The Irish republic. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1867-18??, 1868-02-29

this to be the in the State of Tennessee Few ex
cept the great landowners whose immense properv in
human flesh was in danger were in any great earnest
about going into open rebellion Of course many others
who did not actually belong to this class did go into the
war but, if they did, they were either caoled or
bribed forced to do So by lies and money and threats
and in not few instances by open violence But we
roundy and fearlessy that with perhaps the
exception of few districts in Virginia the majority of
the Southern people never willingly made war on the
Government of the United States We say this excud
ing the colored altogether from consideration But
if they be addedas they out be- and must and shall
be, unless prepared to deny that they human
beings and to rampe the authority both of the Church
and of humanity under oo-then it is as clear as that
the in the heavens at MONDAY that Of the twelve
millions of white and black which constituted the popu-
laon of the South not less than eight were never in
tentonally disoyal to the Government of the Republic
How comes it, then, it will be asked if this be So
that majority of the registered voters of Alabama have
not cast their ballots for the Constitution and for
immediate return of the State to its place in the Union
at the late election 10 this answer, first of all that
it is now probable if not nearly certain that in spite of
combination of the most dreadful and almost nsuper
able difficulties majority of the voters the registry
in Alabama have declared for UNION, and on that
ground legally entitled to have the representatives
which they have chosen received into the halls of Con-
gress But suppose that such is not the casesuppose
that only minorty-and certainly it is very large
oneof the registered electors have cast their votes in
Alabama then the question arises what has been
the direct immediate procuring of such of
affairs? We answer in the words of cotemporary
words which bear upon them the impress of truth
INSTANTLY" from the unpardoned rebels, from the
who fought to destroy the Union, the fiat goes forth
that to vote for the Constitution is to accept in
fanny. The negro who works for his daily bread is
told that he will be dismissed if he is the
polls. A merchant Is warned that he must expect
customers; tradesman have work. One
newspaper in Montgomery promises print list of those
who voted for the Constitution order that they may
be held up execration. The generally the
struggling and dependent class To them loaf of bread is
very serious consideration. How would it be in New
York if merchant and manufacturer
that visit to the polls would be followed by dismissal
from work, withdrawal of cusom 1t is hard enough
to have decent representation of it is with
every inducement We imagine how it would
be if the franchise to be followed by a social and
business penalty"
This throws food of light what would otherwise
be wholly inexplcable The real people of Alabama
many of them already dsheartened and impoverished
ilfed and ill-clad, had not only to battle with the
elements while doing their duty to their country but
with of intelligence, of influence of station and
money and power. They dare not cote danger Of
destruction, For these men, lately the of many
of these poor people, leagued in secret and
sworn organization to defeat Reconstruction to sustain
Andy johnson, and to persecute if not to murder all
who would oppose thwart their dabolical designs
This explains why not much more than half the citizens
of the State dared to exercise the rights of reemen
to vote for the Government and the of their choice
We who have seen what whitesave owners, called Irish
landlords do and constantly do, at elections, in
the old country" at no loss to comprehend the
unhaowed tactics which their brother despos Of the
South have betaken themselves For the poor Irish