New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-10-31
The south.



in every good work, in the North as well as
the South. 1t is an extract from letter to
q friend of the writer's who had been seduced
into the Greeley coalition. The writer HIM
self is not an ofiice-hold or oflice-seeker !;
but he is a man of large means, who has
long taken an active but impartial interest
in public affairs, and occupies the position of
q calm looker-on, who speaks, however, from
an uncommonly large experience, as his letter
shows. He has travelled through the South
ern States repeatedly since the war closed,
and has had uncommon social and other adj
vantages to aid him in getting at the senti-
ments, the hopes and fears and designs of all
classes, white and black.
What he SAYS about the Ku-klux ma
chinery, coming from so moderate and clear
headed an observer, deserves especial atten-
ton and the more, as he is not what is
called humanitarian, but hard-headed
business man. His belief, founded on care
full observation, as we'll as on the opinion of
Gen. Thomas, who was himself Southern
man, is that the colored people have not yet
had time enough, with all the obstacles placed
In their way, to make their future, or that of
the Southern Union people in general, secure !;
and that they need at least four years more
to enable them, by instruction in the schools,
and by the acquisition of land, to make their
future even reasonably safe, and to guard
Us in the North against further attempts from
the restless and unfOrgetting part of the re-
bellion.
We commend to the attention of persons
who do not take this view the remark related
in this letter from a rebel Colonel in South
Carolina: "The moment the Federal Gov
eminent withdraws its interference we should
fly at each Others threats, and the weakest
will 90 under" 1t is significant that this
Colonel, being doubtful whether in that State
his own side is not the weakest, is in favor
Of continued Federal control:
Ny DEAR FRIEND: l really wish / could
take your rOse-colored view of the situation,
for i should then be tranquil, whichever
party won but have actually seen sOme-
thing of the South, and 1 cannot but look
with alarm upon the chance of your coalition
succeeding.
have held yourself in reserve, so as to throw
your weight on the right side after the cam
paign develops more clearly the intentions of
the Democracy.
Just after the war 1 followed Sherman's
march in rererse, going slowly from Savannah
to Atlanta, Chattanooga, Nashvill0 Louis
ville-stopping with my family few days at
each important point, talking with the col
ored men, from editors and preachers down
to field hands with rebels; from honest
white soldiers down to ex-GOvernors with
our own officers from those of the Freed
mans Bureau up to that old soldier and gen.
tleman, George H. Thomas.
The Ku-Klux machinery was just coming
into play, and the Southern cities were de-
corated with its emblems-death's heads, and
cross bones, daggers dripping blood, sc.
At Louisville, having letters to Gen.
Thomas, who was then in command, dis
cussed with him the meaning of this Organi-
cation in a full and confidential manner,
and, being there, wrote some of our friends
East, the result, perhaps to you among the
lest.
Gen. Thomas was convinced that the Ku-
Klux was far-reaching machine, got up by
the Southern leaders to perfect as fast as
they were allowed to do it, into an army of
regulators, Gas they were formerly called on
the bOrder,) to eventually control the South
ern elections by intimidation, or actual vio-
lence against the Republican voters, black
and white.
Everything have seen then, and in re-
peated visits to the South since, convinces me
that this view was and is correct, and that
If we give back to the rebel States in full
what you Greeley men plausibly call local
self-government, it will simply mean the
right to control the elections by fraud or open
violence, as each may promise to be most eff
fective, and of course their next step would
be to reorganize the whole political and in
dustrial system.
UP to last spring found the insane cry of
the Southern whites just the same as it had
been in 1865:
"The blacks will not work they rule the
country 80 as to make it insuferable for any
white man their insolence is intolerable,"
and so TO the end of the chapter.
r II, 4
been induced to visit the South and mix with
your impressions of them chiefly from news
papers and politicians.
don't forget what a nuisance many of the
carpet-baggers were and are, but, in the igno-
rance of the four millions about the machinery
of voting, new corners from the North became
naturally the teachers in the caucus and town.
meeting system, and in the A b G of "local
self-government."
Although often an evil, they were a necessary
one, unless We were ready to abandon the
South to the old slave leaders and their less
educated . sons now coming forward, sucked,
as they are, upon rebel milk, and taught by
their mothers ito labor and to waltz for
the revival of the lost cause.
Given Federal or any real protection for
four years more, the Southern public schools
will, If the whites continue to hold back their
sons from them, educate more colored per-
sons to read and write than there will be
white readers there!
-Four years more of experience in the de-
tails of local governmental the blacks are
protected in voting and in working-will,
perhaps, make it safe to give up the present
issue of Federal protection to the four mil
lions of blacks and -? millions of white
Union men of the South, and make it safe to
have mixed party of rebels and Republic
cans; but, 1 say with regret, that time has
not, in my judgment, come yet. 1 have seen
no signs at the South of a desire for true
reconciliation by the old slave party.
They have strong desire to regain power,
and by q united South and Democratic
North, or by any other means, to again gov
ern the country. But they are as bitter
against the black voters and against you
Black Republicans as they ever were.
The only safe way is to keep them under by
q united Republican North, until the colorcd
population are strong enough to protect them
selves.
An old rebel colonel said to me in South
Carolina: "The moment the Federal Gov
eminent withdraws its interference we shall
fly at each others threats, and the weakest
will 60 under"
The poor man was doubtful whether his
Qray-coat friends in that State could hold