The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-09-07

shall not recall the causes of the fratricidal
| war now closed. Nor will L seek to quicken
| your pulses by any recital of brave deeds
grandly done for liberty and union.
WHY WE FOUGHT.
We fought the war of the Rebellion to save
this nation and to save free government for
this nation. We did not fight it to degrade the
South nor to enslave a section.
RECONSTRUCTION.
When the war had ended we offered recon-
structlon to the States and to our fellow-citi-
zens lately in rebellion upon terms that were
generous; terms that impartial history will
surely record to have been very generous;
terms that the most thoughtful men of the
South are already sincerely regretting that
their Sc ction did not accept. Those terms were
rejected. We were.then confronted with this
problem: Shall we hold these States in terrific:
rial condi tlon or shall we at once reorganize
them and complete their full and practical res
toration to the Federal Union? We chose the
latter course. We clothed all the blacks with
the full rights of citizenship. We forgave tie
treason OF nearly all who had shared in the
Rebellion. The States thus reconstructed re-
spmed their Federal relations.
SOUTHERN WHITES.
Then came the second mistake on the part of
the great majority of our Southern fellow -cti-
zens. 1t was so great mistake as to prove
very serious and permanent misfortune. They
mostly declined to take any part in the new or
der of things. They would not vote themselves.
They discouraged their fellows from voting.
They stood aloof, sore, proud, sullen. They
called any Northern man who came among
them and took part in politics, by the Hospital
BILE name of "carpet-bagger." They encour-
aged any Southern man, who united in politi-
cal effort with the blacks or with the Northern
immigrant, by the soothing and endearing title
of 'scalawag.' They applied the most potent
OF SOCIAL forcos, the force of fashion and of So
clai influence, to prevent any political effort
that would educate and elevate the ignorant
negroes or create any really loyal and progress
sive party in their states. Did a Northern
man go South and act with the Conservative or
Democratic party, they gave him hospitable
welcome. Did he entirely abstain from all
political action and all expression of political
opinion, they mildly tolerated him. Did he
exercise our Northern habit of free speech and
independent voting, they either socially ignor-
ed or openly despised him.
SOUTHERN BLACKS.
Now there could be but one result to all this,
and that result came. The government of the
SOutuOIu StdleS pdSScu COuITOl OIL
the blacks and of such whites as politically
acted with them. These blacks had mostly
been slaves, and were what slavery had made
them. The wonder is, not that they did so
poorly with their new found freedom, but that
in their enforced ignorance they did so well.
They were duped by designing leaders. They
legislated recklessly, foolishly often corruptly.
They piled up debts without thought and
loaned the public credit without stint. But in
two great respects they were wise beyond their
generation, and builded far better than even
their cultured masters knew. They always
planted the safeguards of personal liberty deep
In the organic law, and, whatever else they did
or omitted, they always built school houses,
and made liberal provision for general popular
education.
NO REAL FREE SPEECH AT THE SOUTH.
The results of ignorant rule are always and
everywhere the same-corruption and ineffi-
cheney. These evils caused increased taxation,
and soon in self-defence the mer, who had sui
lenly abstained from taking part in the govern
ment, were compelled to act. But true to the
terrible and deadly education of slavery, even
when they acted they fatally Numbered still.
They either forgot or could not comprehend the
new conditions of freedom for all men. They
first sought to cajole their late slaves to sell
their votes, and when this effort failed, they re-
sorted to the old argument Of the bludgeon and
thesrihe. 1 would utter no word to infame
passion or revive prejudice, and yet a candid
review of this Southern problem compels me to
say deliberately to-day, that after careful in
quiry | am satisfied that nowhere in the states
lately in rebellion, is there any such freedom
OF discussion, opinion and action, as we under
stand by free speech and a free ballot here at
the North can go to Charleston and Mobile
and safely say all that l now say here. But
the man who holds my opinions and thus utters
them in Charleston or Mobile is socially ostra-
czed from cultured families, and even upon
change and in business circles is given the cold
shoulder Ii you leave such city centres and
go to the cross roads and upon the plantations,
the advocacy Of Republican ideas is physically
unsafe, and in many districts none but very
brave man dare even vote Republican ticket.
NECESSARY RESULT.
To all this method and path there comes but
one ending. Capital will not venture where
such conditions exist Where violence intmi-
dates, freedom dies, and all true progress is
hsndered. Schoolhouses go to ruins, and the
rising generation become ignorant DULLES if
they are white, and ignorant towards if black.
The future of such Democratic is simply horri-
BILE to contemplate. And yet under existing
conditions it is lust as certain to come as that
tomorroW's sun will rise.
WHAT Is THE REMEDY?
What is the remedy? As wise men we
ought no to let this drift on. As brave men
we cannot The South is already almost fused
into solid unit for the Democracy. The
Southern electoral vote may control this Presi-
dental election. You know, as we'll as 1 can
picture, what danger this means to the nation
al credit what possible and enormous increase
to the national debt, what perils to our indus
tries, what recklessness in legislation. There
is but one remedy. speak it With hesitation,
but it were weakness to withhold the words
a united South must be met, defeated, and kept
an check by united North at the ballot boa,
precisely as the united South a0as met and de-
feoted By united North on the field of battle.
TRUE KINDNESS TO THE SOUTH
Ispeak these words sadly, reluctantly, but
kindly. To do this is not only duty to the ma
ton, it is the highest kindness to our brethren
of both races and all classes at the South.
There can be no true peace, no general and
enduring prosperity at the South until each
and all comprehend, respect and secure the
rights of all. Each school-house that is burned
| binders the building of factory. Each black
man murdered binders the coming of some in
telligent white farmer or mechanic Each
| wrong done anywhere not only begets some
new injustice, but binders the doings of some
| actual good.
THE HAPPIER SOUTH OF THE FUTURE.
By continued and assured Republican sue
cess at the North and in the nation, we must
| hold the South firmly but very tenderly We
must hold the South until the prejudices of
| race have been weakened, until the bitterness
of defeat has been assuaged, until the memory
| of struggle has passed. Surely if we are true
| to the nation and to the best ideas of liberty,
| there will come time when our Southern fell
| low-citizens shall know that we deeply love
| them and heartily wish them WELL Surely
| there shall come time when they shall seek
| to educate all their people, without regard to
race or color. Surely there shall come a time
| when they will learn that the only corner-stones
of truly great and prosperous state are equal
| and exact justice, universal education, absolute
| freedom of thought and speech, with complete
| federation by all to all.
Then shall rise South, free because just,
| and strong because free, happier because puri-
| fled by great suffering, and thrice crowned be-
| cause OF grand victory won over self.
NExy DFDIr ALTON OF TIJE pEprrpr 7, .prxr