The Portland daily press., 1874-07-31
Shall Old Issues be Reyiyeds

snail OId issues De heylYeus
1t has been frequently stated in these
columns that the war of 1865 is over, and
that the Republican party is no longer JUST.
fed in making any question directly growing
out of it . political issue. Above all things
that party can no longer demand further sup
port and continued confidence on the laurels
won during that and the consequent period of
reconstruction. We still believe that any
action on the part Of either party in the late
war, which shall in any way reopen the
questions already settled in relation thereto,
cannot be regarded otherwise than as pub
lic calamity. As people we want peace that
prosperity may follow. As a nation we have
other work to do than to revive the causes
and again fight battles already decided.
The duty of the present, if we are friends of
the Republic, is to consider the problem of
the proper adjustment of our finances, and
such measures as will raise the masses of
the country to higher moral and intellect
ual plain. In the performance of these duties
lies the only safety of our government
We mistake the popular sentiment of those
who espoused the federal cause in the late war
if they do not now heartily desire to consider
the differences of the past as fully settled.
There is no feeling of resentment, no embers
ofhate, no sentiment of hostility toward their
brethren in the South. Moreover, there is
growing feeling among Republicans to aid the
people of the other section in the establish
ment of good government. The cause of all
bo, 10 ofa tI,ot
never in the history of the nation has the
North entertained so hearty feeling of good
will toward the South as to-day.
But there are indications that in several
states of the South unwse men are taking
such course as will most certainly revive the
old sectional issues and reopen the old
wounds which time and Cancellation were
healing. We do not allude to the fact that forty
odd militia companies, bearing arms issued to
the state by the general government, dis
play the flag of the lost cause, and refuse to
carry that Of the Republic. Such pro-
cedure is simply regarded as foolish. The
fact, however, that in several states a secret
organization, called the ''White League" is
being established everywhere, and with as
great rapidty as were the Know-Nothing
lodges in 1854, is one justly calculated to pro-
duce the deepest solicitude, if not alarm.
The object of this league is to combine white
ctizens against those who are not, so as to
control the management Of public affairs. In
other words it is scheme to diminish the
vote of the colored men, who have as good a
right to the ballot as the white. As this Or
ganization does not propose to convert the
colored voters to their views, or eIlighten
Them so that they may be able to more intel
1igenty use their newly acquired privileges,
there appears to be but one method of dmin-
ishing their number, viz, by killing or intiml-
dating them. In short, the White League is
pursuing course which will naturally result
in war of races; and if the purpose of the
organization is realized the country may ex-
pect renewal anc frequent repetition of the
Colfax massacre of 1873, and those outrages
which occurred in various states in 1S67-s.
The Republican party is not unmindful Of
the misrule and robbery which has follow ed
the reconstruction of the late Confederate
States. The better part of the organization
deplores the decentralization in those states.
and are anxious to aid the people of that sec
tion in securing better condition of affairs in
every legitimate way. Already the native
whites have control of a majority of these
states, and, with the exception of South
Carolina, those which have been constantly
controlled by the conservative party are no
better off than those where the CARPET
baggers and negroes, calling themselves Re-
publicans, have been responsible for the di-
Iection ofpublic affairs.
Bus the native whites of the South greatly
mistake if they imagine that the nation al
large will be disinterested observer in its
new war upon the colored people. They will
find that prescription and intimidation will
not prove remedy for the ills and woes which
they themselves, and not the freedmen. havo
brought upon them. The last number of
Scribner's Magazine contains an article from
Edward King, an impartial observer, with
tendencies to favor the native whites. which
will attract some attention in connection with
this new organization. For several years the
state of Georgia has been under Democratic
rule, and Mr.. King thus speaks of the result
Certainly, reconstruction is null and void in
Georgia. Out of 10000 colored voters in the
state, scarcely 10000 voted day; free schools
are mostunknown outside of cities and towns,
and there has not been Republican INSPECTOR
III elections since the Democrats assumed
power: 10 judge from the testimony of native
Georgians who are Republicans, and who have
s Ssee suspected Of dishonesty or untrub
IN facte sie very grossly intimidated. The
empire - 'A'no " iii'iSioie
This is the result which the White Learue
desreto accomplish in every soutbern stato
Letus hope that better counsels win nror";,
md that such men as Congressman ,a -,
will come to the front to combat an organic
ton which, whether it SO intends or not will
be sure to revive the old hates and inaugurata
q war OF races, retard the material interests of
fhe state, and render the colored people an
unproductive, ignorant and dangerous ele-
inent in the body politic.
IrLs to