The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-25
A Northern Confession.

n
We publish elsewhere some eNtsaeAs
from n book entitled Reconstruction ana
tho e,onsti.ution.', by Professor John Will
liam Burgess, of Columbia College. New
York. which gives fair insight into the
views Of the intelligent and honest men
of the North concerning the manner IN
which the South was treated after she
Ind been overcome by the Northern
forces. and forcHbly brought back into
the Union Professor Burgess says trat
.,he conduct of the men who appeared
upon the scene at this time as the crea-
o.ore Of the new South was so tyrannc.
corrupt. mean and vulgar rs to repel the
historian from attempting any detained
account of their doings, and inclined them
TO the vaguest outline"
No wonder the Northern historian is
ashamed to record the facts of that In
famous period. No wonder the North de-
sires to blot out that record completely.
Professor Burgess denounces reconstruc-
tIon MS "a punishment so far In excess
Of crime that 1t distinguished every sense
Of culpability upon those whom it was
sought Ia. convict and convert But
there was no crime and there
was no sense of culpabiiity wisii
the men of the South who had
battled for their constitutional rights
and This made the punishment all the
more mean and outrageous. 1t is now
confessed by such men as Charles Fran
cis Adams that secession was at least
aebatable question; that the Constitution
left the matter OF State sovereignty in
doubt; that each and every citizen was
eomnelled TO decide for himself as to
whether his allegiance belonged to the
1-rIon or to his state and that whichever
uev he decided. he decided right. Yet,
after having been beaten into subiection'
recommendation was visited upon the South
In a spirit OF vengeance, the negro was
enfranchised. the whites were disfran-
chised carpet baggers were sent to rally
the negro vote and use it for the furthS
subsection and humiliation of the whites;
the bottom rail was on top; the white
race was put under the heels of the negro.
There is something natural" says
Professor Burgess, Gin the subordination
OF an inferior race to superior race,
even to tho point of an ensldvement Of
the inferior race, but there is nothing.
natural in the opposite. 1t is entirely
unnatural, ruinous and utterly dcmoraliz-
ing and barbarlzing to both races" That
is the testimony OF a Northern man, who
has given the subject careful study and
intelligent consideration. In view of this
outrage, Professor Eargess Says that no
zane mind can wonder Mt the Solid
South" Happiness, honor, civilization,
everything which makes existence en-
the decent white men of the
South should stand shoulder 20
shoulder in defending their families,
their homes and their communities from
any return of the vile plague under which
they had suffered so long and so cruelty,
and human instinct determined that this
should be done in connection with that
party which was hostile to the Republican
party. The difference which leads to a
fair fight and the wounds which arc re-
ceived in 1t are easily healed, but indig-
mites heaped upon q fallen foe create n
bitterness of heart that lasts so long as
life endures."
The Republican party was responsible
for the war, and IL that had been ALL II
the survivors in the South had been
treated with common dccency, they Nigh,
have found it in their hearts to forgive
their enemies aud conquerors. But the
Republican party was also responsible To-
reconstruction, which was a war of COW
ardiee and vengeance, whose object was
to bring humiliation and degradation upor
T. fallen foe, For this crime the South ha.
never forgiven the Republican party, an,
has never allowed it 10 get q footholt
south of Mason and Dixon's line.
There is some comfort however. in tn
tact that at least one Northern man ha
had the courage to confess and denounc
t1e crime and TO say that it was withou
excuse OF any pplliatlng circumstance
fiQreattag. when any Northern man stand
~ @ Inquire Why the South is solii
sgoaet the Republican party. we sha1
have grim pleasure in citing them t
Professor BRrgess's book.
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