Here, as in Richmond, the people, instead of grappling with the fact that the war has liberated the slaves, are very busy proving the utter worthlessness of the negroes, and treating them with additional cruelty and contempt—neither offering them fair inducements to work, or working themselves.
Reid critiques the post-war attitudes of Southern society towards freed slaves, highlighting their cruelty and contempt.
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It seems to me, then, idle to thresh over old straw when the grain is not only winnowed, but gone to the mill.
And next, shall we not probably fare best in the end if we try to profit somewhat by the experience others have had in like cases?
As a foreign critic said in comment on one of the addresses: "The author is one man who knows what he thinks about the new policy required by the new situation in which his country is placed, and has the courage and candor to say it.
They have covered many phases of the subject, but have preserved a singular uniformity of purpose and consistency of ideas throughout.