Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1876-10-11
RndIcnilsm in the sou,h.

1t is stated by the Republican
press and by speakers on the stump
that the Republican party is not
responsible for the universal pros
tration of business throughout
the country, nor to blame for fac
tories and mills being closed, for
furnaces unworked, for mines un-
operated, for a merchant marine
destroyed, for labor unremunera-
tive, for bankruptcies in CONNER
cial circles, for willing hands that
are idle, and for all the individual
suffering existing in all parts of the
country.
Admitting that in this wide spread
depression there is something which
must be attributed 10 causes for
which no administration or political
party is responsible, and something
TO causes for which the whole peo-
pie are chargeable, it is an un-
questioned fact that the party
which for the last sixteen years has
had entire control Of the govern
ment, making its laws, shaping its
taxes, disbursing its revenues, and
directing its affairs, foreign and do
mestic, must take the responsible
ity for all the evils under which the
country is groaning so far as they
exist in consequence of unwise
legislation or have been aggravated
by mal-administration.
In this connection we shall refer
more particularly to the South,
claiming that for the present con-
dition of the Southern States, and
for the condition Of the country so
far as it has been affected by the
condition of the South, the Repub-
lican party is almost wholly re-
sponsible, as we shall prove beyond
the possibility of successful con-
tradiction. 1t is undeniable that
the Southern States were greatly
impoverished by the civil strife
which extending over a period of
four years, wrought desolation to
her industries and the homes Of
her people. For that condition no
blame to the Republican party can
be imputed. 1t was a natural re-
suit of the folly of the people of
the South. They went into the
war with a full knowledge and a
keen appreciation of the tremend-
Gus issues staked on the result
They fought like men, were over
powered in the open field, laid
down their arms and surrendered, {
accepting with mingled pride and {
dignity and humiliation all the |
legitimate consequences of the dis
lster to which they had succumb- 5
ID. Y
But they had still left to them v
beautiful and prolific country, mag 6
lificent rivers on which to bear to a
market the produce Of their labors, II
orests Of the finest timber, mex /
riches of coal and iron 1
md all mineral wealth, genial sun, p
fright skies, a healthy climate, t.
monopoly of the cotton production, t
nd better than all, stout hearts, Il
trong arms, willing hands, and a p
will and purpose which no adverse Il
ate could conquer. s.
Left TO themselves in the con- T.
.ol Of their own affairs, protected T.
~ equal and just laws of the fed Il
raj government, they soon would fc
ave rung prosperity from the gen. W
rous soil beneath their feet, re- u
,uilt their broken homes, restored t
heir shattered fortunes, and scat a
cred with lavish profusion the sur 81
1lus Of their earnings among all W
he people Of the country. They II
would have speedily become richer W
nd greater and stronger than it p
vas possible for them ever to be fl
vLile slavery rested like a blight p
lpon their bright and sunny land o.
nd paralyzed their enterprise and
heir energies and every part of
his vast republic, every neighbor- -
Iood from the pine-clad hills of =.
laine to the mountain slopes of =,
he Pacific States, would have :,
haired in their prosperity and been -
by their well-doing. :.
But the strong hand Of the Re- :,
'ublican party was laid upon the :,
states and people of the South. >,
The Freedmen's Bureau, under 4,
retence of protecting the emanci- h,
atad elavas interfarad batuaap