The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-06-24


The Union league councils in tho Southern
States. which for some time past had been
forced into existence, like exotios, in the radi-
cal dollhouse, appear to be dwindling away.
We notice by some Of the Georgia papers that
the leagues in that State are dissolving them
selves by almost unanimous votes Of the MEM
bers, who assert that athey were deceived in
regard to the end and aim Of the organization,
and will not consent to do what is required Of
them" Now the question Is, what was required
Of themf What was the object held out to
Thorn g. an inducement to join or form these
clubss What were tho conditions demanded
OF themi II 1t was represented by the poll
ticians that the easiest way to reconstruction
was through the channel Of the Union league
organization, many honest Union men might
have been led into II who have since learned
that It meant party aggrandizement rather
than the good Of the South. Many Union
leagues also may have discovered that the or
ganisation was getting to be too much under
the control Of federal oflceholders, GLASS OF
mon in the South who are playing fast and loose
with Congressional intrigue and Presidential
patronage, who are radicals of the first water
to the radicals, and good Johnson men to those
who expect to find Southern Moses in Andrew
johnson. Almost every one Of the two GLASSES
comprising the ofiiceholders and the radical
leaders not In ONCE Is an aspirant either for
seat in Congress, which he hopes to obtain
when the South is reconstructed, or for some
preferment In the line of federal patronage,
such as registrar Of election, assessor or col
lector Of internal revenue, or commissioner
under the Bankrupt law.
The Union leagues in the Southern cities,
being composed mainly of these GLASSES, can-
not be expected to become very popular with
those who really desire to accept the situation.
and to seq their section restored to Its original
political status. Thus it appears that the radi
calls have hit upon the wrong kind Of ma
chinery, and it will not work. There are other
reasons, perhaps, for the failure Of the Union
leagues In the South, and they are to be found
in the inevitable discord between the races,
which is manifesting itself by the unwilling
ness, In most instances, Of the white agitators
TO admit the blacks into their councils, and the
counteracting efforts Of the negro agitators,
many Of whom are mon Of great intelligence
and aoumen, to form exclusive black organi-
cations, Of . secret and, 1t Is alleged, an oath
bound character. in which the right to hold
office, sit ON jurics, and exercise other newly
acquired privileges, are not only vigorously
asserted, but made the sine qua non Of negro
support Of the radical platform; although the
recent action Of the colored people in Mobile,
in declining TO accept Office, would seem to
show more sensible spirit in that class in
this particular locality.
To this mixed up condition Of political soci-
ETY. in the South may be attributed the misad-
ventures Of the radical programme. which seem
to be gathering pretty thick about that party,
and may leave them, after all, with an indis-
possible elephant upon their hands, In the shape
of negro suffrage.