The Portland daily press., 1874-10-09
Democratic Third Term Men.

When we said that the Southern ex-reb lis
were conspirng by their outrageous conduct
to force the nation to seek a continuation Of
Gen. Grants term of Office beyond eight
years, as the man who would be most gener-
ally agreed upon as safe to trust liz crisis,
we thought that not even the Argus would
understand that we favored a third term; ;
but ii did. Now let it take notice that we
are opposed to a third term and deprecate
most vehemently the action of the Southern
Democrats in bringing about so dangerous an
exigency of affairs as may overcome the pref
udice of the American people against third
term by threat of public disturbance and rc-
newed warfare. When whole armies organ
ize throughout the South and march under
the confederate banner as they have done in
Alabama, when the life and property of any
Republican white or black are unsafe and
midnight murder and rapne are rife and
when United States troops are fired upon by
bands of armed men, it is time to begin to
appreciate the fact that we may have trouble
invention but dreadful and mournftl re-
alty. From very carefully compiled article
on southern disturbances in Hdrper's Weekly
of this week we make the following extract
which should be thoughtfuy read:
However DESTROYS our peaceable citizens may
be of placing a more hopeful construction upon
the condition of the Southern states than the
events of the past few mouths will allow the
letters that are constantly received from the
friends of the Union in that section show that
they, at least, share in no such agreeable de-
fusion. They steadily assert that the dsunion
faction is active in every part of the South,
and that the political leaders who have as
sumed the name of Democrats are no better
than traitors IN disguise. In the neighborhood
in Alabama where Mr.. Billings was recently
assassnated reign of terror exists, we are
told, that is, simply appalling" The Ku
Klux, masked and armed, in companies of two
or three hundred, have resumed their nightly
rides They are composed of 1.-THE vilest and
lowest OF the population, bat they are sup
Piled with money and horses, and support
ed by the countenance of the Democratic
leaders, who hope by their aid to control the
elections. They are determined, it seems, to
force the negroes into insurrection; and the ne
groes, who, we are told "are quiet and pc acea-
bic, and have no more idea of instruction than
an infant, are subjected to such horrible out
RACES as no other race has ever borne so patient
ly. Every night the murderers chase them from
their cabins to the woods and swamps, where
they hide in hopeless terror. Some are shot
uOWu DIS IHby N.Y. all i've III lear OF tneIr lives,
In condition of misery that no language can
describe. Meanwhile, our informant continues,
these vIlalns-White Leaguers-- march in hun
dreds by u have seen them), making night hid
eous with their demoniac yells." No Republican
dareS to sleep in his own house 10 this district
OF Alabama, where the Mobile Reqister insists
that all is peace and order But it is against the
white Republicans, whether;native or Northern
born, that the Democrats show their deadiest
hatred. Mr.. Billings, one of their most recent
victims. was amlahla AMI 80,
noble Northern gentleman, againstjwhem not
word of reproach could be uttered" He was a
moderate Republican, but careful never to in
troduce political topics in conversation posses
sing wide information, and welcome visitor
in every household mot prejudiced by passion -
None of his friends dreamed of his assassina
ton. He was shot down in the night by a
troop OF the masked and demOniac League.
The Southern-horn Unioniststare more Sc
cure than the Northern. Unless speedy help is
given them they win be murdered like the pat
riot Billings. Il beg you in Gods NAME" ex-
claims one of them, Ito heed my cry for help,
and spare no effort to have these murderers
brought to Justice
iAE bangor Wig prints, as a communica.
tlon, with corrobroative and commendatory
editorial words, an assault on'a gentleman
formerly connected with journalism in this
state, SO gross and Indecent in its references
to his family relations as to excite renewed
wonder at the very remarkable conduct of
the Wing in these latter days. The nrint;no
of this letter from an anonymous writer
making personal attack OF worse cbarac-
shameful thing and disgrace to journalism.
l. is deplorable that such production should
find place in a respectable newspaper.