New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-09-17
: NV .ORIRANS REPUBLIC SUNDAY SEPTEABER ~ 1916

1 G00D 6XefO1o0 H1D VW4 AASAAV1
NV Democratic friends think these
amendments have only been added to the
constitution. think, with the Republican
party. that they have worked fnnda-
| mental change in tho system from the DEM
ocratic standpoint Not only this, but the
war has reyOlutiOnixed Southern society.
BEFORE the war the North and South were
"a different az two nations or peoples could
be. Two different systems OF civilization
prevailed. One starting at Plymouth ROCK,
full of life and activity, the fermentation
| of q democracy pure and simple, acting in
an aggregate capacity for pu 5lic purposes,
| with something like paternal powers OF
| government, ard often trenching upon the
| domain of individual right, which system
has always characterized the free States of
| the North. IL was built upon the basis OF
freedom. The other, starting at james
| river, of an opposite nature, which de-
velOped strong individuality, ana regard
| ed the functions of government rs few and
| simple, in which there was little ipublic
| spirit or concerted action for public pur-
| poses. was the one which has always char
| acterized the States of the South 1t was
| bui!t on slavery. The one merges the in
| diyidual more in the community, but it de-
| yelops higher advancement and produces
| greater prosperity, and, when properly re-
| strained, is consistent with the highest de-
/ gree Oh peFbOuhl IlutIbN.
The other sinks the State below the con-
sideration OF the individual, and leaves all
action to the voluntary principle, which
dwarfs enterprise, neglects public schools.
and limits Improvement, and while it in.
spires personal independence and cultivates
ease, it destroy all public spirit, and leaves
the community stagnant. One WAS the
land of the hardy sous of tOil-the other of
elegant leisure. Northern society was
thoroughly demOcratic; Southern society
was barOnial and thoroughly aristOcratic.
The two systems have clashed. and one or
the other must 60 to the wall. 1t can not be
doubted which is to prevail. The nation
is to be homogenized on the basis Of free
labor and equal rights. No political party
can reverse the decree. 1t ia the legisla
ton OF war, which is the highest and
most authoritative kind of legislation, from
which there can DE no appeal but to another
war.
"CARPET BAG TYRANNY AND BAYoNEr
RULE"
l must confess to you that / was one
among those who do1bted the justice and
Weldon of the plan that was finally adopted
for the government Of the conquered
States. l was not of the party which
adopted the reconstruction measures. l
still believe that with proper cooperation
of the people of both sections, something
better might have been done than was
done. l am not here to say that everything
has gone right in the South. am not the
defender or apoloeist for the bad govern
ments that followed reconstruction, nor of
the men and measures identified with them.
But / have never been abls to see
the justice of the arrangement of the
North tor disposition to Cypress the South,
and of the charge made so often against
the Republican party, and which is reiter-
ated in the st. Louis platform, that the
measures of reconstruction and the cOnsti-
tutiOnal amendments were dictated from .
malicious desire to punish, harrass and
humi!iate the Southern people, placing
their former slaves to rule over them, and
that the condition OF these States is due to
the policy and operations Of the Repu blican
party OF the nation, which should be held
responsible.
There is not word of truth in this
charge. The North had no disposition to
Cypress the South at the end of the war. 1t
has no such disposition now. On the con-
trary, my fellow citizens. make the charge
here to-day, which believe the history of
these times will also make when it comes
to be correctly written, that tor every
Federal soldier that has come with a bayo-
net in his hands into the South, for every
bad law that has been placed upon the
statute books of these reconstructed States,
for every fraudulent bond that has been
issued, for every exorbitant tax that has
been levied, for every life sacrificed in race
conflicts, and for the general demoraliza-
ton that has resulted from the incapacty,
corruption aud inefficiency of these Safe
governments, the Democratic party is re.
sponsible, and the Northern Democrats
more responsible than the Southern Demo-
Gratis. 1t is a bold charge, but | believe it |
susceptible of the clearest proof. Let us
look into this matter a little. |
have already told you of the mistake |
that was made at the close of the war when |
the Southern people might have taken hold |
OF these quts IONS aztec ing the raof s, and |
have developed and formed new commune |
ties vii h Themselves on top, but did not |
Who is responsible for this mistakes |
Andy" Johnson and the Democratic party
When reconstruction came on a matter |
u necessity 10 defeat the plans of the re
actlonary Democracy, second mistake
was made by Southern people in failing and
refusing 10 come forwa ard Tor the purpose of
taking possession of the reconstr ucted gov
'rDments, directing and controlling them.
w no Is resppnslble for this mistake and |
Dlunder! IhiS same Democratic party. |
Now, my friends, it was not from recon-
tructiOr. but from the bad administration
# the reconstructed governments, that all
'our evils have resulted. The laws of Con
.ress eLiranchised the negro, but they did
lot dlsiranchise the white man. D,sabi!i.
les were imposed upon none except few
or Federal positions. Ali could have taken
'art IN the reorganization of their State |
governments. Bnt what do we find : The
atal policy Of EOn-actlOn was adopted. The |
atural leaders OF 5ociety abdicated; sullen |
Indifference took the place of cheerful CO. |
peration. Those Influences, capacity, in
diligence and moral worth which govern
4 all coDmunities whera they assert them
elves, were not felt. The places were lett |
acauf, sud, o. course, III the absence of
atter materI Al, they were unwOrthily filed.
Once in puwer hy default of the whites in
1ese States. IT wa natural, if not right, that {
10 carpet baggers," az they are called,
18th their negro following, should proceed | {
, entrenoh themselves. Accordingly we {
nd that other and greater disabilities were
nposed upon the exon tederate element, 8
IAN were imposed by the Reconstruction
IT'S OF Congress, for the purpose of per !
3tuatug themselves IN power. which it was | {
Ut nOssible for the North to prevent. In {
/ the reconstructed States these barriers t
avo u en gradually broken down, but not | I
ntil much mise net had been done. And i {
wv in none of the Southern States can the | J
epublicans keep power unless they have o t
ajority OF al the votes. have been here | &
ng enough TO know something about these | Y
governments" l think under i
and them; What they have done, and what s
ey have left undone; and know the prin- t
pal actors in Louisiana. Ii they had re- n
wed the corporation of the whites, they | d
Ould have q ne much better. Uuder the | O
rcumstsuces they might have done much
Drse. There is IL divided responsibility. | '
1T whatever may be said OF them, the | t
Drth is no more responsible for them tina | n
r the government of the Otaheite Islands. | il
lere is no reason that | have been able TO | Q
scover why tLese States in the South, if g
8 whites bad taken hold, might not have p
en governed like all other States, with il
paclty, honesty and intelligence on top. c
inra Ia Ed a Ip Hynla afinu | q