The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1875-01-22

own views III regard to the present condition
and situation Off affairs in our Republic.
You may not in every particular fully con-
cur, but certainly you cannot fail to agree
with me in regard TO the causes which prsve
so subversive and destructive of the peace.
good order, good will and welfare of our
| country at large.
have been Republican eyerc since the
party has had an organization; been Jealous
If the principles which it originally espoused,
and would have gono with the present aG-
mlnistration so long as it veuld have acted
consistently with the welfare of the Govern
ment, and the restoration to peace, prosperi.
ty, and happiness, of all her people and
States.
Ths union of hearts is the union of States,
and it must necessarily grow out Of due re-
gard for all the States of the Union. ANY
other union is farce, mockery, deluson.
oppression-a union pinned together by
baysnets aud enforced by fraud, corruption,
extorton, and despotism.
rendered some service during the late re-
bellion, and it WAS, as I thought, for the res
t0ration OF the Union and the blessings of q
Republican form Of government 1t was
from honest motives and convictions. / be-
lieved then. and still believe, the leaders of
the south were in the wrong and prccipitated
the war, and the people of the South were
deludcd Thousands entered the armies for
tho union just as did, from honest motives
and convictions. They abandoned the bless
ings of home and peace, amidst the tears and
lamentations Of relatives and friend. and car
ried their lives in their hands to confront the
perils Of war and the terrors of death for the
perpetuity ofthc union oftheso States bound
ed upon principles of equal and exact Justice
to all and to every section Of the country
Many went down aa martyrs in the shock of
battle many languished in hospitals and
prisons, and perhaps, not even u head-board
marks their burial place. And many have
returned with ruined health or left upon the
plains OF carnage an arm or leg, atestimony
Of their yalor, their patriotism, and their de-
yotion to the principles of their fathers
Have they been rewarded, or was all this
martyriom Of brave mon and spirits but an
empty and sscrilegious holocaust2 Let the
present atats Of our country reply. And
they did not regard it as "nigger war" or
for the abolition Of slavery. They could not
have been persuaded into the folly of i'm
periling and sacrificing their lives and their
fortune, for tho simple purpose setting free
the slave. 1t was to Put down treason and
rebellion, whether slavery was perpetrated
or abolished; but to-day tho freedom Of the
slave even as 4 war measure, proves to be la
mentabe fact both FOR the whites and the
blacks otthe South. From humane point
ofview, aside from pecuniary interest or pro-
dnctive interest and prosperity, it is almost
crime, as least . calamity to both races
The negro of the South is but little else than
waif and yagabond If slavery was a
curse, in the name of our humanity what is
freedom now to tie slave? Slavery had its
abuses; but cast them into the scales and
see II they counterpOise the moral degrade
ton, the want and suffering, the wretched-
ness, the incidence ard vice, calamities that
now belal and that proceed from the slave
set free We point to the hundreds and
thousands that have Eerished away during
the last ten years and since they have tasted
the sweets cf freedom. They have vanished
as shadows before the sun, end lie moulder.
| ing in almost countless unknown and neg
ected grsTes. Was this so in the days of
| slavery "The- toll rot, neither do they
| SPIN they are unclothed and unfed and
die Of neglect, filth, poverty and disease
| Was this so in the days Of slavery? Nay,
their comforts were seen to, if not from prin-
ciple it was from purse. At any rate it was
done, and they were industrious comforta-
Bile and happy and as a consequence the now
desolated fields and plantations of the South
Were made TO produce the harvests of plen-
ty, And the slave was out of the way polit-
ically and socially. Now he is thrown upon
the surface and demands by the force of arms
and the unrelaxng and unrelentng power
OF federal bayonets and despotism his prero-
gative of social aud political equality with
Caucasian blood. 1t would seem the treas
ure that was spent, the blood that was shed
and the lives sacrificed during the war for
the restoration of the union were all a
farce such a5 the world has never witnessed.
by the virtue and intelligence of the peo-
| pie We are sustained" How much virtue
aud intelligence in the vote of the Southern
blacks TO day? Carpet-baggers installed in
to ottce by their votes and preying upon the
impoverished and almost ruined people of
the South till they cry out for help, or ven
geancc, from Heaven, may think otherwise.
And now armed soldiery with bristing bay
onets I'LL the Legislative Halls of down-trod-
den Louisiana to perpetuatc despotism and
override the taN-pundered people cf that
State, guard tho inyiolable votes ofthe blacks
and continue in office horde Of vampires
that have already sucked the life blood OF
the state to bursting "Oh Liberty what
crimes are committed in thy name" When
We ask, in the name of an outraged people
and the God Of justice, will the South ever
rise from the couch of blood and put on the
garments of peace, cOntentme5t, and happi-
mesa? When will the soldier fJr the union
ever realize the fruits of his peris and his
sacrihce-a restored union and universal
peace! When will the halcyon days OF
Southern prosperity return : sWhen will the
nailed hand of military rule and despotsn
relax her grasp, and that sorrow-blghted
portion of our country realize the blessing,
OF an impartial, unpreiudiced and peace-pro
ducing government? Let the prayers of the
patriot Christian go up to God like incens,
in behalf ofa goaiel, down-trodden, and il
it could possibly be accomplished, AN obliter
ated people. We read of the Vandals anl
the G)ths laundering at the gates of Rom,
and laying sa'rilesious hands upon her mon
uments of art and architecture and as tn,
soldiers OF Titus entered Jerusalem and th,
temple Of solomon, growing furious at tn,
urOsnpcts nf 1esnlatinn