West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-04-25
Reconstruction Days.
From a Special Contributor.

From Special Contributor.
Our country has passed through period
OF time known to history as the "Period of
Reconstruction" A time almost equaling
in importance the days which made recon
struction necessary.
Rebuilding being necessary there mus,
have been dissolution or rupture in the
network joining our States. This was the
case and is known as 'iSecession"--,he first
act of the distinctive American ,ragedy enii-
lied "'rhe Rebellion"
An wha, marvellous days were those in
which the Tragedy" was brough,io eli
max and the separated were united, the mas
ter made surf. aud surf master.
From the year 1906 to 1876 constitute
these Reconstruction Days. This was the
time when the Southern States which had
withdrawn from the Union were making an
earnest eifor, to reins,ate themselves.
At the close Of the war both the Southern
white man and the negro found themselves
in the midst Of poverty. The ex-master
returned from the war to find not only his
slave property gone but his farms and build
ings and other industries in state of col
lapse, and the entire economic system upon
which he had depended for years entirely.
disorganized.
As we review calmly and dspassionaiely
the period Of reconstruction, we must exert
our latent sympathy and generosity. The
weak point in those days was that no strong
force was brought to bear in the direction
preparing the negro to become an honest,
reliable citizen and voter.
The main effort seems to have been in the
direction Of controlling his vote for the time
being. regardless of future interests.
Hardly any race of people with similar
preparation and surroundings would have
acted very differently from the way the
negro acted during those times.
Without experience, without preparation
and in most cases without ordinary inielli-
gence, he was encouraged and iured from
the field and shop into politics. That under
such circumstances he should have made
mistakes land bad onesl is very natural.
~ tue uhsCfhpuiOuS Wnitc iCauefs VINO GOT
the negro's confidence and controlled his
vote to further their own ends--if the de-
tes,able Carpet baggers" who did likewise
had been curbed in their selfish purposes by
proper voting qualifications being applied
to both white and black--the conditions to-
day would be quite different.
II would have been better for all con
eerned If, Immediately after the close Of the
war. an educational aud property quali6ca-
ton for the exercise of the franchise had
been prescribed that would have applied
fairly and equally to both races. If the
negro was to vote at all, it should have been
by all means, upon an equal basis with the
whites.
Based upon these thoughts Of equal rights.
the legislators Of today are working aud
those Of them who have helped shut the
gates Of equal rights" against the ill,eracy
of this Countryside il black or white--are
to be highly commended and approved as
men who want to serve their county. May
all that was neglected and forgotten in the
days Of reconstruction, in The way Of proper
legisladng and the minisiedng Of justice, be
realized in these later days for the days OF
reconsmcdon are not ye, over.
A TEACHER.