The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1867-06-05
Political Agitation,

S''"N''"S "''o'S sbe la'e'r ehhancHlSeu
race Of citizens, seem to be the order Of
the day IN the prominent cities and towns
of the South. At present the interior OF
the country is comparatively eyemp, from
political excitement among the blacks,
but we may reasonably anticipate that
ere the approaching Fall elections are
held, the entire country will have been
thoroughly explored and csnvassed BY
yankee agitators, with the view OF bring
ing about local antagonism between the
two races.
The extreme Radicals have hecome
alarmed at the prospect Of the early res.
.torati"n Of the South to political power,
and they would prevent this, hy all Of the
agencies which their base and unsctupu,
Ious minds may enable them to invent.
They send among us their incendiarv ora
tors, ostensbly with the view Of enlight
ening the colored people upon the subject
of their new duties as erFranchised ctis
zens, but really for tie purpose OF insult
ing and coading our people to acts of co.
Iy or violence; they would excite us hv
their incendiarv harangues to tumu,s and
riots, by which they will no, only preven,
the reconstruction contemplated il the.
Acts Of Congress, but will justify Con
gress in imposing still harsner legislation
upon the defencrless South. This is The
evident Object Of the nQ'orious miscresnt,
KELLY, and others OF the same stamp
The South has manifested disposition
to accept the terms Of Ctmgress and con
form fully to the requirements Of the
military bill. These terms have. we be-
lieve, hees rendered in good faith hv the
mass Of the Republican party and W i'll he
adhered TO but 1t does not suit the views
OF the Destructive element above referred
to-the extreme radical faction-,o have
the South reconstructed, and hence the
base measures adopted to defea. such
result.
The plan ia a simple one and has been
boldly avowed in several quarters. It is
to send innammatorv orators through the
South to exasperate the people to on,
breaks, and. il possible, secure martyr
or two for their unworthy cause. and
when they have succeeded by their fiend,
ish arts in provoking riots, they will make
nse Of the-ou,rages, thus provoked, as a
means Of arousing a storm Of sectional
passion throughout the Nor.h, which will
defeat the restoration Of the South and
destroy the last ves,ice of her sights by
enac,iug a. confsca,ion bill.
But, happily, there is an an,ido,e Tor
this malignant manouvreing Of the ultra
Radicals and the people will show their
wisdom by applying it: The remedy is
to give these inilammatorv orators, who
come here TO disturb the public peace, a
wide berth let us keep away from these
harargues, preserve the public order, and,
il possible, avoid any occasion for Radi,
cal misrepresentation and sIander. If the
blacks, in their blinded infatuaton, will
listen to these perfdious itinerant., let
them 40 so, but all respectable whites,
AS they value their true interest and vel
fare should keep away; and If riotous
demonstrations occur, the negroes and
military can settle it among Themselves.
We are not opposed to the colored peo.
pie holding meetings for the purpose Of
gaining Information, although it is evi
dent that steady. uninterrupted labor. is
far more essential TO their inheres' Just
now than political wire pulling but we
would not he discharging our drties as
journalists If we Qmis TO warn them OF
the danger Of allowing themselves to be
deceived by these yankee emissaries {;
men who care not one iota for the well,
fare Of your race, but who seek to es.
TRANCE you from your own people, solely
for the purpose Of subserving their Sn
selfish and party purposes. II. the color.
ed people really desire to fit them selves
for the discharge OF The new duties which
their changed condition devoI,es upon
them, the motive is comm endable, and
pubic assemblies for such purpose are
not improper bpt let them seek counsel
from those whom they know to be worthy
Of confidence. Surely, there are in every
community men In whom they can
rely--whom they know from personal
experience to be incapable Of practiciny
deception upon them and we earnestly
commend them TO invite counsel OF snch
men. before giving scope to the bitser pas
sions and -prejudices which these preteu'
Iel friends seak IN name ainnno iham