CHAPTER XI.
RISE OF DEMOCRATIC RADICALISM IN THE SOUTH After the Presidential election of 1872 no one could be found who questioned the wisdom or practicability of the Congressional Plan of Reconstruction, or who looked for its overthrow, change or modification.
After that election the situation was accepted by everyone in perfect good faith.

No one could be found in any party or either race who was bold enough to express the opinion that the Congressional Plan of Reconstruction was a mistake, or that negro suffrage was a failure.

To the contrary it was admitted by all that the wisdom of both had been fully tested and clearly vindicated.

It will not be denied even now by those who will take the time to make a careful examination of the situation, that no other plan could have been devised or adopted that could have saved to the country the fruits of the victory that had been won on the field of battle.

The adoption of any other plan would have resulted in the accomplishment of nothing but the mere physical abolition of slavery and a denial of the right of a State to withdraw from the Union.