The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-03-28
Kuklux and All That

e KuklU4 SbIlu 1Ali LSsts ,... e
The Roman augurs used to laugh amongst
themselves over the extrsyagances Of their
religious rites; but maintained grave faces
during the public sacrifices. So must the
Republican schemers laugh over the ku-
klux alarms and the plans they are endea-
yoring to concoct under the pretext OF
protecting negroes (who are not 10 oa.i'
perA In order to silence the voice OF "n''e
voters in the South and insure the le'c,ee
ton Of GRANT. 1t is Impossible th"' 'n..
can believe what they themselves say-'
impossible that they can deem any pro-.
ton outside of the laws OF the STATES th.i''-
se,ves necessary for the citizens OF the
States.
Tn nothing are we called upon more 10
admire the Justice Of the laws OF froHi-
damon than IN the many sources Oh trouoie
,,,1 commission it creates for dishonest and
tnav;sh schemers. In these Wild plots to
re, nm alarms for the safety Of negroes, and
70 nut into the hands of the President the
power to re-elect himself, we find number
of troubles rising like the ghosts of the
slain in the remorseful dreams Of RICHARD.
How is General GRANT to get hold Of the
States when the Constitution declares that
his power cannot be employed to put down
INSTRUMENTATION unless his aid is asked by
the Legislature or, when it is not In session,
by the Governor? This restraint Is con-
fessed in General GRANTS own proclama-
ton to the South Carolinians.
How shall it be inferred. then, that 3
State of turbulence requiring the Interior
ence of the Federal, Government exists in
any State from which there is no call upon
the Presiden. for help? Can the Republi-
cans make out of the scalawag and carpet
bag budget of lies which cumbers the
tables and Grams the pigeon holes of the
committee q sufficient cause for upsettlnS
the Constitution and breaking through the
restraints which even General GRANT says
do exist against his action without the
request Of the State!
Then there are two very serious dlfllcul'
ties which present themselves to the mind
of any man not 80 blinded by malice as
MORTON and not SO stupid as PoMERoy.
These are:
1st. Suppose that General GRANT is not
the man for the Republican party-if the
power to reflect himself is put into his
hands, what help will there be to save even
the Republican party from his misgovern.
menti On this point there will be much
thinking done by the SUMMERS, tue BOUT
WELLS. the TRUMBULLs, the BINGHAAs, the
FARNsw oRTHs, and others.
IA r. Oh tall
what will the Republicans have done be-
yond putting the country completely at the
mercy of the Democrats? The dishonesty
OF the thing is transparent. The object is
to frighten white men and throw the whole
weight of the negro population, increased
By all rascally devices that are possible, into
the Republican or GRANT scale. Should
such machinery fall into the hands of the
party opposed to the Republicans, does
any man suppose that it would not be used
in the very opposite manner from that for
which it was intended? Most assuredly 1t
would.
Not only do the corrupt politicians hedge
themselves around with troubles by the un.
principled schemes by which they propose
TO slleuce the southern white voice, but
they subject themselves to perils from the
poor negroes, whom they are using as bar
barous races do elephants in war; but
who, being muddened and blinded by the
din aud the wounds of battle, turn upon
their masters and do them more injury
than has been done to their enemies.
Moreover, the act Of submitting the rights
of class to sort Of protection which is
unconstitutional, and which intlicts 4
serious wrong upon another class, is an In
ytaton TO similarly outrageous means to
right the wrong and retaliate upon the in
nocent beings who had been used alike for
the purposes of usurpation and the humilia-
ton Of the intelligent and responsible por-
ton Of society.
Desiring the peace and prosperity of the
land, we shall be amongst those who will
most deeply deplore the success of the
measure which General GRANT seems to be
driving at. But if we looked only to the
Fastening of the destruction Of the war
party We should rather be eratited than
dlspleased at another triumph OF ultra
Radicaism in the passage of some cruel
and eXtravacant measure by the Congress
before it adjourns. One more turn OF the
screw will drive the people Of the Union
into general uprising against the war
party. One more feather breaks the back
OF public endurance and sets the country
free from the policy of malice and Vndlc-
tiYencss.