Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-03-18

/ presiue the vlrgllS OF purer Christian
/ spirit. The almost universal prevail.
ence of this spirit is imparting
strength to those elements of charac-
ter the complete exercise of which is
essential to the accomplishment of the
highest good. Freedom of political
liberty federation of political discussion,
cessationfrom sectional strife, the steady
yielding of the popular mind to the
conviction that the negro has civil
rights in the proper exercise of which
he must be respected, and the general
predominance of peace and good will
toward all men, are facts cherished by.
every lover of human progress.
He who manfully lays aside the gor-
ing shackles of party bondage, and
breaks away from those imaginary en-
dearments of traditional ties which
only claim him to an accursed preju-
dice, and by word or deed seeks the
perfection of this well-begun work, is a
public benefactor. He who clings yet
to the venomous animosities of the
past, ard lives amidst the din and car
mage Of battles long since ended, and
by word or deed stays this grand up
ward march of peace, prosperity and
union, is only public curse The war
is ended, the cannon's dreadful NUT.
terings are hushed. On many bat
tle-field lie bleaching the bones of no.
ble men who fought and died on either
side for principle. Victory was perch
on but one banner, defeat only on the
other. The defeated standard has fall
Ell to rise no more. Let us heal the
wounds OF this terrible civil strife, for
there is no more bloody chasm. Let US
be brethren. am free to confess that
the election of Mr.. Cleveland - or,
| which is of more comprehensive inn
portance, the ascendency of the Demo-
cratic party to the administration of
the government, while it has not been
entirely Satisfactory to certain class
of politicians and greatly displeased
many good and true men, has, never
theless, been blessing to our country.
1t has displaced fear by restoring con-
fidence in the loyalty and patriotism
of the whole people.
We no more believe that the South
is seeking through the Democratic
party the destruction of the govern
ment. We no more fear the ultimate
restoration of slavery. 1t has remov-
ell distrust from the brow of thou
sands. and to-day we are stronger in
bands of union-union of heart and
hand-than at any other period since
tie war of the rebellion. A simple de-
nial of this statement will not remove
the fact. No nation can be truly i'm
union when one-half of it stands in
continual fear and distrust of the other
half. Confidence is the basis of all true
national greatness and progress. Where
this essential element is lacking, there
can be no true union, no strength. The
I Republican party came into power at
time when it was convenient to per-
petuate fear and distrust. 1t was this
ruling sentiment which gave the Re-
publican party so long a lease of pow
er. One half of the nation feared that
the return of the Democratic party to
the administration Of the government
would be rujnous to the highest inter-
ests of the country-it would plunge
the nation, once more, into the ire
trievable vortex of rebellion aud slav-
cry. Such terrible revolution Of
political opinion as would restore the
Democratic party to power, was equiv
alent to catastrophe" by many, by
others, "a national calamity" In the
South the negro was made believe that
the election of Cleveland was the re-
turn of slavery-one man actually
murdered himself in Memphis, on
learning of his election. preferring
death, as he said, to q return to his
master. These fears prevail 10 more.
And while we are all neither Demo-
Gratis nor Republicans, we feel as secure
under the administration of the one
party as under that OF the other. Par
ty affiliation will M more quadrate
with well defined political lines as here
tofore. In the future 10 party will
claim, on its simple record Of the past,
la monopoly of the natioil's voters. Par
ty allegiance, cemented with dead is
sues, will no longer trammel political
faith and choice. The negro realizes
now, as never before, that he Is truly
free man. He is seeking intelligently
the path which conducts to his high
est development. He is walking in a
purer atmosphere and brighter sun
shine. He is no more a political slave.
He is reaching up into the dignity of
/ that manhood which scorns to ac-
knowledge slavish submission to the
behests of any man or party. 1t is the
turning point in his history. Break
ing away from the superstitions and
associations of the past, lie looks for
ward to the destiny of himself and his
posterity. There need be no further
annoyance of the negro problem. Free
ly accord him all the privileges and
immunities to which he is lawfully en-
titIed-treat him as O man and citi-
zen, your equal before the law-and he
himself will solve the problem. There
is but the one destiny for ou. great
composite nationality. This land is
ours in common-ours by every tie