The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-09-04

mems rights. Nowhere have the blacks used
their opportunities to create exclusive privi-
leges, or TO impose special burdens on the
other race. TIL mos. that can be said is, that
they have carried out the principle OF equality
affirmed by the new Constitutions.
The opponents of reconstruction have GER
taiDly not acted in the Same spirit. They
have neither Acknowledged the moderation OF
the republicans as locally organized, nor been
content to carry on the contest with fair aud
friendly weapons. In Alabama, the removal
OF disabilities has been made the occasion OF
threats and insult and in Georgia, where
freedmen were cheated into the support of
Democrats, the latter evnce their gratitude
by proposing to declare colored men Ineligible
to seats in the Legislature. Everywhere
Throughout the South the same party make
war upon cOlored suffrage, and proclaim a
purpose to restore the doctrine of "white
mems Governments" They suggest no modi-
fcation of the present system. They propose
no compromise between the advocates of uni
versal and the advocates of qualified suffrage
They demand the disfranchisement of the race
because of its color, and threaten resistance to
any result arising from colored votes. More
over. they have schemes in operation for coer-
cling freedmen into the support of the Demo-
cratic ticket; continued employment being the
declared price of votes. The freedmen are
called upon to surrender their privilege, with
blhINdIlOu dS Iu6 hlJ6IudJlV6.
1t were bad enough if the Democratic strug.
gle for supremacy ended here. But it does not
We have enumerated some of their more
peaceful methods. There are others more law
less and aggressive, in the use of which the
Democracy OF Tennessee, Louisiana Arkansas,
and Texas are conspicuous. Intimidation aud
outrage are rife in these States. Armed Rebel
organizations are ct work, which defy civil
authority, and in some districts render the
liunc and of TTpio,, T.,
Tennessee these organizations contemplate the
forcible notification of the suffrage law at the
November election, and the same element has
made parts of Texas perfect pandemonium.
The immediate effect of these exhibitions of
Democratic temper and design has doubtless
been, in some localities, the organization of
counter movements-not to assail the enemies
of reconstruction, but to resist any overt at
tempt which they may make to overthrow the
law. We should wonder if it were otherwise
An assault upon rights necessitates meas ures
for their defense. And armed and secret So
cieties in the interest of Democracy are quite
likely TO provoke the formation of other socie-
ties in the interest of Republicanism. We do
not know that the example has been extern
sivelv followed; but we are sure that where
the Republicans white or black, are organized,
it is in selfdefense, and as a consequence OF
rebel plots and menaces.
If, then, a war OF races is, as the World
alleges, imminent, we can have no difficulty in
tracing the responsibility to its source. What
ever the trouble, it proceeds from the disposi-
tion of the Southern Democrats to override the
law, frighten freedmen from the polls, and
forciby regain control of the local govern
ments. The Southern Republicans ask only
to be let alone. They ask that the law shall
take its course, and that privileges created
under the law shall be freely exercised. The
Democrats, on the contrary, propose an ag-
gressive policy, at the expense of Republican
rights. They aim at the mastery, and no
means are too foul for their hands. If trouble
occur, whether it grow to the proportions of
war of races or not, its beginning will be in
this circumstance. ALI that is grave in the
situation proceeds from the animosity of the
Democrats towards reconstruction and their
desperate resolve to control the elections. We
do not suppose them mad enough to precipi-
tate a conflict before the election but we con-
slider difficulty at and after the election not
improbable, unless the President do his duty
in providing for the maintenance OF order.
His known alliance with the party which is at
the bottom OF the mischief adds to its compli-
cations, and awakens anxieties which it is i'm
possible wholly to repress. Nothing can in
sure us safety but the electisn of President
whose convictions are in harmony with the
policy of Congress, and the weight of whose
Ctlice will be on the side of the law.