The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-11-15
Help for Reaction

The negroes have now, through their lead
ers, spoken out, and spoken plainly. Where
they have had most latitude, they have been
most violent; and, while such hot-headed
knaves as the Richmond negro Lindsey may
not represent the wishes of the more respect
able of the colored people, they do carry inau-
ence enough to win applause for their har-
angues, and to secure to themselves consoli-
dated negro vote. They proclaim, without hes
itation, their demands of white disfranchise-
ment and land conhscation; and, as in the case
of the Alabama Convention, show their desire
to upset every established principle, and to de-
stroy :he basis of the title to every description
of property. On their part, any moderation is
as rare as black tulip or bifurcated lizard I;
and, without accomplishing any good for them
selves, they have succeeded in driving their
Radical white brethren from their noisy coun-
ellis, and in turning against negro power the
former organs of the Southern White Radical
party This is the work they have done; this
is the dark side of the tableau of Reconstruc-
tion.
On the other hand, the Southern whites
subject to all possible provocation, and not even
| free from negro insolence-have acted with
rare and heroic moderation. They have set
their faces against olsmor, violence, sedition,
and rioting. Again and again have they told
the colored people that the South would not re-
turn them to slavery il it could-that it desired
to give them, and secure to them, all necessary
protection; and that the schemes Of the North
ern Radicals could but end in final negro ruin.
They have explained to the colored people the
duties and responsibilities of their new position,
aud have ever refrained from any attempt at
coercion or intimidation. The Southern white
man did not desire to revenge himself upon his
former slave; and, when the negro became
idle, reckless, and insubordinate, his former
master regarded him with an indulgent eye,
and laid the whole vast responsibility where it
belonged-at the feet Of the Radical party. No
| circumstance has been allowed to force the
white man from his usual calm. knowledge
and experience taught him that the end would
come; and, unAinchingly, he has awaited the
day when liberty should be something more
than black abstraction. This is the other
side of the Reconstruction picture.
The Northern elections have caused the long
headed business men Of the North to watch
with care the progress of events in the South.
They have beheld the patience Of the white
man. and the hardhood of the negro; and they
have been disgusted by the rant of the new
voters, and the yelling Of their mean white
allies. Now do they begin to see that Military
Reconstruction is Southern negro rule; and,
although home experience has taught them that
proAigacy of party is no bar to political suc'
cess, they recoil in horror from the menace ol
African supremacy over the intelligent Caucas'
sian. Every day opens their eyes the wider
every hour is clearing away the scales that
have obscured their vision. The blacks are
te- ching the North that they are utterly unf'
10 be trusted with the suffrage; and, if the
Southern people continue to be as quiet and
sensible as hitherto they have been, they will
find in the excesses Of the negroes themselves
the best Help for Reaction.