Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-06-28

|
MR. WILSON o TREAT,tENT or THE PRESIDENT.
| i am accused too of not treating the Presi-
| dent with becoming respect. Wherep Whenp
| How? l avn surely unconscious of any such
purpose. have seldom obtruded my opinions
upon the President and whenever have made
| suggestions it has heeu because l religiously
| believed that what l deferentially suggested
would be for the credit Of his Administration,
| the success OF the party aud the good OF the
nation. My opposition TO the third term folly
| has been construed. too. into opposition to
| the President. Bnt nothing is more un-
| true. When saw that issue raised and pressed
with such disastrous effect upon the party by
| the adroit repres entatons Of lts enemies. took
| early occasion to say to tnid friends that there
/ was no real danger; that it was contrary to the
| settled convictions and traditions of the people,
| and that they would elect no man President for
| a third term. was actuated by no hostility TO
| the President. nor by favor to any one desirous
| of being his successor. | deemed the PROPOSE
| tion. by whomsoever favored, quite fatal to
/ the Republican party az wou'd have been pro-
position TO amend tho Constitution so to elect
| a President for life.
| Having opposed the policy Of reconstruction
| when adopted, it is not surprising that the or
/ gan sees little or no progress in the Southern
| States and that il criticlses for expressing
/ the opinion that there has been progress, and
that there is d better feeling than heretofore.
/ Having been an anti-slavery man for thirty-nlne
| years, aud having read and thought much of
| Southern affairs, examined with some care the
| present condition OF the South, There have been
| nnquesIionable Mistakes mismanagement, and
| in some cases corruption, on the part of those
called to the high duty Of working out the prac-
ticsl problem of reconstruction in those disor-
dered and devastated Commonwealths But
| with all these mistakes and corrnpt practices,
saw progress-slow, but l thnk sure
Had prophet at tho close of the war pre-
dicted that in the short space OF ten years there
should happen just what has happened, few
would have believed him. Then the colored
race, Just emancipated, had neither property,
homes, education nor political rights. Now,
though little accustomed TO habits OF economy
and thrift, it possesses millions of property has
hundreds of thousands Of children in schools,
has been clothed with civil and political right,
occupies high positions at home, and has repre-
| sentatiyes in Congress- Then the white race,
with institutions, Industries, and labor disorgan
ized unaccustomed to toll, disappointed and
defeated were careless alike of the rights OF
the black men and the opinions of their country
| men. Now States, industries and institutions
, have been reorganlzed labor is becoming moro
honorable and universal, the Government is
more respected, the old flag is more loved. and the
favorable opinions of the Northern people more
. | highly appreciated Much remains to be done;
but beginning has been made and hopeful pro-
| gress has been already secured. There are yet
} unscrupulous men who are seeking to divide 30
ciety and parties upon the perilous line Of race.
Enemies Of their country Of mankind, and OF
, God. these reckless should receive the
sternest condemnation Of the patriot, the philaIl-
thropist, and the Christian.
In spite, however Of all untoward influences,
there is unquestionably kindfer and better
feeling pervadiug the South. pity the head of
that man who docs not see and comprehend
j it, and the heart of him who does not
Q acknowledge hail. and welcome ii with grati-
{ tude to God and with hopo for humanity and the
nation
1T MAY he THAT HAVE SPOKEN
too often and too much, but my convictions
| have fOrcad raise QIite often tle yOile of
j entreaty, advice, warning, remonstrance aud
0 protest. l fear from tue present outlook, and
3 the temper of few present 1t will be my duty,
as il will he that OF all devoted, experienced and
thoughtful Republicans to continue to do so,
however distasteful it may be 70 those who seeni
to heed not the lessons of defeat. l am not one
= of those who believe that the way to make a
| party strong is to make it indefensible, or to
: close its ranks 10 tho believers III its
+ principles. The gill tor which l em 30
= sharply rebuksd by self. constituted con-
p sors appears not to be unfalGhfulness to
the Republican platform and organization, hut
my continuous efforts to win back to the Re
publican ranks honest men who still adhere to
/ the Republican faith Having advocated the
: Ideas embodied III the Republican creed and
illustrated IN Republican deeds, III nearly SOC
> | speeches, in twentyse seven States, [ ought to
: know something OF the feelings desires and
G purposes Of tine American people. Finding
y nothing in the cpnst.tnuon the traditions OF
| the people that forbid Vice President TO en-.
/. treat advise political associate to heed the
4 lessons of experience III legislation and admins
: tration have warned, demonstrated and pro
e tested against mistakes | believed would Lime
4 defeat, If not dlshonor
/. EIGHrgES MONTHS AGO THOUGHT
a saw danger coming up IN the near future.
u warned my Republican friends OF the impending
| peril and advised that we should, by wise ant
y prudent Legislation and administration, and bi
y timely and efficient organization, strive to sav6
u the present House. But [ was considered b,
| mt qar gqIi an al &c ottF
y was told, with that superclious arrogance which
y has driven from US 80 many Republicans accus
a." TONED to organize victories, that " the Vic,
L President had bett9r not play the rols of a pol
7 teal prophet. Ia spite, however, of conliden
assurances of these presurning, but not yeri
sagaclouh politicians, uneXampled disaster came
. l had no doubt that these were Republican
II defeats rather than Democratic victories No
. have any doubt now tn 1t majority of the ma
tion still adhete 10 tho distinctive principles o
Il, the htpubhcan party, ana can recover what Wa
. then so heedlesrly thrown away. so believing
" think duty to the country demands that Repub
a. lleans should do all they to so reinstate
- their party that it shall again invite and com
=, mand the support of all who profess to beliey,
AZ AZ in its principles, and who rejoice every re
y form of acknowledged abuses. | have endeay
-, ored TO look the situation hquarely in the face
~ and have done al.1 intend to do all in m
N power III splto of carplng and captlous cntl
~ cisms to reunite Republicans and TO secur
- again the ascendancy of the party that has savet
~ the Union and emancipated race.
10 wHAT MUST he DONE.
IL Believing the contnued success of the Repnb
s. llcan party to be conducive to the sure aud NOR
or speedy development of the nation in It's vare,
interehts, upon the achieved base of humal
H. rights, think its presses and its leaders ahoul,
now, in the spirit Of sef-saonice, snbordnat
a. their personal aspirations, ryaires and ambl
.. tons, aud welcome all to their ranks with gen
10 erous magnanimlty, and so leave to reunited
~ reorganlzed and renspired party the selec
~, ~ ton, ut the fitting time, Of its candidate
n, II for the Presidency. They should now forgiv
'd, and forget, and by reforInatory and generou
''S policy, and by the earnest and honest appeal
" y. for unity, win back in the elections OF tins an
:. tumn, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Californi
"a and Massachusetts. Succosses 80 won will as
~ sure national victory in 1876. Such victor
"a will give the Republican party with its brilllal
70 record for liberty and umon, a grand opportun
~ ~ ity to illustrate the opening of the second cen
~ tury OF tho Republic with glorious deeds.
ir HENRY WILSON.