National Republican., 1878-12-12
THE BLINDNESS OF CONSERVATISM.

THE BLINDNESS OF CONSERVATISM.
The Lynchburg Yrgiaida publishes q
liberal extract from our article in reply 10
the bitter and dsloyal criticism of the sa-
vannah (Ga.) Recorder upon the President 5
message, and characterizes what we say as
atrocious." The TirgiHiaa is q Conserva-
tive journal, which can see but one side of
the Solid South" and that is the Southern
side. ltcondemns nothing that is "atrocious"
or even moderately wrong in the South, nor
has 1t even word of commendation for that
which is palpably right In the Government
| or on the part ofthe North since the war 1t
processes to an ardent desire for "the restora-
tion Of ancient fraternity" between the
two sections of the country, and yet we have
to discover it in any degree counseling q
respect for the Constitution, the laws, and
the equal rights of citizenship when they
are trampled under foot by the Democratic
party. 1t has no word of rebuke for the
Recorder for its worse than "atrocious" senti-
ments in its comment upon the Presidents 5
aliusion to the lawlcssness OF the South and
his demand that the laws relating to the
elective franchise shall be respected at the
South MS they are at the North. 1t has no
condemnation for the call of the Recorder
upon the South to assume an aggressive po-
sition toward the Government and its de-
mand for q due respect for the Constitution
and the laws on the part of the South. Its
perceptiye faculties do not seem to discover
anything wrong in the demand of the Re
cordcr that the South shall speak out and
submit no longer to such impeachments
either from the President or the leaders of
the Republican party, when the impeach-
ments alluded TO is mild reference to the
outrages and defiance Of law and right that
have marked the history of the recent cleo
tions in several southern States None of
these things seem TO attract even the attcn-
ton, much less the condemnation, of our
Conservative contemporary. On the other
hand, they seem to meet with its
tacit approval, and it thus places
itself in line substantially with those
who antagonize the Constitution, the laws,
and the President. 1t seems to forget that
he has covered his official action with n
sacred obligation to enforce the Constitu-
tion and the laws and to throw the protecting
arm Of the Government around all the cfti-
zens Of the United States, without regard
to color, birth, or condition, and is doing
only his constitutional duty in presenting
the case to Congress as lie understands ii.
1t has not voice to applaud his action any
more than it has TO condemn the frauds,
wrongs, and butchcries that are resorted to
in nearly every Southern State TO secure n
party advantage at the expense Of every
principle of right and justice.
The IirgiaidR is not retcent in its att-
tude toward the Government and its sup
porters. 1t finds speech with which to de-
nOuuce the truth when it is held up in too
strong light to be grateful to its vision
1t is of this that the loyal people of this ma
tion now complain, and of which they will
continue TO complain until remedy comes
in some shape. The South have been
trusted until they have shown mmistak-
ably that they do not hold the Constitution,
the laws, aud rights of citizenship, or
even the Government itself in proper re-
spect under their relations to the nation
which recognizes but one Union, one Con-
stitution, one flag, and one Government
Their apparent fnithlGssness to these
warns of impending danger, and arouses the
loyal sentiment of the country everywhere,
both North and South. 1t is because the
South insults the loyal sense of the ma
ton by acts that are inconsistent with n
proper respect for law and right, that the
loyal press aud people raise a warning voice
and demand q suspension of the outrages
that have disgraced our civilization. And
this voice will not be hushed until right
prevails and wrong and outrage are prop
erly punished and entirely suppressed in
every State in the Union.
CASE or CoSSCIESCE