The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-01-07
Sensible Courage.

/ Ig0uQtngS A00 98oocl9S1Onee In this way Il
ia ill-bred to glorify ones country or sec
ton in comparison with Others. Bat wher
such comparisons are avoided il il some
times not only permissible, but advisable
| TO call the attention OF q people to com
mendSble features Of their own history.
1t can hardly be taken aDiss, NE think.
| il just At this time We dwell with come
cOmplaeeucy upon the GOODNESS and discre-
ton which have characterized the Southern
people of this Union in the trials that
they have had to undergo since their fail
ure in the late war. They have been dis
frsnchised, plundered and goaded to dee-
peration by most ingenious and degrading
| insults Their former slaves have been
tauntingly pat on a political level with
them, and in States where negroes were in
the mai GRITTY, the powers of government have
been placed in their hands. Negro govern
ment has proved itself 70 be, what every
| thinking man knew it would be, hideous
mockery. 1t was from the first . mere in
strumentality of refined but cruel plumber.
Its powers were eopfdsd to adventurous
whites aad disreputable eolored men, whose
POeC cCSAAC0 W OC WIG COtlcCIsOC
and appropriation of every cent that could
be extorted from an impoverished people.
They were too cunning to eonhscate all the
property in direct form, for that would
have been to kill the goose that laid the gol-
den egg. but they exhibited marvellous skill
in jast missing that catastrophe.
A more humi!iA,ing IS we'll as oppressive
condition can hardly be imagiced. The
people were daily brosgbt in contact with
the scouudrels who robbed them and who
did not hesitate to add inso,erce 20 their mi
guilty the form OF self government was
kept up, but every valuable exercise of suf
frage was naIlifed by some ex post .fdeto
legislator or Returning Board perjury.
Let Us RENE Der that in the hands of the
people was hundred fold the necessary
power 20 hurl all these rascals into the
river and brush away their usurpation as
cobweb. Blu: though justice and feeling
both combined to counsel such q course,
reason opposed it. 1t would be unavailing.
1t WAS clear that the whole military force of
the nation would, if necessary, be used to
put down and punish such an outbreak. At
the same time 9 different couEse, one
of persistent effort By peaceful methods,
might finally achieve the cure of the
evil. The alternative wac, then revenge
without redress, or probable redress
through patient forbearance. Passion
for the former; reason counseled
the latter.
Reason prevailed. Weknow that history
will write down this achievement as grand
and as rare as all the heroism of the last
war. There is among men no lack of impe-
tuous bravery, but cool, deliberate fortitude
is much rarer. 1t 10 that courage which
exists and acts of it's own strength indie
penGently of stimulus it can live without
enthusiasm and coldly bide its time. 1t is
courage intellectualized, and fights its
battles with policy as we'll as with arms.
There is dignity, too, in it's course, for it
avoids the ignominy, as we'll, as the ruin, of
unnecessary failure.
The Southern people had controlling
object in yiew-;he reestablishmeut of good
government and temporal prosperity. Re-
vepge called aloud for violence, but violence
would defeat this leading object revenge
was put aside for policy and passion subju
gated by reason. The iendish government
of usurpation tried by every develish tauut
and srtifce to provoke an outbreak, but
Southern intelligence was too clear sig hted
not to discover the snare and Southern wis
dom proved to be of as fue a temper as
Southern valor.
Steadily the grand policy of peaceful and
persistent effort has been pushed Oh until
success has crowned it with q signal vic
tory. That victory is, indeed, disputed by
the same audaeity which has despotised over
this country for years, and which even
now hopes fer come Southern indiscredon
that may arrest the current of restora-
ton. But there is no sign of any such mis-
adventure. The people of this section are
as firm a. ever in their policy, satis-
fed that it is the only way to win under
present conditions.