Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-14
pEcoNsTRucTIOy.

Under the caption. 1.-The Fourth IN the
South" the Springfield (Mass) kepuplican
reproduces. with running connecting eoi-
,or,al comment. accounts Of how the ami
versary OF the birth OF the nation was
celebrated In number OF the towns ara
cities OF this section.
The Republicans comments are In soou
spirit. and are singularly free from 'he
patronizing tone the average northern
paper generally assumes In treating oi
what Il is pleased to term evidence OF
"reawakening Of southern loyalty IN
deed, it is but justice TO the hepuo'can
70 say that for years 1t has, as a RUE
been sIngularly void OF offence IN 'his
respect.
INT In It's final comment-in It's climax
Of oxultation and felicitation' so 10 SPEAK
our contenoporary IL unfortunate In us
choice of words. 1t stirs "reminiscences
that are anything but creditaoie 10 IT'S
marty. what a miracle of reconstrue'ioii
~ national undty!" exclaims the hepup"-
can. ",
"Reconstructionw save the mark II
,bero is any word that stinks more IN the
roe,rils Of the southern people than that
word. we don't know where IL can NC
found. II there IS any word with wh'ch
more reproach TO the nation is assoeid'eu
we are not aware of its existence II
Glands in our history for corruption ce-
haucberv. malice, political vamplflsm,
envy bavonet rule, the prostitution vi
the judicial ermine to political ends' ana
-, asrort N MACE the necks Of the white
people of the South under the heeis u
their former slaves.
PINT for reconstruction better feeilns
wouId have existed between the Noi'"
and the South years ago. the Sou'h az
cented tina decision Of Appomattox IN goou
faith. and prepared to go TO Work u VI
eanize honest government IN the seNo'''
States. and to build up her waste PiuOo''
Rut she was permitted to do neither iiei
territory was divided into satrapies' sne
was overrun by a horde of carpet-passciS
o,a ecalawaes: with iron hand, "al the
M of conquered state" were pressed
upon her; she was made the Vlc''iii VI =
saturnalia of plumber, and was ioioo0
~ drink the cup of Illumination 10 'he
drocs when at last she was again ao-
nitted into the Union she had TO submit
a. forms that were unconstitutional, see
inc that the amendments to the Consutu-
lion she was required 20 ratify were
ratified under duress. And all these
crimes were inspired by and perpetrateu
NV the Republican party. to the END 'ha'
Il might perpetuate its grip on power
Yes. while the South is as true 10 'he
Union as any other section, the Repuph-
can considering the party IT trains with'
is unfortunate in it's climax. And YET
IN another respect its slip may be fortu-
nate. In view of the Republican record OF
extravaQant lust and corruption In ad-
ministering the affairs Of the conquered
nrovinces of the South after the war IL
NAV cause thinking men to ask whether
/ there is not moro behind the Republican
policv of expansion than a desire 10 IN
| crease the greatness and glory OF the
nation. 1t may cause the masses TO ASH
whether il would not be wise TO call tC
the settlement OF the problems growing
out of our war with Spain the Demo
cratic party-the party that hnallI
brought the South out of the bondage ant
the night of reconstruction, and turned
( her face TO the morning.