The Republican journal., 1876-07-27
The Kind OF Reform Needed il, the
South


The Lancaster, Pa, Intelligencer puts
very forcibly the matter really at issue in
the Southern States, and states correctly
the change needed to bring peace and
prosperity once more to that unhappy
| section 1t says IAN Intelligent and re-
liable correspondent, writing under his
| own signature, who has frequently, in for
mer years, told our readers of the condi-
tion Of things in his state Of Alabama, to-
day gives an account Of the change which
has been induced there by the expulsion
OF the Carpet-bag element from political
power, and the restoration of the govern
mcnt into the hands Of those whose high
est ambition as well as dearest interest is
the welfare Of the commonwealth and her
people. Two short years have there suf-
feed to bring about this change which our
| correspondent depicts What a commen-
tary is this upon the wisdom of the policy
advocated by the Democratic party and
pleaded for in Congress by its leaders
that to the people Of the South should be
left the work Of reconstructing their local
governments Wherever they have been
allowed to do this. law, order and equal
protection OF all classes have ensued in Il
degree commensurate with the freedom
which has been allowed the people to
regulate their own affairs Texas and
Virginia, the territorial extremes of the
South, almost from the first were thus left
to themselves, and scarcely had the last
echo Of conflict Of arms died away, ere
their people We're resolutely 1T work to
this end, and the good results have for
Years been apparent; their representatives
in Congress speak tor them, and no more
liberal minded and progressive members
hanA, where the military were retained to
fret the people. where carpct-bag govern
ments We're reared and sustained by fed
eral aid to rob them, and where the agents
OF the Republican party We're active in
fomenting q war OF races, there have been
disc0rd and strife, and hence has come
grst for the ceaseless grinding OF the out
rage mill. It took i long time for the
people Of the North to appreciate the fact
that Il section PROSTATE like the South,
and SO utterly vanqushed in battle as
We're its people, had no other interest than
in accepting the results OF the war and no
successful policy to pursue save in con-
ciiiating every clement OF citizenship to
build up and restore their country After
ten years they have obtained the chance
to do this and the result i'll Alabama, as
pictured by MIR. McCaa. the material pros
perity prevailing, the progress of educa-
ton, the protection OF all citizens and the
general reign of good feeling, are what
ma. he expected from every honest chance
extended to the people of the South to
s. reconstruct" themselves Democrats
per,lsing this letter cannot fail to do it
with satisfaction; honest Republicans dis
passionately weighing its contents cannot
but acknowledge the mistake OF policy
and principle made by their party i'll its
treatment Of the South and patriots of
every class must rejoice that the bloody
chasm il being closed BY the prospect Of
q return of equal prosperity, social order
and political stability to every part Of the
nation"
The letter in which reference is made,
we copy below, 1t will be seen that the
writer signs his name in full, and makes
himself responsible for the truth of what