New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-04-06
Another Political Judas.

There seems to be no doubt that Governor
ALCoRN has deliberately resolved to betray the
party who elected him Governor, and with whom
he had up 10 that time professed to act, and 60
back to the mire Of rebellion. From ALCoRN's
course since his election to the position Of Gov
ernOr, we have little doubt that his heart has
always been with the rebels, and that his am
biton, rather than his honest convictions,
prompted him to identify himself with the Re-
publican party. But we may do him injustice;
he may have sincerely intended to unite his
fortunes with that party, and abandoned his
purpose rather from cowardce than treachery.
1t is quite possible that the Establishments or
threats of the Ku Klux assassins, who have been
playing such freaks in his State, were too much
for his weak head. Practically, however, it is
of very little consequence whether he has
turned his back upon the Republican party, and
all bis pledges 10 its members, from a weak
head or q bad heart. Cowardice under such
circumstances is as infamous a crime as treason,
and amounts 10 the same thing. In their
greatest hour Of need he has meanly deserted
the colored population Of his State-the very
men who elected him Governor-who have
trustingly relied on his good faith, and who SO
sorely need his protection against the Copper
head ku klux assassins who are now ravaging
the State, numbering colored men by the scores,
burning school-houses, mobbing and driving
from the State such obnoxious persons as they
may not assassinate, and perpetrating all sorts
of outrages.
And all the time this pusillanimous or trea-
sonable mas ALcORN Indignantly denies that
any Government aid is needed to protect life,
and asserts that he is abundantly able to
enforce the laws and punish crime. But MUIR
dersrs go unpublished all the same, the weak
unprotected, the laws defed, and its officers in
suited. Every lay the Ku-Klux become more
rampant, and the Governor more trucking and
timid.
Governor ALCoRN affords another and most
painful, example Of the danger of trusting a
periured traitor The man who was base
enough to perjure his soul by taking up arms
against such Government as ours, and for no
other reason than to perpetuate slavery, will
never be true to any obligations. There are
exceptions 10 all rules We are glad to believe
there are many to this. But Gov. ALcoRN has
proved that he is not one. He fought against
the Union till conquered, and then for an Office
or for baser motive prefessed to have turned
Republican. And now a second time he has
proved false TO his trust. His example should
prove a warning for all time not to trust those
who have already betrayed their country.
1t is true that, after denying the existence of
these bands of ku-Elux assassins. for weeks
meekly permitting their daily bloody outrages, |
refusing all aid from the Government, and |
Boosting of his ability to enforce the laws, he !
has recently gone through the farce of calling
upon the Legislature to authorize him to organ
Ike military force to suppress the outlaws. |
But he is entitled to no merit for this eleventh !
hour zeal. Ii is meant only for show for he /
still continues the persecution of the colored /
people. and does what lies in his power to keep |
alive the old wicked prejudice against them by |
opposing their admission to the schools of the /
State on equal terms with other citizens, by
justifying their expulsion from cars, &c |
The papers give an account of brutal whip |
ping OF cOlored man and his wife for refusing
to leave a car after paying frst-class fare, and
under the very nose of Gov. ALCoRN. He en-
courages, and practically justifes, these brutal
outrages. Are we IN just in denouncing such
a man as a recreant and traitor as we'll as a
base migrate?