National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-09-28

prospects are encouraging, anu lne OniJ
difficulties in the way of full development
of the resources of their section are the con-
slant recurrence of murderous outbreaks,
the tyrannical ostracism of political oppo-
nents, and the selfish dog-in-the-manger
shirt which induces them to concentrate
their commercial affairs upon q sectional
basis. The truth is, they began numbering
blacks before the reconstructed govern
ments had an opportunity to earn either
the credit or discredit of good or bad gov
eminent This is proven by the July riots
in New Orleans eight years ago. Louis
lana was then virtually under military con-
troll Sheridan, with garrison sufficient
to control half a dozen cities, was located
at New Orleans, and portions of his COM
mand were scattered all over the
State. During his temporary absence,
while General Baird was in
command, the constitutional convention
for the formation of the new State govern
ment was convened. There could have
been no complaint against that convention
at that time, for they had done nothing,
good, bad or Indifferent. ]. Madison
Wells, acting Governor, had simply exc
cuted the provisional laws of the State,
under the supervision of the military au-
thorities. There was no possible excuse
for turbulence or ground for a charge OF
misgovenment; but the assembling of the
convention was the signal for the beginning
Of one of the most bloody and cowardly
massacres of innocent citizens that can be
found to disgrace the pages of American
history. Between six and seven hundred
black men were killed merely because they
were black. The riot began at noon and
lasted four hours, ending only when the
United States troops appeared in the streets.
But those four hours of indiscriminate
slaughter, during which minister Of the
Gospel bearing the white flag Of peace,
seeking to make truce with the rioters, was
murdered, will never be forgotten. They
serve now as they will always serve to
prove that behind the sterectyped excuse
of "misgovernment' the real cause of the
Southern trouble and motive Of the South
ern massacres is deep-seated antipathy to
the results of the war.
We do not pretend to be able to prescribe
any cure for this political malady, except
that which time, and time alone, will
| bring. But even this will not serve the
purpose if the strong hand of power is not
brought to bear to prevent the recurrence
of outrages. Every murder committed for
political reasons in the South; every riotous
| nj enanpcSfnl at
tempt to intimidate political opponents,
sggravates the condition of affairs, reopens
the old sores and renews the bitterness Of
| the war. We can have no certainty Of
peace and quiet or of reconciliation in the
future, not even for generations to come,
unless these disturbances are effectually
ended. With each recurring election, sc
long as they are not quelled, the Herald
will have an opportunity to say that NEW
feelings" have been created; but the vic
tins of those ''new feelings" will recog
nize in them all the indications of old pur
poses. We are brought face to face witt
these facts now because political campaign!
are pending in many of the Southern
States, and we will be brought face to fact
with them again two years hence wher
the next general campaign occurs. Blu
before that time comes let US hope tina
Congress will be able to strengthen thu
hands of authority SO that repetition o
the horrible affairs at Colfax, Constants
and New Orleans will be impossible. Thi
done, and means being taken TO maintain
peace and quiet during three or four con
secutive election campaigns, we will begil
to see daylight; but, as we have said, s.
long as riot and disorder continues and re
mains unpuuisned, the prospect of recon
Citation and return to the forms of goo
government will be darkened by Ger
tainty that the old sectional wounds vii
remain forever unhealed.