Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-08-31
AMERICAN PATRIOTISM.
nY SETH Low.

| TcNINlnl, sometimes III scll-hnfrehucf
The Civil War was the ctowning effort o
our whole peoples self-surtcuder.
Time II not confusing the merits of tht
question which was linen snhmIltcd to til,
I sIbtramcnt Of battle. 1t should he said
/ in every presence and at all times, thu
those who fought for the Union fought fol
the right, while those who fought to de
, stroy the Union, fought for the wrong. 81
far ia time from confusing the merits ot
this question that, within n quarter ui u
century, muliitudcs OF those who Tough
for the lost cause have come to be glad
that their cause failed BY consequence
the renewed Union rests for its security in
the time tc come upon the capacity Ion
self-surrender, 80 magniicnntly displayed
by those who attempted to destroy the
Union in the Civil War, precisely as it
rests upon the same quality in those
sections of tho country whose loyalty
never was disturbed. This might not he
30 If the Civil War had lei, behind it any
permanent root Of perpetual weakness be-
tween the sections. But that war was not
more completely eilectual in putting down
rebellion Than II wus marvelously success :
iul in putting AN end to the causes of re-
bellion. Slavery has disappeared forever,
and with it has gone the doctrine Of tie
right OF secers,or, behind which slavery
made it's great battle for rcrpetuation.
| We may justly, therefore. found o,w con.
iilence in the destinios of the Republic
upon the capacity ol the whole people for
self-surrcndcr, which capacity has been go
recently displayed IN heroic fashion by our
countrymen both OF the North aud of the
South. The need of the present hour is
that the same spirit OF seli-sacrlfce shall
continue to display itself under the differ
ent forms approximate to times of peace.
While The war abolished slavery, it did
moi, because it could not, put an end to
all the troubles to which the country is
exposed because of slavery. Slavery as an
Institution has indeed perislcd, aud the
Political atmosphere OF the year before the
war; when slavery dominated every ques-
ton, has disappeared like miasma, but
the war has left in one section Of the comr-
uy large population in whom are found
the ignorance and superstition, the weak
ness and in experience, which centuries
Of slavery have entailed npun them. The
struggles of the Reconstruction period
| have given to the men of this race The bal.
| lot OF the American citizen. Americans
with their firm belief that no influence has
been set Mt work IN human society so
powerful in manhood suffrage, in the ele-
vatiOn in The masses of men, may well be-
lieve that this result, whatever may be its
Immediate aspect in the end will justify
itself.
The people OF the North who do not
come into personal contact with the diff
culties Of negro suffrage as it presents 1t
self to the South at the moment, ought by
all means TO strive TO put themselves in
their brothers place in the consideration
OF this matter. The first attitude which
is becoming, OH the part OF the Northern
people, in considering this question, would
seem TO be clearly spirit of profound
thankfulucss that no such problem lies at
their own doors. Even such ignorance as
exists in many Northern cities has taxed
their ingenuity to the utmost, without
producing in the government OF cities, re-
suits ui which, as a whole the North is ac-
cnstomed to boast itself. Such Ignorance
at the North has not, Indeed, resulted in
the disiranchisemen OF any citizen, but 1t
has very frequently resulted in the as
sumption by the state of powers which
have belonged 10 the locality and which,
except for their misuse by the locality,
would have been left undislurbed. The
and insignificant compared with that
which confronts the South in the citizen
ship of the multitudes OF uneducated, un-
trained and inexperienced freedmen. The
proportion OF voters who have not attained
10 the full intellectual stature necessary
for wise self government, is larger in the
South, and their shortcomings are greater.
BY consequence every valuable thing
which the cultivated and civilized man
holds precious Is exposed, in many parts
of the South, TO danger which we OF the
North can with difficulty appreciate,
Time, as it removes the older generation
and replaces il by those who have been
better taught, and taught not only in the
learning OF the primary school, bui by ali
the experiences which freedmen brings to
her children; time, IN doing all this,
lends constantly to ameliorate the situa-
ton, But time alone, without the sav,ne
grace OF American patriotism and Ameri-
can craftsmanship, cannot effect cure.
1t will not seriously be denied that the
Southern white men, wherever it haI
seemed to Them necessary in order to keeI
political control Of their own affairs out o
the hands of the blacks, have resorted Il
l methods which in the first instance in
, volved violence and intimidation, an,
, which even now involve the suppression o
e vote which by the laws is entitled TO b
- he cast. Two results flow from this con
J dltion Of things. The moral sense of III
, white men of the South is in danger @
4 being perverted by perpetual recourse l.
!. the plea that necessity knows no law
y Meanwhile the palpable fact that larg
= element at the South, which by dhe law c
e the United States is entitled to vote, is pre-
j vented from voting, gives 10 the North III
b feeling that in all elections in which III
e North and the South take part togethe
II the North is compelled to play agaIni
a loaded dice. This sense OF unfarness
e especially calling, because upon its surfac
e il seems 10 indicate that one of the resul
It attained by all the sell-sacrifice of WI
y being nullifed by indireclion. The sitr