National Republican., 1873-06-28
THE CONDITION OF THE SOUTH.

From every part Of the South we have In
formation TO show that the leading classes, or
rather those who arc leaders by nature and
by the force OF intellectual or social cInl-
ncncc, arc beginning to study the problem Of
the political situation with view TO harmo-
nize the sectional animositles which divide
the country. Thus the graduates Of our Nil
itary Academy, who during our civil war led
contendlng armies against each other, have
taken bold aud significant step toward per-
feet and lasting Cancellation. At the same
time General Boaurogard and other promi-
nent white citizens Of Louisiana have claspcd
hands with Lieutenant Governor Antoine,
DIR. L. c. Rondancz, and W y. Randolph,
cal amalgamation. The force Of this practi-
cal illustration will be better understood when
It Is known that the three persons last named
are colored; that Antoine Is Kellogg's Lieu
tenant Governor RandoneZ Is leading ply
slcian, and Randolph wealthy merchant. All
this Is as IL should be, and sustains our oft
repeated assertion that the intelligence Of
tho South Is not ayerse to, but really
In favor Of complete and peaceful
submission to the new order Of Affairs. The
people Of this class, In fact, recognize the
blacks rs capable human beings, whose sense
of right and wrong and whose appreciation
Of the privileges Of citizenship are well de-
fined. None of tho outrages against the
blacks which have provoked the denuncla-
ton OF the civilized world have ever been
traced to them. On the contrary, since the
close Of the war they have pursued u con-
sistent policy, so far as their personal efforts
arc concerned, toward the blacks, which has
been intended for the joint benefit Of both
parties and to establish lasting and peaceful
relations between the two races. We are re-
iolced that We have the opportunity to make
this truthful and creditablc record; but, al
the same time, VIC arc compelled to add that
this praiseworthy example has but few
followers outside Of those who are directly
interested as its promoters. Beaurcgard
and Tllghman may clasp hands every
day with Antoine and Martlndale, but
they will find no disciples to their
policy OF peace and good will outside Of
their own ilk. While they may be
ever so honest In their concillatory efforts,
the overwhelming majority Of the newspaper
writers and politicians Of the so-caIled Con-
servatiye party Of the South are ever so car
nest In their efforts to keep alive the preju-
dice Of race, the hatred Of sectlonalism, and
the antagonlsms Of the war. These latter
efforts nnd thousands Of followers, and each
recurring election shows that but little prog
ress has been made In the direction, either Of
full recognition OF the blacks as citizens, or
complete reconciliation between the whites
OF the two sections. For this reason, and
because the people Of the North know this to
DO true, the hand-clasping In New Orleans BY
Intelligent and pcaceably inclined Southern
leaders with prominent colored men docs not
outweigh the Influence Of the murder Of
blacks In Colfax parish by Southern bullics.
Again, the people Of the North learn that
General Longstreet, In Louisiana and Cali
fornia, Mosby, In Virginia, distinct types Of
Southern soldlery, arc ostraclsed both polit-
ically and socially by the majority Of their
former comrades because Of their support OF
the Republican candidate for President at
last falls election. II Is true that
these two gentlemen arc exceptionally popu-
lar In their respective sections, and that Col.
Mosby Is not Republican In the true accep-
tation Of the term; but the support which
they gave and still give to General Grant Is
sufficient to oyershadow all recollection and
all gratitude for their support Of the rebel
lion among those who still claim to be true
to the best interests of the people Of the
South" We arc convinced, however, that
these continued indications, so publicly made,
OF thorough acceptance Of the situation by
such men as Beauregard and Tilghman will
be productive Of great good. We believe
that the majority Of the men Of their type
entertain similar belief, and the only trouble
Is hesitancy on their part TO make that be-
lief public. In other words, they dare not
face the social and apparently oyerwhelm-
Ing sentiment Of the Southern whites against
the method Of reconciliation as declared at
New Orleans and St. Louis. It is therefore
evident that In 50 far as they fall to
exert the influence for peace and har-
mony which they undoubtedly have over
their less Intelligent fellow-men they
arc recreant to their duty as good
citizens. When they do this duty we shall
hear no more of Interference with the rights
Of the new voting class, aud the functions Of
will bc us safely guaranteed to
the poorest and most ignorant black as they |
now are 10 tho meanest aud equally Ignorant |
white. The reign Of the bully will then be at |
an end lu the great cities as well as In the
country districts, and bloodshed will cease.
Tho foroe OF the example will cause the
writer's and stump orators who now ''hTe the
Southern heart" with terrible tales Of cyan
zoe tyranny" and who defame our public
men, as well as tho policy Of Congress and
ho Administration, with the bOldCst Of los,