Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-09-18
TIE DIsORDERLY soUTH-THE DIFFICUL
TIES OF RECONSTRUCTION.

That the work of reconstructing the rebellious
States has not reached the results that would be
Desired IL plain. No one pretends it has. The
situation in nearly every one of the States that
went into rebellion Is unsatisfactory. Not only
those THAT are Republican in their vote, but
those that are Democratic, are in a condition
that gives pain TO every sincere friend of good
government. In South Carolina, seheming and
dishonest wire-pullers, deceiving the colored yo-
tiers, have plundered the State and in Tennes.
see the temper of the Rebellion still prevails
and manifests itself in MURDER arson, and out
rage. Which of these conditions is the worse2
Life has been comparatively safe in South Car
olina, since the suppression OF the ku-Klux,
while in Tennessee-as i'll Alabama, and other
Democratic States-there has been, at frequent
intervals, revived spirit of violence which took
for Its objects the unoffending colored people,
and committed acts at which humanity shoulders.
We say again, which is worse?
We do not at all mean to palliate the rascali-
ries of men like Moses, who has been fixed i'll
history az the ''robber Governor" although it is
true, nevertheless, that the condition of affairs
in South Carolina has been grossly exaggerated;
the finances there are not in any worse condition
chan those of Virginia, which the Democrats
seized and held, almost immediately after the
war closed, and the taxes are not higher, nor
the distress OH account of tax sales any
greater than they are and for years have been on
the Delaware and Maryland Peninsula. But,
without exeusing Or endeavoring to diminish the
misconduct which has characterized the govern
nent of South Carolina Louisiana, and othei
saates it is to be said with truth that the out
lawry and violence which have prevailed in Slater
where the old Rebel rule has the upper hand
have been infinitely more serious. Our people dc
not know the extent to which crime has gone il
the South and they have been recently led to be
lieye-even many Republicans that the stories
or outrage upon the black people and upon white
ones, too for political reasons, were exaggerated
or entirely imaginary. To gain correct view, il
IL necessary to have comprehensive history OF
the case, such as has been recently fur
nished by Congressman Hays OF Alabama
His specific recital of the cold-blooded muir
ders and outrages in his own section of Ala
bama and the neighboring counties of Mssssp
pi is heart-sckening, and the credibility OF hi
report ia beyond doubt. He was, himself, the
largest stakeholder in Alabama, was in the Con
rederate Army, throughout the Wsr, but Joined
honestly and heartily in the work of Reconstruct
ion, and was therefore forced to be Republi
can. His word is good, and here is q sample O.
what he is obliged to say
Every midnight breeze brings to Ills the DIV
ing groans Of some man, who has fallen in til,
cause of right and liberty. Up to this time no
single white Democrat has been murdered
outraged, or otherwise matreated i'll any way il
the State OF Alabama The killing has all beef
ON a ha Anvto ,Ofo, ,..f
fering have been held back and kept back from
the people Of the North. The agents of til
southern associated press alone furnish news t.
your papers. Every agent of this as
generally is rebel and ii Democrat
Our views, speeches, platforms, writings and a,
lions generally are garbled and missent to deceiv
the people of the North, and convince them ths
the South is. Being ,plundered by adventurers
that corruption and imfamy stalk forth wit
monstrons iniquity in all our public places, an
that every man who dares to raise his voice fo
the principles of republicanism is felon, Nh
unworthy to walk the earth on which he liyei
Many of my old slaves have com
to me and begged me to take them back, an
save them from the reign of the drunken tdei
perado and the midnight marauder."
IN the face of facts like those which this par
graph describes, but which cannot be fully con
pretended unless they are all specifically rel
ted it il folly to pirate of the excuses which Il
latter-day rebels of Louisiana have for their a
tempted revolution. If we admit all that is "a
against Kellogg, the fact remains that the
is no spirit of fair play, at least no ability
enforce fair play, in Ills enemies. 1t is a b.
choice, perhaps, and it is now the duty of all
get better men than Kellogg to the 'front.' b
finder no circumstances can the friends of ii
reunited Republic, those who want to Zee Fire
dom, Equal Rights, and read Democracy, conse
to the full domination throughout the South
the nnreconstructod rebels.