The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-05-06
The Dawn of the Day of Reconcilia-

The Dawn of the Day of ReconciIia-
ton.
1t must be evident to all who watch the
DRIFT of current events that a very marked
change in Northern public sentiment with
reference to the Southern people and
Southern affairs has occurred within the
last two years, In this matter, as in every
other OF similar character, the press is
the best barometer by which to guage the
tendency of the popular atmosphere No
well conducted newspaper, more partic-
ularly if it be in actual alliance with po-
litical party, Intentionally runs contrary
to the feelings and opinions of the constit-
rency from which it draws moral and
financial support. 1t endeavors to repre-
sent. as nearly as may be, the average
views prevailing at the time in its own
immediate circle; and as these views I'M
dergo material alteration, their shifting
phases are faithfully reproduced in the
Journalistic mirror Up to the period of
Grants second election every recognized
Republican organ in the land sung the
same song with very slight variations
The people OF the South were still as
rebellous as ever, and only waited an op-
portunitv to renew their hostile perform
ances. The negroes and their carpet-bag
o1licc +ha nn1y who pnnld he
trusted and they required the constant
protection of the federal government.
The white Conservatives were unreliable
and treacherous, and their alleged wrongs
had no foundation in fact. On the con-
trary all the wrongs came from them and
were suffered by the patient and patriotic
colored community.
These ideas, being adopted and Endorsed
by majority of the voters, gave us an
other term of an administration of which
one was more than sufficient. But scarce
" had that term been inaugurated before
the ideas which it represented began to
diminish in force and gradually assume n
more sensible shape. The excitement OF
the contest was over, and the people of
the North nau leisure 10 conoulu ~--l---
and impartial tribunal of reason and com
mon sense They were not long in find
ing out the harshness and injustice OF
their verdict and the Righteousness OF the
charges upon which it was based. The
policy of the President ana his friends in
Congress stimulated the inquiry and aided
its logical conclusion, and soon the more
Independent Republican journals caught
the direction of the popular breeze and
trimmed their sails accordingly. The
elections last fall showed the meaning as
we'll as the extent Of the silent revolution;
for as the battle was fought on precisely
the same issues which Grant had repre-
scented in the presidential campaign, the
sweeping defeat of the Republicans proved
beyond doubt that these issues had been
reviewed and the former decision reversed.
During the past five months the charge to
which we allude has been more sharply
defined and more boldly declared. 1t
would be very difficult to find any respect
able Republican newspaper which would
venture to express now the same sentl-
ments concerning the Southern situation
which were its political stock in trade
less than two years ago. Occasionally
slur or a sheer at ''the rebels is flung out.
but these are exceptions to the rule. Cen
orally an entirely different toned treatment
is adopted, and curlously enough we have
heard less about "the new rebellion since
the events transpired which it was asserted
would inevitably provoke it, than we ever
have before. Plainly the Conservative
victories of last fall and this spring have
convinced the Republican oracles and Or
ators that the rebellion dodge has played
out and may as we'll be abandoned alto
gether.
We think that every honest man, no
matter what may be his political proclivi-
ties, will wonder, not that the Northern
lunacy has ended so soon, but that it last
ed so long. 1t may be safely asserted that,
taking them as a whole, and with pro-
Of the case, the Southern people have set
an example of good behavior since the
war which history cannot parallel. There
have been many other unsuccessful rebel
lions, but none in which the rebellious
feeling was so unanimous throughout the
community, and none in which such terri
BILE sacrifices in blood and treasure were
SO cheerfully made. Had failure simply
involved the loss of coveted independ-
ence and the consciousness of overwhelm-
ing defeat, there would perhaps have been
nothing specially heavy to bear; but there
was one feature which aggravated and in
tensified the misfortuues of the South to
an extent, and in way, which the North
has never fully realized Other nations
have lost their slaves by an appeal to arms,
but no people were ever before compelled
to accept their emancipated servants as
equals in all things, and in many things
their superiors. 1t was hard to be stripped
by one stroke of pen of the immense
wealth invested in these servants, but it
was infinitely harder and more calling to
be saddled, bridled and ridden by the for
mer chattels. The right or wrong OF the
business we are not arguing; we simply
speak of its natural effect upon those who
had to endure the terms of the conquerors
Put ourselves in their place. Would we
have done better than the Southern people
have? Is it not at least possible we might
have done worse? We repeat that the
patience, perseverance and self-control oil