The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-02-11
LOUISIAyA-THE EFFICIENCY OF THE
HOUR.

LOUIsIASA-THE EFFICIENCY OF THE
HOUR.
The President, in message to the Sen
ate accompanied with official correspond
encc, reports, and kilograms, has given 70
Congress and the public full, clear, and
reliable report of the condition Of affairs
in Louisiana. In all his past connection
Up to the present date, with the serious
and difficult problem Of reconstruction, il
will be admitted by every impartial crit.
that he has faithfully discharged his duty
in the premises. He has now reached the
limit of his authority and appeals to Con
gress to adopt measures for the complete
restoration Of order and harmony, and
guarantees to that body faithful execu
ton Of such laws as in their judgment
may be deemed necessary to be enacted
for that purpose.
In three weeks more the Forty-thirdCon
grcss will be brought to close. Already
the condition Of the South, and especial,
that of Louisiana, has been fully dis
cussed. viii the Republican members
allow the remaining time to be fritteret
away in useless Cebatc without decisive
action? This is the aim of the Opposi
ton, and will continue to be their effor
until the 4th of March; if there is NO
craftsmanship and force enough in Con
gress among the friends of law and ordeI
to decide at once upon a policy, and by
proper and prompt legislation empower
the Executive to carry out their instruc
tions.
The present is critical period in ma
tional affairs. All unnecessary excitement
by infammatory speeches and newspaper
comments should be avoided. Modera
ton and firmncss among the true friends
of the Union, in Congress and throughout
the length and breadth Of the land, should
be exercised In nine cases out of ten the
acts Of the President are denounced by
the Opposition on purely political grounds,
without the slightesi regard to the facts
in the case. But he has never yet swery-
ed from the line of duty, and will not now,
by the denunciations Of Democratic State
Governors, resolutions by Democratic
Legislatures, or the entire chorus of the
Opposition in Congress. There is states
manship and nerve enough in Congress to
meet the emergency successfully and
promptly, as the finance question was fin
ally met and disposed of, and VIC need
not doubt that the effort will be fully sus
tanned by every good Republican and true
Democrat throughout the country.
The first duty of the Government, under
all circumstances, is the protection of life
and property. Under the present state of
feeling in the South, encouraged by the
Democratic and so-called independent
press in the North, this can be done, for
the present, only by the presence Of an
army, and if the force already stationed
in the rebellious States is inadequate 10
the emergency, let it be increased even if
the general army should require to be
augmented for that purpose. Without
safety to life and security to property
there can be no hope for peace Or pros
peri,y.
The next duty in the present case will
be to restore and guard the ballot box in
its purity, and TO protect each qualified
voter, without regard to color, in the full
exercises of his elective franchise. Wher-
ever the State Legislatures lave failed in
this duty, the obligation falls upon Con-
gress to entcrfere in behalf of the op-
pressed and ostraciscd, and to authorize
the presence of the military power wher-
ever it becomes necessary
The third duty of the Government
should, We think, he provision for an
effective system of popular education, in
which all classes will be reached by free
schools in which they can receive good
English education. The appropriation of
the receipts from the sale of public lands
for this purpose is very generally adj
vocated by the friends of popular educa-
ton; and, under judicious legislation, the
fund-some three million dollars per
annum-or a certain portion OF it, with the
balance placed on interest as a reserve
fund, would 60 directly to build school
houses and pro7ide teachers in the differ
ent States. The distribution would be
made on the ratio Of illiteracy, and this
would bring the main portion Of the fund
to the South, and into those States there
in which it is most needed. These schools
will be free 10 all, and those who fail to
use u EN- will themselves be the sufferers.
The absentees would not be numerous.
aad would grow less each year until the
attendance would become general.
The next duty to the South would be
liberal appropriations for p bile improve
ments by deepening the mouth Of the
Mississippi and securing its levees against
periodical foundations; by assisting Pc
cuniarily in securing increased facilities
by canal and railway for the quick and
cheap transportation of the cotton crop and
other agricultural products; and, BY offer
ing increased inducements to lmmigra-
ton, and to the employment of capital in
erecting cotton and other factories in each
Of those States. The question of liberal
appropriations fer public improvements
is now under consideration, to follow the
restoration Of peace and harmony.
These measurcrs, judiciously inaugural
ed and carried out, would bring to the
people OF that section of the Union
1. SECURITY TO LIFE AND PRorERTY.
2. RESPECT FOR PERSONAL RIGHTs.
8. FREEDOM OF OPINION.
4. POPULAR EDUCATION.
5. UNIVERSAL INDUSTRY.
6. GENERAL PROSPERITY.
This will not all be accomplished in a
day, but II IS practicable, and its com
mencement and progress to successful
issue cannot be delayed without hazard to
life and property in those States, and
serious injury to the best interests of the
entire country. Will the people Of this
distracted portion of the Union Weld to
the claims Of humanity and their own
material interests, forget the past, ard
unite with the Federal and State Govern
ments in persistent efforts to promote the
common good? Then there will be no
longer any use for the military power in
the South; peace and prosperity will then
be the common lot Of all, and ere long
those States will become the most attrac-
tive. denesly pOpulated. and wealth.. e