Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-09-12
Political Magnanimity.

Among 5uIue peISOuS WIN arc NV
very ardent politicians there is preva-
lent an impression that the policy of the
Republican party is to maintain in the
South an open sore, to prevent recon-
ciliation and lasting peace, so that
the party may be able to make for itself
capital out of the outrage business. 1t
is quite possible that a purpose of this
kind may be entertained by few Re-
publican politicians of inferior import
ance, but only gross ignorance or Dem
Ocratic malignity could accuse either
the foremost men in the party or the
great mass Of its members of such de-
sign. Every intelligent man in the
countrtis well aware that the thorough
pacification Of the South and the resto-
ration of the entire region to condt-
ton of civilization and prosperity are
matters IN which the North has the very
highest interest. There is nothing
needed nov to give final stimulus to
Northern industry and to develop our
domestic commerce to the most prohta-
ble eHtent but the restoration Of the
Southern market. If the South were
filled with an industrious population, ii
the earth under advanced methods of
agricultute should yield the full meas
ure of her increase. and if the region
had abundant wealth instead of deep
poverty, the North would feel the ef-
feets of such prosperity in every mill
and shop and factory within her boun-
diaries. Simply from commercial
point of view, every man in this part of
the country has a powerful motive for
wishing that the troubles in and with
| a
we might live with the Southern people
in good fellowship, contributing to their
welfare while they contributed to that
of the entire country.
The political reasons why the North
ern people should desire peace and
amity are equally strong, dnd they have
special weight with the Republican
party. 1t is the Democratic party, not
the Republican that profits by the con-
tinued prevalence of bitter sectional
feeling. The one great peril to which
the Republican party is exposed to-day
comes from Southern hatred of the
North. The Solid South Is TO 1t per-
potual menaca. and the most fortunate
thing that could happen for it would be
the destruction of that solidity. If it
had been possible to conduct the coming
Presidential campaign purely and sole
ly upon a financial issue, or upon some
other issue which should have left
questions of race and section and the
old heart-burnings of the war COM
pletely out of consideration, the lead
ers of the Republican party and its
rank and file would have welcomed
with Joy the opportunity. They could
have carried their campaign into the
South, they could have divided the
people of the region and they could
have fought upon even terms the great
antagonist who now comes into the fray
with eleven States assured to it, and
guaranteeing that it shall have their
support by means of intimidation, vio-
lence and robbery of the constitutional
rights of the negro. That an ignorant
Southerner or an embittered and unre-
pentant rebel should believe that North
ern Republicans hate him as he hates
, them, and are eager to traffic upon that
J hate, is not unnatural; but there can be
no excuse for "A Northern man who has
the truth plainly exposed before him
| and is we'll aware not only that no such
sentiment exists here, but that our high
est and best interests impel us in 8
wholly different direction.
} It would seem, indeed, as if there
had been supplied enough proof of thi:
fact to have convinced any reasonable
man, no matter what the violence ol
his prejudices. History contains NJ
exhibition of magnanimity so remark
able as those which have been made by
the Republican party since the war. L
had the South at its feet when the grea
conflict ended, and if it had chosen i
could have overthrown the State gov
] ernments utterly, it could justly have
r punished the Infamous authors o
the rebellion with death, and i
, could have excluded the rebel
: lious communities for years from
participating in the government
Q of the country. Instead, it restored th'
Z State governments, it pardoned every
4 rebel, from the highest to the lowest
t and it was so generous IN removing
< every obstacle To the return OF Southern
: Representatives to Congress that to-day
/ the world looks upon the remarkable
spectacle of Congress filled with ant
r controlled by the very men who onl.
a fourteen years ago were in the tiel'
: fighting for the destruction of the Gov
Y ernment. Moreover, the very first thin.
y that was done by President Hayes whel
8 he assumed office as the representative
= of the Republican party was to addres
+ himself with energy, and with wha
4 some persons regarded as little to-
8 much enthusiasm, To the work OF paci
y fying, pleasing and coneiliating th'
,' Southern people. But his efforts, a