The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-05-31
: A Great Mistake.

The New York Times. the sc's''-'''.'
organ Of the Administration, dcc''ieS Tia,
before the hate Presidential cltct'on IL "'s'"
the ,co,cc,;op of General GRANT because 'ua'
,,,u,d .cytincuish the "Southcrh On
,rcmists " As that PAPER is pleased 10 >'Sie'
", supro<c. everybody at the So'th "o' !"
favor of Radicllsm--'. C., nearly every o'"s
sa,c the southern negroes. IL te'i'i'ateS
,xcIf for lis sacacity in thus torccasting the
consequences of General GRANTS triumph.
~ authorizations, il frankly admits. were
:. NOT based on any specific measures TO which
..tbc Hrpul,lican party or General GRANT
was rledscd.' This is more than we en-
ncctcd from any Radical journal. II the
n,,iti,ation of the South was not to he eff
,cc,cd hy concliatory and conSidcrate mea-
.urcS. how were discomfort ana oproSlt'ohto
ne h,ni.hcd: OF course, simply by the re-
,o,t;on or bower in Radical hands--power
I, bc used arbitrarily. This was evidently
,,ho; The Times counted upon; for, By way
of illustrating how the consequences worked
themselves out. the Times cites the troubles
in l.ouiSiana a. having been Quoted without
rrolucin. any great excitement in The South.
OF course the bayonet ends argument. and
We have seen it introduced 81 frequently
That the public of the south has become
used To il. and. like prisoner in ta>tilc,
is too sensible of the .hopclcSsncSs of the
situation to indulge in vain complaints and
idle indignation. The moment the bayonctS
were arraycd on KELLOGG side the really
responsible and intelligent people of Loui>i-
ana discontinued all opposition, and the
question was at IN end everywhere.
This sort Ct eXtinguiShmcnt Of the
extremists" was very simple, and the
Times is not entitled to credit for the gift of
prophery.in foretelling that General GRANTS
reelection would bring it down upon the
South.
But this ruthless exercise of power
establishes no real content, no real peace
The surface may be calm and unrutfled, but
underneath ore cherished the bitter resent
mcnts of wrongs and outrages, and the
Times makes great mistake when it sup
poses they will not rise and show themselves
again whenever there is an opportunity for
their practical expression.
The South wa, to be quietedand rendered
so hopeless that it would never make an
other effort at the polls and that not by
'.anv specific measures to which the Renub-
iivan party or General GRANT was pledged
but. we are forced to conclude, by tic display
OF force. by the appearance OF the bayonet
III the forum to command silence. The
remedy. for present purposes, is decisive
but although it may produce quiet with
public whose indignation is wearied. il can
not destroy hope and cannot restrain the
opposition OF the people OF the South and Of
their descendants to the party which has
outraged, Wronged, and Inundated them.
Nor need that party, 50 ruthless and heed
less in It's policy. hope ttnt it is permanently
established in power. There are Interests
and sentiments alien TO it that are strong
enough to defeat it and drive its leaders out
of the public offices. 1t is impossible that
the party policy which fosters sectional hate,
folments the discomfort of the South, and
mars the general prosperity by odious OPP
pressons, can long hold its power. The
welfare and peace of the nation will compel
Il change--will force the opprcssors out OF
power aud put into their places men who
will administer the Government with i'm
Iurtitty and justice, and restore harmony
To the Union ny concihtory and wise mea-
surcS.
Tie South can do but little now. She has
her own local government TO protect and to
keep out Of The hands of. barbarianS and
thieves. She will exert all her power under
her state laws to do this, and will do the
best she can TO improve her domestic al-
tlirS Thus she will bide her time until she
has il chance to exert her influence in ma
lonal atiuils. When that time COMES she
viii show that she has not been conciliat"d
and is not to be lmcifed by the Radical
mode Of distinguishing southern cX-
tlcmists She will show it no doubt to
some purpose, and will yet have the sati>tac-
ton of aiding the liberal and enlightened
people of the North in hauling from power
party which relies not upon its merits TO
win the approval of the people of the nation
but trusts only to fUrcc-thc strong arm of
military power-to quiet complaints and re-
pc opposition.