Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-09-03

The speech Of Senator Morton at Ur-
bana, In Ohio, reminds us of what should
not be forgotten. Important rs the tinan-
cial question necessarily Is 10 the country,
and closely as II Is brought home TO every
mans interest, II is not the only vital ma
tional question. II Is naturally represent
ed TO be so by those who wish to obscure
other and most serious issues. But those
who assert that there is no Southern ques.
ton, because 1.-THE South" Is at peace,
carefully conceal the fact that II Is at
peace chiefly because the National Gov.
ernment Is in Republican hands, and that
Il would cease to be so If the object for
which the assertion is made should he ac-
cOmplished and the Democratic party re-
turn 10 power. And this for the simple
reason that all those who arc dissatisfied
with the peace that exists in that quarter
look TO Democratic success as the sole
ground of hope for disturbance. III IT
were well understood that the National
Government would continue under Re.
publican control, all the disconnected
spirits in the Southern States would adjust
themselves to the order established by re-
construction. But so long as they have
hope of overthrowing the Republicans
they will be the source of apprehension
and disorder. Mr.. Morton very truly says
that reconciliation and harmony cannot
be accomplished by Northern celebrations
and iunketings Every man from the
Southern section, whether cx-rebel or not,
is sure of courtesy and justice in the
Northern States All that is wanted Is
that every man, native or stranger, shall
be sure of the same in the Southern States.
When that is tho situation, restoration
will be complete. And that situation de-
pends wholly upon the citizens cf those
States. The Senator wisely depre Gates the
confusion of right and wrong which is
implied in the equal honOring of the sol
diers upon both sides in the conflict The
gushing oagerness to shake hands Overthe
bloody chasm is very likely to lead us to
forget the eternal gulf that separates 1.-THE
lost cause" of slavery from the sacred
cause of liberty and justice. We are by
all means to forgive, but by all our love OF
man and Of country we are not to forget.
The continuance of Republican ascend
ency will be the final and conclusive proof
that there is that universal acquescence in
the new order which is warmly asserted to
exist by the Democrats. AS the principles
of reconstruction have been steadily de-
nounced by them, as they have constantly
described the Southern situation as usur-
patton, a tyranny, a despOtism, a satrapy,
an anarchy, and as the first Democratic
uttcrance after the Republican defeats of
last autumn was demand for the repeal
of legislation under the amendments, it is
evident that Democratic success must nee
essarily lead to attempts to withstand those
principles, to overthrow that tyranny, and
to repeal those laws. Mr. Lamar, of Mis-
sissippi, has recently made speech in
which he describes the woes Of the
South" as worse than those of Rome, and
attributes them to Republican ascendency.
He says that the sudden cnlranchiscment
of the negroes was great catastrophe.
But he agrees that the rights of the blacks
are the duties of the whites, and argues
earnestly against the color line in politics.
His speech is very suggestive. For if he
feels so strongly what he calls the in
justice of the Republican party, how
much more strongly must the party
and the people in whose name he
speaks feel i'll And how eager must
they be to remedy that injustice by
obviating the consequences of the catastro-
phe! His earnest appeal for respect of the
rights of the colored citizens is the strong
est evidence of recognized contempt OF
them among his hearers, and that hostility
as we all know, counts upon Democratic
success. We agree with Mr. Lamar that
national policy of distrust and suspicion
toward Mississippi and other Southern
States is ungenerous and unwise. But
such policy, as he saw in Congress last
winter, is not demanded by the Republi-
can party. No sensible man, however,
willaccept profusion of acquiescence or
gushing hurra for the flag asa reason for
forgetting experience and dcspising knowl.
edge of human nature. We spoke recently
of Gen. 4. M. Logan's speech to the Hamp.
ton Legion in South Carolina i'll which he
said that the eX-rebel soldiers had accepted
the Union as their own. But in the same
breath he declared that he was not willing
TO assert that the principles for which they
fought had been settled or destroyed.
Such talk may he dismissed as bravado.
But it shows q spirit which sensible states
men carefully observe, and patriotic men
do not hasten to put the Government into
the hands of men who make such speeches,
nor of those for whom they speak.
These are, considerations that must not
be overlooked, however urgent the tinan
cial question may be. Obviously the
Democratic policy is to insist that the
only question of the election next year is
administrative reform. But the Southern
Democracy cares very little for reform of
any kind And in other parts of the
country what sign of Democratic interest
in reform has been shown except Gov.
Tilden's war upon the canal ring in New
York? In Ohio, in Connecticut, in New
Hampshire, in Missouri, Maryland and
Kentucky, where the Democratic party is
in the ascendant, what evidence Of de-
sire or capacity of reform has it given?
Gov. Tilden has pursued the canal frauds
in New York. If that proves the Demo-
cratic party of the country to be reform
party, how much more do Mr.. Bristow's
and Mr.. JEWELS dealings with corruption
and irregularity prove the National Re-
publican party to be one of reform? Re-
form is the Democratic cry, but Demo-
cratic action in the Democratic States does
not justify it. In Ohio, where the Gin
cinnati Commercial says there is not con-
siderable town that has not been for some
time in the possession OF the Democracy,
the same paper adds that it has not been
able, even from a commanding position
on the fence, to see any reform. "On the
contrary, things that were bad under Re-
publican rule have grown worse under
Democratic rule"
Mr.. Morton's speech is valuable
for reminding the country that the reunion
of a people rent for so long time and by
so fundamental differences is not to be
effected by shutting our eyes and talking
pleasantly. ."-HGrper's Weekly.
eB- The Liberal Republicans of Ohio
those who went into the Cincinnati Con-