New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-10-10
ONE OF MR.. GRBRLETls ERRORS.

If we might be permitted to express au
opinion in the matter, we think Mr.. Gree
ley has made very serious error in med
ding in the local politics of the Southern
States. In his recent visits to some of
the Eastern, Middle and Western States
Of the Union, he has had frequent coca
sions to address the people upon such sub
jects as he has deemed pertinent to the
coming Presidential election, and he has
made what the ultra Democrats have nick
named "carpet-bag government in the
Southern States prominent among these
subjects. In this matter of ''carpet-bag
government Mr.. Greeley seems to forget
that there may be two sides to be heard.
He accepts the Democratic version of re-
construction in the Southern States and
goes before the people Of other States,
and, as a candidate for the highest Office
in the nation, repeats to them all the
harsh things that the Southern Democ-
racy has said Of ''carpet-bag governments"
and 'carpet-bag thieves which, after all
is nothing more than partisan view Of
what the Republicans have been doing
South since the close of the war.
Now we think this one of Mr. Greeley's
errors, and a very serious one at that, be
cause he let's himself down from the high
position a presidential candidate should
occupy, and becomes not only q meddler
in the local politics of States, but acting
upon ca parte evidence, he becomes the
mouth-piece of the ultra Democracy of
the South and the retailer upon the stump
Of all the hard things they have said Of
Republicans who were bold enough to IN
dertake the work of reconstruction as laid
out by Congress.
In Mr.. Greeley's speech made at Cory,
Pennsylvania a few days ago, While ON
his return FROM the West TO New York. be
said much about reconciliation, Sc
''carpet-bag governments, "'carpet-I,ag
thieves" and 'disfranchisement. He
said to the people Of Cory, Snow, you
are aware, as well as I am, that our couns
try has not been reconciIed and regulated,
and brought into peace and order, al
though nearly eight years have elapsed
since the war ended. Peace and security !
ought to have been attained much sooner |
than this. This is all very true, and Mr., |
Greeley goes on to tell why the country has |
not been. reconoiIed and regulated. He |
says:
Certain persons, mainly open rebels, CON
spred together and formed themselves into
companies or organizations of some kind. 4
and IN hideous DISCUSSES paraded the coun- !
try mean certain portions of the South.
ern c0untry-abusing and maltreatng in I
n0cent, quiet people, mainly black men.
do not mean to say that there were not ex.
euses and provocations for these outrages;
there We're. But l say there is no iustiticae
ton tor any such conduct as that. Tie
pretense generally was that what thew
called the carpet-bag governments were
accountable. That is probably true, but it
IS no excuse for hauling quiet people out of
their beds at midnight, and subiecting them
to all manner of indignities. So then |
SAID did not recommend particular or ex-
treme measures; but | said no doubt it is
the duty OF the States to protect their ci1i-
zens respectively, and to put down all law
essnessS But suppose they do not or can
not, OF will not The people are entitled
% protectIen-perfect protection. If the
State governments will not give it, there
must be a power somewhere that viii give
t. We look after man WHO'S not more
han half citizen, whom a foreign
government Expresses, and all the power
i this great nation is put to
york to protect that man. He may. ]
perhaps, have only declared his inten- T
ion. to become citizen; but all the cannon
nd all the force we can command are en-
,loyed for his protection. Our government
must have the power to protect its own
eople at home as well as abroad So 1
aid ayear ago last spring: "Let the Presi {
ent tell us what sort of legislation he r
eeds to put down these Ku-klux. and 1
nj back him up to the full extent He !
aid what he needed. Laws were passed, +
nd, after all, they did the work You
aye not heard of any serious Ku-Klux
utrages since these acts were passed. IN S