Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-06-05


To the Editor of the New York Tribune:
SIR-The revolutionary movement
in Congress has awakened the mos,
thoughtful and the most anxious at.
reopen question which for several
months threatened our country with
renewal of civil war. That aues-
ton was finally determined by a high
tribunal created by and with the con
sent of the contending parties. The
decision of that tribunal was acaui-
esced in by those who confidently ex-
pected, but failed to obtain q verdict
in their favor. The President-clect
was peacefully inaugurated. He sig
nalized his advent to power by re-
handing tie governments of South
Carolina and Louisiana to democrat
ic contestants. His administration
has been marked, SO far, in its action
and sympathies, by manifest desire
to promote in every way, the welfare
of the south.
Nor is this all. A democrat was
invited into hi Cabinet, and liberal
share of Federal patronage was be-
slowed upon democrats who were &C.
lively engaged in war against the
government and the Union. Indeed,
the prOclivities Of the ad-
ministration in that direc-
ton have been 80 strong as greatly to
weaken its hold upon republicans
both north and south. The Potter
resolution, therefore, not only violates
faith, but is unprovoked and wauton,
and yet, with two exceptions, it re-
ceived q united democratic vote. At
ter all that President Hayes las done
for the south; between ninety and a
hundred southern Representatives
event back on him." This goes far
to justify what seemed severe reply
of a gentleman in this city, who was
asked what he thought of the Pres
inent's southern policy.
eve are forgiving," said Mr.. B.
"those who will never forgive us and
who despise us for forgiving them"
From this category l gladly except
the Hon. Alexander II. Stephens, who
had the political consistency and
courage to denounce and vote against
the resolution. 1t is to be hoped that
other ex-Contederates with whig an
tecedents, remembering when Mon
gum and Stanley, of North Carolina
Stephens and Dawson Of Georgia,
Bell and Gentry, of Tennessee, More
head and Metcalf, of Kentucky and
Clayton, Of Delaware, stood shoulder
to shoulder in Congress in supporting
all good and opposing all bad meas
ures, will emancipate themselves.
But it is not in . party aspect that
Mr.. Potter's revolutionary movement
is most to be dreaded. There is i'm
minent danger that this movement
may stimulate other bad elements in
to overt action. Communists, Trade
Unionists, Agrarians and Repudia-
tors stand at rest waiting their opor-
tunity. There 10 too much reason to
apprehend that Mr.. Potter has given
these bad elements their long hoped
for opportunity. There seems just
now CLEANS of hope that business
would revive. The unemployed and
the destitute were beginning to look
for better times. They have endured
privation with exemplary patience.
But there is point beyond which
endurance ceases to be q virtue."-
Whenever that point is reached, and
the Communists arc enabled to be.
guile the really industrious but I'M
employed laborers into their organi-
cations, they will become as danger
GUS and powerful as they are wicked
and destructive. The atmosphere is
charged with political electricity. I'll
these explosive trains should be ig-
nited by Mr.. Potter's match, those
with whom he is closely connected
will be among the first and largest
sufferers. T. W.
NEW YORK, May %, 1878.