp The men who have headed al
armed rebellion in the South, and who hav,
shown themselves weak, dishonest and in
efficient in administration at the North, o
the men who preserved the national unity
and who have shown their civil capacity b.
framing and carrying through great meas
ures which have materially added to the ma
tional strength, and dignity and prosperity
The Democratic party cannot complain tina
it has had no opportunity to show its admin
istratve ability. 1t had the opportunity il
New Hampshire, and it was improved il
passing partisan measures 10 perpetuate par
ty control. 1t had the opportunity in Nilsson
| ri, and it was used to overthrow the common
school system. 1t had the opportunity il
Illinois and it was used in repeating laws 70
the protection of the ballot box. 1t had tn
1 opportunity in Indiana, and it was not use,
at all. In every state the Democracy ha
incapable.
Between the Democratic party and the Re
publican party the people must choose. Their
is no third party. The government must b
confided to the men who have proved them
selves incapables, or to the men who hav
shown administrative capacity and willing
ness to correct abuses and errors. On thi
question of administrative reform the Repub
lican party has better showing than its or
ponents.
THE Democrats of Philadelphia must be il
a bad way. They have refused to expel
member of the city committee for having vc
ted and labored against portion of the regr