National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-11-28
GEORGIA -SLA VERY AGAIN Els.
TABLISHED

Inc Tdplu JulnllmenL OF our frequent pre-
dictions that so fast as the Democratic
party obtained foothold in the Southern
States, the slavery of the black race would
again be established, is simply astonishing.
Confident as we were of the truth of those
predictions, we did not expect that the
Southern people would be so rash as to
give US undoubted proof of their designs in
that direction until after the Democratic
party had-if it ever does-seated itself
firmly IN power as the dominent party of
the nation. In Texas, as we have already
proven, the anxiety to Gown a niger
again has been so great as TO overcome all
discretion, and laws have been passed by
the Democratic Legislature of that State
providing for the sale, on the block to the
highest bidder, of convicts and persons
merely charged with the commission Of
crime. In every section of the South, the
custom of apprenticing minors to masters
WHO are not expected to teach them a
trade, because those masters are farmers
and planters, is more or less directly recog-
niZcd and pTacticed, and at the same time,
even in Virginia, the most quiet and order
~ of all the reconstructed States, discrimi-
nation is made against black men in the
juTy-box. If these facts prove anything,
they certainly prove an abiding faith in
tie doctrine of the political inequality of
the two races, and lasting inclination for
the restoration of the ante 5eIlum situation
when the negro had no rights which a
white man was bound to respect.
Take the State of Georgia, for
example. The Legislature is Democratic
almost unanimously-made so first by the
arbitrary Unseating of white and black Re-
publican members, and subsequently by
consistent and persistent system Of intimi-
dalton which LGS deprived two thirds of
the Republican voters of the State of the
right Of suffrage. In short, Georgia is en-
titled to recognition as the banner Demo.
cratic State ofthe country-wc had almost
written Union-and it is but natural that
we should look TO her, after nearly six
years Of continuous Democratic supremacy,
for an honest indication Of the policy of
that party. From page 81 of the pamphlet
edition of the acts passed by the Legisla-
ture of the current year we find that it has
been enacted that section 4, S14 Of the new
Code Of Georgia be amended so as to read
as follows In all cases where persons are
convicted of misdemeanor, and sentenced
'to work in a chain gang on the public
"works, or public roads, or when such
persons are confined in Jail for non-pay-
''ment of fines imposed for such misde-
''meanOr, the ordinary Of the county, and
"when there is a board of commissioners of
''roads and revenues of the county, then
''sOid board of commissioners and in those
counties where there is county judge,
chen SAID county judge. where such con-
eviction was had, or where such con-
'viCts may be confined, may place such
''convicts in the county or elsewhere, to
'wOrk upon such public works of the
county, in chain gangs or otherwise. or
'hire out such convicts upon such terms
''and restrictions as may subserve the ends
'of justice, and place such convicts under
''such guards as may be necessary for their
"safc keeping"
1t requires but q casual glance at these
provisions of Democratic law TO discover
that a black man may be taken forcibly
from the county of his residence and sold
into involuntary slavery, or hired, which is
the same thing, in another and remote
county of the State. The guards" neces-
sary for their safe keeping, it will be ad-
mittcd, will be the masters to whom they
are hired, and the duration of their servi-
tude, it will be seen, may be prolonged in
definitely. As in the Texas law, the pro-
visions ostensiBly apply to convicts of both
coloTs, but what sane man will deny that
the practical enforcement Of the act, the
obvious intent of if, in fact, will result in
giving TO the old slave masters theircoveted
control over their former chattels. The
white men Of the South, the poor whites,
who may become amenable to its provi-
SONS, are too useful as Democratic voters,
and too valuable as the midnight raiders of
the White Leagues and Ku-Klux Klans to
be disposed Of in this way. And this is the |
party with which the Democracy of the |
North and the weakened Republicans who |
have lately aided that party, is forced TO
affiliate! This is the earnest love for the /
freedmen of which the Southern Demo-
Gratis boast, and the honest determination
to abide by the spirit and letter of the war
to the Constitution! These