The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-11

Since the nomination of General Sherman
for the Presidency by the HERALD, on the
spur of that significant little speech which the
General delivered Ct Nsw Orleans "son the
Ku Klox question, the press and politicians
of all sections and parties have been in a
flutter This is natural, for the so-called Ku
Klux matter is looming up as political issue,
and the mention of General Sherman for Prcsi-
dent on account of his broad, liberal and
patriotic views regarding the South has
drawn all eyes toward him. People begin
to inquire seriously whether the opinion
expressed by the distinguished General
Of the Army abou. the Ku Klux
and the South or the representations Of
radical partisans be true. Knowing that he
is warm personal friend of the President,
and that he would not 60 out of his way 10
condemn the policy Of the administration and
the radical party, great Importance is properly
attached to the damaging words he uttered.
81 pro5ably," he said. 'haoe as good means
| Cfiatoraaati0n as most other persons in regard
10 achat is called Ru Kiug, and am perfectly
satisfied that he thing Is greotIy er-estimated;
and II Tie Ka Klatr 5iis acere Kept out Of Con-
gress and the army kept al their legitimate
duties there are enough good and true men IN
al Southern States TO put doom all Ru Ktur
or ether bands Of maraulers." The radicals
and friends OF the administration endeavor TO
throw doubt on these words, and quote
another speech said to have been delivered by
4 f1,y IN hat IF
a different spirit; but the two do not really
conflict, and the one quoted above is SO
characteristic OF the General that we must
believe he delivered it unless denied by
| himself
The copious correspondence we publish to-
day in another part Of the paper from Our
special correspondent in South Carolina, and
the proceedings Of the Convention at Colnm-
bia, in that State, report of which we pub
lished yesterday, tend to show that wha.
General Sherman said about the ku Klux
was true-that, in fact, the Ku Kiux evil is
much over-es:mated; that tle mass of the
Southern people wish to live in peace and
things. Some lawiess varab)lds there are,
no doubt, both in South Carolina and other
Southern States. Such are found everywhere
and we are not without them in the North.
Ii is wrong 10 attribute all the crimes in the
South to the Ku Klnx. Plenty of them, and
horrible ones, too, are committed by negroes,
who certainly do not belong to the secret
organization of which so much has been said.
Admitting that there are Ku Klux outrages,
and that they are worse and more numerous
in South Carolina than elsewhere, we should
not lose sight of the terrible ordeal the South
| has passed through-the radical uprootins Of
all its social and domestic institutions, as well
as its political ideas-and the ordeal it is still
passing through. Look, for example, at the
South Carolinians the very pink Of honor-and
sometimes extravagantly and foolishly so, yet
a noble people-how they have been placed
under the heel Of their former slaves-under
the government. of negroes that can neither
read nor write, and of miserable. unprincipled
ad7enturers from the North. Can we BE- sur
| prised that they chafe snd are FESTIVE under
| such circumstances? The wonder is that such
people conform to the extraordinary change
SO readily.
We know Of no better explanation Of the
feelings Of the best and ruling class Of the
South than is shown in the conversation
which our correspondent had with Mr.. Alfred
Huger. M. Huger is truly repre- sentative
man Of South Carolina, and, to great extent,
of the whole South. lie was an old slave
| holder, State rights man of the Southern
| school, rebel, as going with his State ard
section in the fearful issue made, though not
believing in the doctrine of the right Of seces-
| sion; yet he, since the war, votes for his own
negroes for oiice-yet he says that he is
always willing to vote for a respectable negro
for Congress or any other high position. We
have no doubt of the honesty Of this gentle
man. We believe that the position he holds
with regard to the status Of the negro under
the new order OF things is the same that the
bulk of the intelligent men Of the Sou tn hold.
This, too, il the opinion of the most sensible
negroes OF the South, as may be seen by our
correspondents interview with Riley, Brown
and others, and would be Of the negroes in
general IL they were not subject to the infu-
ence OF corrupt and selfish carpe. -baggers ard
the scalawag ntriguers Of that section. Look
at the frightful taxation and expenditure OF
South Carolina and the wholesale plumber Of
the State BY corrupt and ignorant Legislature
and local government, and it will be seen there
is good reason for the hostility Of the intelligent
ard conservative portion OF the community.
Surely there ought to be some consideration
for the peopl, Of our own race and blood-for
that highly honorable and brave people who
fought 50 nobly for tho independence OF the
United States and the right Of local sef-gov-
eminent, notwithstanding the mistake they
made in the secession movement. There is no