New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-21

for these soul-scraping appeals Tor sympathy
for in several of the Southern States there Is
an unhealthy public sentiment which too often
finds vent in bloodshed, and we oil know that
more than one State is under the domination
of the ignorant and depraved Besides. there
are both whites and blacks whose i'll temper
and bad consciences keep them in constant
apprehension of the conflict OF races "nioh
they are trying their best to bring on. buc
all these things are exaggerated 1or poii'lcai
effect and the people are beginning 10 iihu IL
ont. A street fight which, If 1t occurred III inc
North, would be summarily quoted by the
notice and dismissed in paragraph IN the
local naper. becomes in the South an affair Oh
national importance, because it can be made
to serve party purposes. Milihamen arm anu
rrsb IN the rescue. The lines are formed
for general engagement, the whole
nopulation of town dividing according
to the sympathy of color or political 1aith
and one faction or the other makes demand
for Federal troops. The Democratic papers
adopt one version Of the story and the ne
publican organs another. BY the one class
the news is made an argument against fore
ing unpalatable legislation upon the South ;
with the other it becomes the strongest OF ar
guments in favor of such legislation. Thus
political capital is supplied in quality and
quantity to suit old parties are kept alive,
and old platforms ready to tumble to pieces
are patched to last through another CAM
paign.
ATTEMPTS have been made thus to turn the
recent brawls at. Somerville, Tenn, and Aus
tin, Miss, to political account; but we assure
our Southern friends of all c0lOrs that whoever
may have been benefited by bulling the out
rage market they have not. The white people
of the South should know by this time that
while they have the sympathy OF the North
in every iudicious attempt to secure honest
government, they lose that sympathy as soon
as they abandon this ground and make war
not upon dishonesty and ignorance, but upon
the Northern resident because of his ma
tiyty and the negro because OF his color ;
and they should also begin to perceive that
by fighting the Civil Rights bill they are Civ
ing it prominence and Importance 1T would
not otherwise attain, and affording its friends
the most weighty argument for Its passage
The colored men of the South should have
learned long ago that lawlessness is not an
element of freedom that the philanthropy OF
the North which has served them many a
good turn is inspired not by their color, bnt
by their helplessness as race enleeDled ana
discouraged by centuries Of slavery that
while their future is safe in the hands by
which they were freed and enfranchised, they
are in turn expected to show their fitness for
freedom and an ability to take care OF them
selves and that it is their duty, as well as to
their interest to win the respect OF their
white neighbors and keep the peace with
them at any reasonable price. We are aware
that fire-eaters of each class will recognize
the Justice of these remarks only in so far as
it applies TO the other; but the sensible must
admit their wisdom, and the discerning Will
discover that they fairly represent the sober
Judgment of the North.
As to the War of Races it Is myth bogy
conjured up by evil Imagination or invented
by designing rogues. 1t would be madness
for either the Southern Whites or the South
ern Blacks to engage in such warfare. Inc
world knows that whatever either may have
suffered, neither race has prOvOcatiOn to wage
a war of determination upon the other. The
world would condemn whatever form 1t might
assume. The strong arm OF the Government
would auell it before it should pass the limits
of single county. In fine, such war Is
impossible. Neither whites nor blacks
can work upon the sympathies OF the North,
in their political contests, by representing
such mad warfare as imminent. A White
Mans Party would be an absurdity in the
North a Black Mans Party would be
greater absurdity if not greater
crime; and if voters are thus divided in the
South, neither party has any claim upon our
sympathies. Movements like that by which
Virginia was redeemed and politically re-
generated in 1862 and West Virginia little
later. and like that now set on foot by Ker-
shaw and Trescot in South Carolina, must
command respect good wishes, and substan-
tial aid, for they seek good government by
fair political combinations, and are founded
upon sound craftsmanship. But until such
movements become the rule rather than the
exception we fear there is little hope for en-
during peace and prosperity in the South.