Year: 1868

From the Scientific Americana


Let not the reader imagine as his eye
catches the above heading, that The SCI
entifc american is about to depart from
its time hOnored course of neutrality in
politics. During the past months OF
scramble and bipartisan jostle, we have
been silent although not uninterested
spectators Of the contest. During the
months that will Intervene between the
election and the Inauguration ef Gen.
Grant, there will, in al probability, be
more or less OF Improbable recriminstion,
between the victorious and the van
quished, upon which we shall also look
silently yet regreifully.


The spirit of our institutions demands
that the results of popular election
should he accepted Rs cordially ano
gracefully by the defeated party, as
though the winning candidate were
unanimously chosen. It is only by the
adoption of such course, that popular
government is rendered tolerable. 1t is
only by such course that it can hope
for permanency and prosperity. We
feel ourselves justified, then, in putting
forth a plea to our countTymen, North
and South, East and West, to Join in the
attempt 10 restore now the old feeling of
brotherhood that once formed the most
beautiful element in American citizen
ship.


Ine signs of the times encourage Us to
believe that the dangerous rule Of ex-
tTsmists will be rejected by the people.
No matter to what party they belong,
their c0unsels are to be Stunned. Al
though many Of our Southern peop!e
may regard the election of Gen. Grant
as misfortune, we greatly mistake if
events do not prove il blessing. We
have grossly erred In our estimate of the
man, and have greatly misinterpreted
the motives which governed him st the
tine OF Gen. Lees Surrender, and still
govern him, IL he does not mean when
he says, Lst us have peace" peace,
not for one section only, but for all sec
tions; and we believe further, that if the
extremists of the dominant party seek
to use him as q plant tool to force the
| adoption OF sn oppressive policy, rather
than one of Justice and magnaninaity,
they will be disappointed.


We believe the surest way to the prop.
er political reconstruction of the South,
is the reconstruetion of her industries.
Possibly some of these cannot be restored:
II not, Others can be substituted. There
are plenty OF capitalists, who, ones con-
| vinced that the situation is accepted and
that the shape affairs have assumed is re-
garded by the people OF the South as in
evitable, would not only be willing, but
anxious to aid in developing the vast re-
sources Of that bruised, but, by no means,
utterly destroyed section. People Of the
| South, you owe 1t to yourselves, to show
that you can be as energetic in peace, as
you were brave ia war. Cultivate your
| lands. Induce Northern capital to come
to your help, by discoursgipg lawlessness,
and by securing the peaceful possession
of property. Let US bury the past, and
| look forward with courage and hope to
the future; future big with blessings
and prosperity if you will; prosperity
and strength such as In your pRlmiest
dsys you never realized ia the past. We
speak what we do know, when we assure
you that the masses ct the North will
never consent to see you systematically
oppressed, and they eagerly hope for the
coming time, when, with resnsoitated
vitality, your industries shall shoot into
q vigorous growth, and you shall be rich
or, more peaceful, happier, than you ever
could have been under the old dispensa-
tion.


But we do not plead with the South
alone. We exhort all sections to put
aside feelings Of self-interest, and to work
together for peace; peace from party
pickering, from sectional wranglings
peace, not merely in name, but in verify.
| When we consider the possibilities OF
development possessed by our common
country, when We picture to ourselves