Year: 1874


Cause and the Remedy.


recent admirable leader in the Sun. in
which our lively and always readable contem.
porary rises to the robust moral earnestness
which BELTS sincere conviction on q great
SUBJECT lays open, as with a scalpel in skill
ful hands, the motives and origin of the re-
cent Southern disturbances, which the admin
istration has exaggerated and seized upon as
pretext for subjecting wide sections to mill
tary terrorism. The political sagacity, just
ness of view and vigor Of statement which
mark the efforts of the Sun on this and the like
occasions are not only creditable to itself, but
reflect honor on the really Independent and
rary affords genuine specimen. While cor
daily indorsing the views of the Sun as to
the causes of the existing troubles we should
be glad OF its efficient cooperation in urging
upon public attention the proper remedies.


The Sun has clear perception of the occasion
and excesses of the monstrous abuses of fede-
raj power in the Southern States which grew
out OF unguarded defects in the reconstruc-
ton measures adopted with precipitate heat
amid the unextinguished passions which were
the natural legacy of great civil war. In
the HERALD's opinion what was then done
with blind and passionate precipitation, while
the caldron of sectional animosities was still
boiling by the fierce fires of the war and
famed into fresh intensity by the depiorable
assassination of President Lincoln, requires
revision and rectifcation by cooler and wiser
craftsmanship. We would deprive the negro
of none of his newly acquired rights we
would not impair the perfect equality of the
two races; but we would erect an insur-
mountable barrier against those abuses of
federal authority which the Sun deprecates
and denounces and to which the incautous
reconstruction measures opened the way.
These lamentable evils admit of perfect
remedy without surrendering any valuable
result of the war, without shocking public
opinion in the rational state to which it is re-
turning, and without giving up any security
either for the perpetuity of the Union or the
rights Of the colored race. The text of the
SUMS article is a statement by Mr.. Hays,
member of Congress from Alabama on his
way to Washington to petition for troops,
that two years ago he was elected by five thou
sand majority, but that if the election were to
be held now he would be beaten. Hereupon
the Sun says, with the energy of deep convic-
tom


Here Is the key to the war, which is the excuse
for pouring blue coats and bayOnets INFO recon-
Rads members Of uSs aaa are oa az b IN
returned, and voluntary popular support falling,
the persuasons OF fbreech-loaders are TO evoked.
There has been nowhere South anything so alarm
ing to tranquility as IN Kentucky and tennessee,
and they have not had any help from the military
arm, and need none. This whole trumpeting OF
danger is nothing but what we had before the re-
belllon, and shall have In the iuture until these
States are repopulated.


The substance Of this is that if Alabama
were left free to conduct her own elections,
without federal interference, she could rectify
her internal disorders and send to Congress
representatives who would be exponents of
the real public sentiment of the State. The
Sun charges that the administration fears the
loss Of its majority in the House, and is putting
the South under military terrorism to influence
the elections and ward off the "fearful look
ing for OF judgment and fiery indignation"
which would come with an opposition ma
jority in Congress It says:-


This neiarious plot to frighten the people has
an immediate and remote object. 1t 10 not solely
strategic movement OF the third term. The IN
dications ol an opposition House are growing last
from probability to certainty, and this must be i'm
peded at all hazards and at any cost. Nothing
the lower branch OF the Legislature viii come in
vestigatlons and deep probings. Corruption the
most ASTOUNDING al forms OF malversation and
mlsrue, frauds unknown and villany hidden, will
come to the surface and sunshine The miserable
scheming for third election Will be blown to the
ynda annf fhn hand
lory OF history To avert tnis disaster now de-
mands I all OF sae energy OF the administration, and
the constitution and laws.


The way in which the negro mind has here
tofore been worked upon, misguided and
seduced with false hopes and hollow promises
whose disappointment now provokes reac-
ton, is set forth by the Sun in these scathing
sentences:-


From the assumption and exercise of the right
TO vote by the late vassal there has been one un.
mendaclty In Intercourse. Their treatment has
been that Of children IN their simplicity and CO.
price. PROMISES OF Impossible things nave been
made to them, and their ears have mad the terrors
OF ianced wrong and illusion; and now, when sucn
iulalmsnt is demanded and lails, come the resent
ment and withdrawal OF support. The very con-
vention which had these maculnists at work
among Its cogs and wheels gave no sign OF appro.
val OF the Civil Rights bill, now the unreal anu ian.
tastlc dream or the African 1t Is these things
which are no real grievance and are nothing but
an alienation from the men and party who nave
cheated them The votes OF four millions OF peO-
pie are now the heavy dice which these gamblers
IN politics are throwing, reckless OF the peace OF
their own section or quetude in states outside OF
the institutions which are to be cOnvulsed by the
revival OF Old questions settled already by o waste
OF treasure and blood unknown hitherto in the
worlds history. Nor do we see the end.


Now, in view Of this state OF things, we
appeal to the clear sagacity, good judgment
and sound patriotism of the Sun for it's CO.
operation in the only scheme of reform which
can rectify the abuses which it depicts in
such vivid and truthful colors A mere
change Of administration is no effectual rem
edy. 1t would only lop off the branches of an
evil which ought to be plucked up by the
roots The Suns patriotism and the patriot