The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-25
Reconstruction
. AND THE CONSTITUTION
Some Pertinent Observations BY
Northern Pro-
fesgor.
BY JOHN ". BURGESS.

4
Order and peace were quickly estab-
lished everywhere, and the plundered and
impoverished South could Mt last take
hope and feel courage to make n new
effort to recover some degree OF pros
perity and some measure OF domestic
content. For ten years the dark night
OF domination by the negro and adven-
turer had rested upon this unhappy sec
ton, until 1t had been reduced to the
very abomination Of desolaton. Broken
in health and fortune sick ut heart,
conscious of tho terrible degradation
which had been imposed upon them, and
politically ostracized, the better part OF
the white population of the South had
staggered and CROPPED through the hideous
experience of this period. and such or
them us had not persisted during the
awful passage had now at las been
relieved of the frightful scourge, and
hulf-dazed. az " just recovering from n
terrible nightmare, found themselves
again in the places of power and rcspon-
sibillty. But they brought with them, as
their dominant passion, undylng hatred
of tho Republican party as the anthor
OF all their woes, and as Their dominant
policy, the stern and unbendinS resolve
to stand together as one nldn against
every movement which had even the
slightest tendency toward 4 restoration
Of the hated conditions from which they
had escaped No sane mind can wonder
at ''the solid South" Happiness, honor.
civilization. everything which makes ex-
istence endurable, demanded that the de.
cent white men of the South should stand
shoulder to shoulder in defending their
| families. their homes and their communi-
ties from any return of the vile plaguo
under which they had suffered so long
and SO cruelty; and human instinct de-
termined that this should be done in con-
nection with that party which was hos
tile to the Republican party. The differ
ences which lead to fair fight and
the wounds which are received In 1t are
easily healed, but indignties heaped upon
n fallen foe create a bitterness of heart
that lasts so long as life endures.
Between the North and the South
sion was an error and terrible blunder.
Sion wa san error and terrible blunder,
but Reconstruction was punishment 80
far In excess of the crime that II extin-
gtiished every sense of culpabillty u on
the part of those whom 1t was sought
to convict and convert. More than
quarter of IL century mas now passe,
since the bluDder-crime of Reconstruc-
tlon played it's baleful part In alternating
the two sections OF the country. Until
four years ago little pr6pess had been
made in reconciling them. II Is said now
that the recent war with Spain, in which
men from the North and mem from the
south fnarcheN uhuer the same banner 10
battle and 10 victory has buried the
Ratchet forever between them. But they
had done this many times before. ard
yet 1t did not prevent the attempt TO
destroy tho Union. 1t cannot be In this
alone that the South feels Increased Sc
curlty against the doctrines and the poll
cies and interferences of the Republican
party with regard to the negro question
the great question which has made and
! kept the South solldly Democratic.
( 1t is something far more significant and
| substantial than this. 1t is to some the
| pleasing. though to others startling. fact
| that the Republican party, In It's work
OF imposing the sovereignty OF the United
States upon eight millions of Asiatcs.
has changed its Views In regard 10 the
! political relation OF races and has at last
virtually accepted the new IDEAS OF the
| South upon that subject. The white men
of the South need now have no further
| fear that the Republican party, or Re-
publican administration, will ever again
give themselves over to the vain mag
| nation of the political equality of man.
| 1t is this change of mind and heart on
| the part of the North in regard to this
vital question OF Southern State" policy
which has caused the now much-talked-of
reconciliation.