The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1874-08-14
WHO Is RESPONSIBLE:


many of the Southern States, some
Democratic Journals assume TO read
lecture 10 tie Republican party, taxing
the broad ground that the politicai llIs
Of the South are entirely the result oI
the reconstruction laws adopted ana put
into force by the Republican party Inc
existing troubles ofthe South have Their
,.-;,,i,, in tb.. state Of society existing III
the South long before the Republican car
tvcame into power, or even before II caIne
into existence. We hold that the prin-
cipIes enunciated in reconstruction laws
are the only correct principles Of law
and justice, and if their application has
not been successful in the Southern
States, it il because their people are 80
fiercely fanatical and 50 blindly preiu-
diced that they discard these principles
of right and justice. If We have read
the history Of the reconstruction Of the
Southern States, and that of the laws
passed by former Republican Congresses
for that purpose Alright, the following
may be regarded as the foundation prin-
ciples upon which reconstruction was
based:
First. The Republican party, through
the President and Congress, insisted
that the former slaves and only loyal
men through the war should not remain
disenfranchised.
Second. That a system of free schools
for both black and while children should
be established, 50 that the neglected
poorer classes might be saved from their
gross Ignorance and become good citi-
zens.
Third. That the enormous debt with
which the States had loaded themselves
in aid of the rebellion, should never be
recognized; SO that the labor of loyal
men should not be taxed to pay the wa
ges of disloyalty and treason.
Fourth. That all men should hereaf-
ter be equal before the law, and that the
former slave should have an equal stand
ing with the whit IS in the jury and wit
ness box
Under the laws enacted for the ad-
vancement of these wise, Just and benef-
icient principles, the negroes went to
work 1--WE must believe in good faith) to
fit themselves for the duties of citizens.
1t is the almost universal testimony of
those in a position to know, that the
newly frHnchised race were, as a whole.
submissive, industrious and anxious to
he taught. Their children were sent to
school, i'll many instances at great sac
rifice, and even aged men were found.
primer in hand, receiving instruction
from their more fortunate grandchil-
dren.
While the negroes We're struggling to
fit themselves for their new responsible
tiles, what was the position and conduct
of their more enlightened white neigh
bors! The sight OF a negro school-house
exasperated their former owners with a
blind and demoniac rage. The edict
went forth, ''burn the school-houses.
and the light of scores of these humble
homes of learning illumined the mid
night skies. ''Maltreat and expel the
school teachers" was the next COM
mand, and gentle, loving, phiIantlropic
Northern ladies were compelled TO board
in negro shanties, because no white wo-
man would associate with them nor
give them food nor shelter. BY these
means, and by other violent means.
adopted by the Ku klux, were the blacks
of the South discouraged in fitting them
selves for the responsibility OF citizen
ship. So long as they suffered it in ST !
upon the law of the land |
to protect them in the right-we did not |
hear so much complaint But when, /
goaded TO desperation, and failing to |
get legal redress, they turned with a /
frenzied determination to revenge their
wrongs, and anarchy lawlessness and |
bloOd-shed ensues, then comes from |
Democrats and rebels that the Re- /
publican parry is responsible for this
state of things. The responsibility
rests with those who have trampIed up
on the past rights of the blacks; who
have sought to reduce TO political vas
salage race whose chains the Republi-
;an party has broken, and whose free
DOM that party has guaranteed, and
must continue to perpetuate.
To sum the whole matter up, we may
say, in conclusion, that the negroes of
the South are as much entitled to life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness as
the whites, and the sooner the latter
recognize and act upon this fact tile
sooner will the Southern States enjoy
peace and good government.