Wilmington daily gazette. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1872-1874, 1874-08-17
What the Elections Mean.
(From the New York Journal of Commerce

(From the New York Journal of Commerce)
We can see in the North Carolina and Zen
nessee elections what would have been the
effect of the Civil Rights Bill if it had passed
The excitement to which its discussion IN
Congress has given rise is almost as great In
those States as if it were law. The elections
may be said to have turned ON it: and we now
know what its terrible effect would be If 1t
were more than dream and threat. CIV
il rights law, if it ever became more than d
dead letter on the statute book, would AZ once
put blacks and whites all over the South into
separate and hostile camps. few carpet
baggers would remain with the negroes, and a
few negroes would cling to the white friends
whom they never have deserted; but the trou-
Bile ensuing would be, essentially, war OF IA,
ces. The whites of the South, Democrat and
Republican alike, viii not tolerate so-called
social equality" including mixed schools,
forced upon them by law. They are most
kindly disposed towards the negroes, and II
let alone will keep on excellent terms with
them, and will accord to them all the social
equality" that their race enjoy in any North
ern State; but they spirited'y. resist AL at
tempts in Congress to cram it down their
throats. They know that the object OF the
agitation of the Civil Rights bill is partly re-
venge, and chiefly u base desire to make
strong, compact, exclusive party OF the blacks
which could be relied on to maintain Radical
supremacy ut the South. Wiser counsels pre-,
vailed in Congress and this dangerous and
foolish bill went over to the next session
For this the country is indebted not merely to
the opposition, but to some highly influential
provisions of the bill and shrewdly foreseen
its damaging effect on their own party. They
will now be confirmed in their aversion to ii
when they see what mischief the apprehen-
sion of it worked in North Carolina and Ten
nessee. In these States it was literally the
only issue. For weeks before the elections it
had been proclaimed the dividing question
The powerful Radical Maynard in Tennessee
called it "a party measure" All the Radical
stumpers, great and small, took that view OF
it, The Conservatives or Democrats, accept
ed it as the only issue, and fortunately for
themselves they did SO, for on this they APP
pealed successfully to the universal white in
stinct.
Every white voter went to the polls ont hurs
andall but few pet-baggers agreed for once
opposed to this mischievous bill. The blacks
kept pretty well together, but they had not
the cause for action, the energy the persever-
ance of the whites. The victory was decisive.
Both Tennessee and North Carolina show large
Conservative gains, which could have never
been made ON any less vital issue. In
Kentucky, the increased Conservate vote
is only in part attributable to the Civil Rights
discussion, 1t is in North Carolina, where the
excitement on this subject was hottest, that
the triumph was not complete; and from tins
discreet Republicans in Congress will take Q
LESSON, we nope, anu Hill OH Int
if it reappeus next session. The Radical
members will pretend to be undismayed by the
result of the elections. They will still press
the odious BILL in the belief that it will more
closely cement the negroes in those Southern
States where the colored vote is supreme
They will say that they had no hope of North
Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky, and look
ed only to strengthen their position elsewhere
In this, too, they reckon without their host
Nor the Civil Rights bill, if it remains an oper
question, will cause II consolidation of the
white vote all over the South. Men who, IL
despair of reforming their States, have moi
voted for years, will turn out to declare against
that detested measure. Bringing out every
white man. straining every nerve, using all
their influence and money to divide the color
ed vote, they will, We predict, make gains fol
Conservatism throughout the South while this
bill is pending before Congress. In the strict
ly partisan view, these ", cries may be claim
ed as protests against Tia, general policy OF tn,
Administrations and th, ua and errors of tn,
Government do serve, III degree, to explain
| the Conservatn" gains, but the cause Of cause,
| is undoubtedly the introduction of the Civil
Rights bill in Congress as a Republican mea
| sure That De ,!oorat il foolish who bassei
great expectation on the advance ofIhursda,
! Republican party to hold its own while lon
| ger by abandoning the Civil Rights bill, and
pursuing henoeforth the policy Of letting tn,
South alone, purging itself Of thieves, anC
making itself so good that the people will b,
content with its rule till something better car
| be had