The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-09-30
IMPENDING DANCERS
Failing to Disrupt the Union. Dis
loyalty Now Aims to Build an Also
lutism In the Ruins Of the Republic.

lutism I'm the Ruins of the Republic.
A correspondent of the Chicago Inter
OCEAN writes from New Orleans as follows
/ A native of Ohio, / came TO Louisiana il
1858, and have since witnessed every politi
cal change. 1t has seemed to me Sn age o
! discomfort, a long chapter OF criminal hetor,
more betting dark age before clear dehnl
lions Of right and wrong entered into popu
I lar yocabularies, or the idea of governm men
founded upon rational majorities had ar
I rested the attention OF the political philoso
Il pliers. In my humble way L have worket
heartily for the acceptance of the Congress
isional plan Of reconstruction as the best pos
fsible adjustment of the differences between
I North and South obtainable. But l have
I nevertheless, believed taad experience ha
sustained this belief that a people laugh
from the cradle up. to consider
slavery a divine institution would b,
I slow to receive and practice correct princi
pies Of free government, TO cease mourning
tolerance toward the blacks indispens
able to the existence of sound
peaceful reign oflaw. 1t couldsnot be ex-
pected that the prejudices of a generation
would be annihlated in a day, or that the
] freedman released from bondage would ac-
quire political experience in the same period
1 of time and | have thought that q true mag
inanImlty to the conquered. just protection
/ of the unlettered, would demand of the ma
/ tional government a steady and firm super
vision or support of the governments institu-
ted in the reconstructed States. This sup
port to continue until time should heal the
wounds of the war, and the new order OF la
Dor and politics be appreciated. To-day, il
the strong arm of Federal authority be not
extended in aid of those governments, and in
behalf OF a common citizenship OF the Union
the results must prove of most deplorable
nature. The leaders of the late rebellion
with disabilities removed, and, as true repre-
sentatives of Southern sentiment are press
ing to the. front. Where victory has re-
warded their labors. their constituencies but
lilly conceal disaffection or ingratitude
to the government that condoned their
treason; Republican newspapers have died
out or been silenced; free discussion is pro-
scribeds Northern men who had previously
espousea the Republican cause move out or
are driven from their homes; and the colored
voter, whose poverty forbids similar change,
must face the Kuklux bands and be slaugh-
tered, vote as dictated to, or abandon the
ballot-box. If the white governments urge
in their favor better financial exhibit than
Republican predecessors it should still be
quest joined whether it is, after all, true
economy to muzzle the press deny freedom
of discussion on political action, awaken dis
loyal ideas, and rehabilitate the Southern
States with all the machinery of mobs and
secret leagues which served so potent part
in melting to rebellion in lo6O-6l. 1t is quite
time for thoughtful men to ponder the stu
alton at the South calInly and dispassionately.
Only profound feelings of sympathy for its
mstortunes and disorders should be exercised
Nothing has transpired but what should
have been reasonably expected under
continuous control of the Federal Govern
ment for half century, and the loss of
office and power is now keenly felt. The
disabilities imposed by the war upon South
ern leaders only served as temporary sus-
pension of their prestige in nominating con-
ventions. With no fear of punishment fer
treason they had no cause, but such as their
own judgment might dictate, to regret the
10 ha,r
tutional amendments and congressional legis-
lation created a new political element when
it enfranchised the negro and where this
element is not in an actual majority it is of
sufficient weight to turn the scale in close
elections. 1t cannot be ignored.
The domineering spirit of the master and
the submissive one of the slave were natural
attributes of the old and new political ele-
ments: With teachings and prejudices which
forbade voluntary obedience to laws. and
directly operated as an antidote to their
evils, the Southern white was not slow to
perceive the potency which political expert
ence, educated intelligence, wealth and
lands could exersise againstth the inexperienced
intellect and landless eolored vote. The poll
cy of Andrew johnson lifted UP new hopes
amid the shattered ruins of the Confedcracy
North Carolina, Georgia. Texas, Arkansas
and Tennessee exhibit each in n manner what
has been accomplished by bold intrepid or
ganization, and riding rough shod over indi-
vidual rights, and even political majorities,
to grasp and retain political power. The
mob law spirit of the South is not unknown
to Congressional halls, where it struck down
Sumner; or in Kansas where it aiem pied to
dragon State into pro-slavery ranks; and it
has struck down thousands of lives from Fir-
ginia to Texas since the close of the war
When Congress, cognizant Of the carnival OF
crime, attempted by legislation to enforce the
spirit and letter of the constitutional amend
ments with reference to the rights of eiti-
zens. and to check the destructive and
~ aray.x IL.
it has been reprosched by them for its tyr
amy" When the President orders the troops
to sustain courts of Justice it is proclaimed as
Federal Interference" 1t is charged that
all these efforts are solely intended to bolster
up lettering and corrupt State governments,
in the interest of the Republican or dominant
party; that these governments, if "let alone.
would fall before the majesty of an outraged
people, taxed almost to confscation, by
horde of plundereE,' etc. The disordered
state of the South has rendered it possible for
numbers of unsorupulous adventures to ac-
quire and misuse political in tiuence; but this,
hesitancy of capital to invest within her
borders, Is a burden she must bear unit mob
law ceases to pursue or destroy its victims.
There Is no more justice in attriouting the
eriminality of Southern government. TO the
Republican party than to Charge the war. the
New Orleans, Camilla, Grant parish or Cou-
shatta Inassacres to the same source
In evidence of the truthflness of this as
SeFtlon, let 1t be recalled to memery that the
first attempt of the Southern leaders in the
work OF reconstruction, en the basis Of
white suffrage, and the total exclusion of the
blacks from participation in political affairs.
This policy was continued after the right of
suffrage became universal. Now, in rs g.
the White League still ren,sins. All poiiti-
cal utilization is denied the negro except on
the basis OF voting white men into Office, and
the surrender of his OWL claim to representa-
ton. In self-defense he has therefore been
n be 80. l.. .T-ln
men to represent him in the local govern
ment. Certain offices must be filed by men
of better education than himself. and he
votes into office white men who cast their lot
with him in the political struggle. White
allLnty