New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-08-20

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The Grange Movement In the
.s South. ~. f,... ..r..
The attitude of the native southern whites
towards men holding uncompromising senti-
ments in sympathy with the reconstruction
measures is becoming Of such importance as
to attract something more than passing at
tention. The history Of revcngeful outrages
perpetrated upon defenceless Union men,
women and children by masked and dis
guised rebels is well known to the world.
The organizations in the South, having for
their purpose the intimidation of Unionists
and the subjugation Of the negro, were com.
posed wholly of Southern men-ex-rebel
soldiers-with no active sympathy in the
North, though Democrats, for party capital,
affected to disbelieve the stories of outrages
that were coming up from the South. The
u-klux Klans were not successful in their
aim. The horrors perpetrated by them at
last aroused the country to sense of its
duty, and the law interposed and put check
TO the murderous bands.
The spirit that prompted the organization
of Ku-Klux Klans lived on and still survives
the attempt Of the law to suppress it. In
the South to-day the belief in the Lost
Cause is great. 1t may be pleasing for the
people of the North to feel that the rebels
have accepted the situation, and that the
Union is held by them in that depth of love
which precludes the possibility of another
conspiracy to overthrow it. The feeling of
confidence held by the North, in regard to
the disposition of the people Of the South, is
not warranted by any strong evidence OF re-
spect exhibited for the rights of the I'M
doubted and ever-faithful Union men of that
section by native white Southern people.
The enmity of the white native popula-
ton of the South toward the negro is not
as professed-becauseof nhisgovernment and
corruption. The negro is only obnoxious be-
cause of his fidelity to the Union. If there
were presented to the Southern whites any
plan by which the negro could be induced to
support the Lost Cause, the feeling and dis
position of ex-rebels towards the freedmen
would become instantly changed. The fact
that no outrage, however barbarous, no per-
secutions, however malignant, can sever the
negro from his love and devotion to the
Union embitters the feeling Of the rebellion
sympathizers against him, and mites the
white people solidly for the accomplishment
Of his overthrow or determination. So long
as the negro remains on Southern soil SO
long will the Union have true and devoted
friends in that part Of our country where the
defeated attempt to destroy the nation is
looked upon as Lost Cause, whose success
may be yet attained in ssa good time COM
ng," when the black allies of the Union
cause shall have been starved and driven out
of the land. observation-disclosures. ..-...
If the anti Union people Of the South can
effect political alliance with sympathizers
in the North they will thereby strengthen
their cause to an encouraging extent. The
Grange movement opens the way for the
rebels. Through it they hope to obtain con-
troll of the national Government and the
State governments. BY that control change
may be effected in the laws, with protested
purpose TO benefit agriculturists, which will
SO affect the negro as to leave him but little,
if anything, in the way Of liberty. The
Grange movement affords an opportunity for
secret organization too promising to be lost
sight Of by the white people Of the South.
The new accessions to this movement have
for the month of July been mainly in the
South. No colored man Is allowed to be-
come member Of Grange in that section.
A gentleman who had occasion to confer
with the oranges upon a matter of public
concern, states that he twas surprised and
shocked at the answers he received from
those in the Southern States. They were
uniformly disrespectful and contemptuous
towards the North, its aims and desires, pro-
fame and vulgar, and Of the general char
acter of the mlssives so well remembered
before the war towards all at the North not
known to be sympathizers with Southern in
situations. They all breathed tone of de-
fiance, and Of purpose yet to vindicate the
defeat of the rebellion" ...
The danger is that the people of the North
will, from a preju lice against the negro,
which still exists in no small degree in that
section, receive as true the allegations against
the freedman, which charge him with lazi-
ness, thievery and Righteousness. The
charges are made for the purpose of firing
the Northern, as well as the Southern, heart
against the late slaves. To this end crimes,
which if committed by white men would not
attract special attention, are, when perpe-
trated by neeroes, held up as showing the
natural tendency Of the colored man and the
utter uselessness of attempting to treat him
- human being capable of high civilza-
ton. Frand committed by men elected by
negro votes is made testimony against the
negro, and evidence of his unfitness for citi-
zensbip rights. Republican papers in tho
North take up the cry of Southern rebels
against the negro and join in the chorus of
detraction. This Is comforting to the slavery
loving people Of The sessh, 1t paves the