The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-05-24

OF roses. There has never been Glars OF
persons, so cruelty misjudged and villifed
as those native to the South who have
deemed it a duty to support the national
government. 1t mattcred not what their So
cial standing c. their identity with the ma
terial interest of their section, the fact that
they announced their political convictions
and courageously adhered to them, was suf-
ficient to Ovcr-balance all other claims to
consideration, and constitute them the OBJ
iect of the most ll-tenpered and vitupera-
tive abuse and denunciation by the political
leaders Of the opposition. The great mass
of the people did not really sympathizc with
this unsparing defamation Of those of their
fellow citizens who chose to differ with them
as to the demands Of duty, but were indi-
rectly made to endorse it through the oper-
alton of party machinery controlled and d.
rectea by the political agitators, whose only
hope was in irritating prejudice and ihflam-
ing passion. SO persistent was this 0cnun-
citation by writers and speakers, and SO lin
tied were the means of defense Of those who
were thus wronged and outraged, that many
Northern Republicans were inclined to the
belief that to be Southern Republican was
simply to escape from social contempt, be-
cause of compromised integrity, to endure
the less offensive odium Of political proscrip-
ton. 1t rarely occurred to those in the
Northern States who constitute the wealth
and intelligence Of that section. that 1t re-
quired more true moral courage, deeper con-
victions Of duty, and more perfect and
| unique manhood to confront the current Of
feeling and prejudice in the South, In sup
port Of the government, than to float with
| the current in the North, in maintaining
! the same cause. It was not q difficult duty
for the people of the North to proclaim
| their adhesion to Republican principles 1t
1 implied no sacrifice there to assert and de-
fend national sentiment, and to demand
that all the immunities of citizenship pro-
vided by the laws and Constitution should
| be respected. The education of the people
| was in harmony with the requirements OF
statutory and fundamental law, and any
manifestation of the absence OF fealty to the
accomplished results OF the war, was re-
garded as treason, to be visited with popular
rebuke and condemnation. The highest
evidence Of loyal devotion to the govern
ment was to be associated with the Republi.
can party. Not only did it represent the
national sentiment of the country, but it
reflected the intelligence and wealth Of COM
munity, and appealed to the social as well
political pride Of all classes. 1t was power,
it was responsibility, it was the highest duty
of citizenship. .s
In the South it was different. 70 be Re-
publican was to antagonize the prejudices,
the education and the very instincts Of the
people. 1t is true they had accepted the
amendments to the Constitution, recognized
the political and civil equality Of all men,
and entered into covenant to fully carry
into effect all that was implied in the deter.
limitations Of war. But centuries OF educa-
ton, entering into the moral being of socie.
ty. could not be obliterated in day by g
parchment scroll. Although peace and
prosperity were involved in the earnest an6
practical adoption OF the laws as they are
with all their guarantees sacred, the revolu.
ton was too sudden, the reversal of tradi
tional habits and convictions too sharp ani
severe, to be received and incorporated into
} the autonomy Of States, whose political poll
) ties and social systems had ever stood out II
} stubborn and fragrant contrast to the idea
: commended. Prejudice was too fierce
passion too sensitive to yield all at once Il
the demands Of reason and the logic OF ire
: ycrsible events. A few men in the Soutt
: comprclended the necessity Of the situation
} and were fully impressed with the belle
that duty to their section demanded an ef
, fort to stem the tide OF blind rage that wa
recklcssly precipitating the people into IN
necessary and suicidal complications, which
! could terminate in no other than harmful
J results. They determined to at. least make
} an effort to arrest the reactionary current
and to impress upon the popular mind tina
there was but one road to peace and pros
perity, and that was to obey the laws ant
) respect the rights they guaranteed. 1t re.
quired courage Of no ordinary mould to thu
confront the predispositions and prejudicel
: of the people, who were stimulated in thei
J resentments by the appeals of designing
J demagogues, whose selfish ends were to b.
accomplished by sectional strife. It implied
sacrifice of personal friendships, in man!
instances, OF social freedom and respect
and of all local political preferment-a war
ly against them, and the result anything
but encouraging. They, however, bravell
met the issue, and with an energy and viii
never before exhibited in the political strife
} of the country, stood firm to their con
, victions, until to-day the policy they pro
claimed is recognized throughout the Soutl
as that which it is duty to accept ant
adopt. The Constitution and the laws will
the rights of citizenship they secure, are il
full force, with the assurances from all loca
authorities that there shall be no impair
ment of their provisions or compromise o.
their guarantees.
While the Southern Republicans have
thus commended for the recognition Of ma
tional authority and the enforcement Of ma
tional laws, graphing successfully will
deeply imbedded prejudices at home, and op
posing forces representing the intelligence
and wealth of their section, how have they
been sustained and encouraged by the ma
tional authority in whose behalf they have
endured and suffered so much? Although
representing eleven States, the theatre where
this unequal struggle has been maintained
they have no one to speak for them in the
Cabinet, on the Supreme Court, or In the
higher grades of the diplomatic service
They are not embraced IN national recogni-
ton, as the equals of those States where il
is an easy matter to maintain national SEN
timent, and to uphold national authority
where the metal OF men Is mot tested, Aea
their devotion to convictions proven as il by
fire. The history of no country has ever de.
veloped higher moral heroism, more
sacred conviction Of duty, than have been
displayed by the Republicans of the South.
They have encountered obloquy, derision
!