The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-12-11
Why Is It?

Why Is 1t
Why is it that the South cannot be let
alonei The southern States are afflicted with
wrongs unprecedented, which are the work
of the Federal Government. If they were
left to struggle through those wrongs as best
they might they could better bear the evils
heaped upon them; bat this sort of peace is
not allowed them. e., it has not been grant
ed to them as yet. The Federal Govern
ment has interfered With their local affairs,
and this has but stimulated passions in all
classes. Those who relied upon Federal in
reference to support them in disorderly and
aggressive acts, and in rifing and despollipg
the public Treasury, derived assurance and
offensveness from Government encourage
ment; whilst those whose interests and
lives were rendered less safe by the Govern
ment policy which oppressed them, and in
spired their prosecutors to increased out
RACES and venom, were forever chatting and
disconnected. Thus has the fatal Govern
ment policy worked steadily to the disturb
ance OF the public peace and the injury of all
domestic interests in the South.
Even now body of black militia has been
turned upon peaceful town in Mississippi
with death-dealing weapons to Stay white
people, for no better provocation than that
Radical sheriff elect was not Installed into an
Office for the faithful performance Of the du-
ties of which be was unable to give security.
We beg to ask, Is this civilization? Do
such things show that we have fairly-ad-
ministered Government-not to sag one
wisely administered: Do they not show
that the policy towards the South has been
unwise and obstnately destructiyel And
why is it SO?
For no earthly reason but that such policy
was deemed best to prolong the power of
the Radical party and enable it to fatten on
the spoils of Office, and the rich contracts of
Government, and the large gains through
Government connivance and preferment.
The policy for this purpose enlisted the vast
army of negroes and to keep that army al
ways in line the unprincipled Republican
party did rot hesitate to give offence to south
ern whites and to Cypress them in many
ways. 10.
The motive to such terrible misgovern-
ment was atrocious, and the means en-
ployed we're barbsrous. They were inhu.
man, and they showed vilainous treachery
to race which will damn the traitors through
all future time. 'a" .,.E.'
1t was a degradation of the nation. The
attempt was to take from the only qualified
class the power to govern and place the south
ern governments in the hands of aliens and
barbarians, dishonest and incompetent, who
have, wherever they had the opportunity, in
yolved the people in unprecedented troubles
and embarrassmsnts, and plunged their gov
ernments into confusion and ruin. The south
ern States constituting nearly half of the
nation, their degradation was to that extent
the degradation OF the nation itself. Yet
the Republican, party has not hesitated to
ii hict this disgrace upon the Union that they
night have continued power to rule 1t and
l. ZEN upon the national treasury.
This is chow it is,s But let us be thank.
fl to Providence that II cannot be long "so."
General GRANT, In his message, gives us
petty well TO understand that he repents
n stof anything he has done. He gives us
10 understand that he thinks all things that
have been done were right-that the suffer.
ing whites at the South were sufferers not
because they were treated wrong-that they
were TO be regarded In some degree respon.
sible for the ontrages, those fables which be
still strangely enough puts faith in-and
that the enforcement acts shall be admins.
tered faithfully for the protection Of negroes
whenever be feels it his duty to act.
Well, then, the consolation Is that Genera
GRANT is not always TO be President, ant
that EVENT. he is President for life he cannot
live always. That's something to console an
outraged population Of 8 great part Of thi,
Union. Nay, 1t is something to console an
outraged nation, that is now embarrassed be.
cause Of the corrupt and inhuman policy OF
the Republicans towards the South. Hard
upon the South, this policy is rescting now
with terrible effect upon the North. That
very pressure which the nation staggers
under is almost wholly due to that terrible
policy which sought in large part OF The
Union TO subordinate civilization to barba.
xism.
Retribution Is neyer-failing. It comes
rapidly. The day is not distant when the
system Of Radical measures which degraded
the Government to thst Of party instead oil
the Government OF this great nation viii be
legarded as only dt to have cnanated from