endure many
more such tests. Prof. Huxley, speaking to Americans during his late
visit, said: "You and your descendants have to ascertain whether the
great mass of people will hold together under the forms of a republic
and the despotic reality of universal suffrage; whether centralization
will get the better without the actual or disguised monarchy; whether
shifting corruption is better than a permanent bureaucracy." It need
not take long to work out the problem if the ballot box is to be
controlled by ignorance. Sometimes we are lectured to be grateful to
the North for its magnanimity toward the South. Legislation does not
sustain the self-eulogy. It is alleged that mercy was shown to "rebels
and traitors." Passing over the _petitio principii_ in the phraseology,
a thousand times better it would have been to have hung President, and
Cabinet, and every Congressman, and every general, than to have
fastened upon us this incurable cancer, eating up the life-blood of the
Union.

In the South, the administration of government in some instances has
been marked by oppressive tyranny and open corruption. Incompetent and
dishonest men have been appointed to positions, and with full knowledge
of their wrong doings have been retained to accomplish party ends. This
injustice and tyranny have demoralized somewhat our own people. Tyranny
always corrupts. A lower standard of morality is first tolerated, and
then becomes popular. Lax motives of honor are taking the place of
chivalrous integrity. Payment of honest debts is evaded. Grinding
poverty has made some unduly covetous of riches. Enormous taxation,
selfish and immoral legislation, have partially undermined the
foundations of private virtue. The ease and frequency with which the
rewards of honest toil are filched away give insecurity to property and
take away much of the stimulus to diligent toil. Some have sunk into
despair, while others, with more of unsubdued energy, are willing for
almost anything to turn up which gives promise or possibility of
change.

The South in seeking relief need not delude herself by reliance upon
any _party_ to reform evils and restore prosperity. Some difficulties
are independent of party action, or even political policy, and have
their origin in more general causes. A portion of the commercial and
financial troubles is probably due to some "wider misadjustment of
labor and capital" than can be rectified by one country, and requires
broad and s