New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-12-06
The Southern Problem.

Even though the whisper haunt my grave
! X did not love her-wherefOre weep
The Southern Problem.
Alabama has risen to considerable promi
nence among the Southern States as q seem
l Of lawlessness, and we believe though ",
| have not kept actual count, had the mos
men killed at the recent election. OF cours,
| there we're large Democratic gains. To sucl
an extent did the Outrages prevail that tn,
Mobile Watchm0n was led to use the follow
ing strong language: I'VE see but on,
remedy for the evils now in their incipiency
but growing largely. and that is for thu
present Congress to at once place the late
rebelliOus State back into territorial con
dition and under military rule and hold
down this rebellious people until they give
good and substantial evidence Of an homes,
return to the support of the constitution
and laws as true and loyal citizens" Such
is the feeling OF a large class of peaceable
citizens in Alabama in view Of the acces
sion of Democratic House Of Representa-
tives at Washington and Democratic rule
throughout the State. They look forward
with apprehension to the future, and point
out the only source Of relief which appears
to them from their standpoint. We trust
that no such severe measures on the part
of the general government will be neces-
sary; but one thing is certain, and that is,
that if we are to retain our self-respect, the
dignity of the nation must be sustained and
the power of its constitution and laws re-
cognized throughout the length and breadth
of the land.
There is no clause or sentence in our con.
stitution that we can afford to have remain
dead letter. With this understanding,
the Democrats of Alabama and the other
Southern States have . chance to show
their capacity to make good rulers. In
almost all of those States they have full
control. and have nothing TO complain of.
VIII they see that the negro has his rights,
that he is not oppressed, and sustain loyal
attitude toward the national government!
If they do, all will be we'll. and we shall
have no trouble. Ii they do not, they will
forfeit their rights to exis. as States: and,
to preserve the integrity Of this Union, it
viii! be necessary. as suggested by one OF
their own journals. to place them under
territorial or military rule.
The time for hesitating and uncertain
policy is past. We are either q nation able
to sustain itself, or We are not: and we
might as wei. make the test early as late.
We believe it to te within the province OF
the national government. t. ascertain, as
far as possible, what the real motives OF the
White Leagues and other political Organi-
cations III the South aye. We can not afford
~ permit reasonable societies to c0ncOct
plans. in secret OK openly. whereby the
laws of the land can Oe set at defiance and
d!sregarded. and. perhaps. preparations
made tor actual rebellion. 1t is easier to
nip ali such schemes in the bud than it is to
wait until they have reached more fOrmida.
bic proportions, and then do it at great
expense OF life and treasure.
In the hope OF cancellation and restoring
good will, the Republican administration
has been unreasoEaby lenient toward the
South: and i. is more than likely that the
course adopted has only served to inspire
contempt for constitutional authority, and
increased dlsobedience. The executive has
been too careful to avoid the charges of
usurpatiOn. tyranny. etc. We have all
been so anxious to have good feeling and
peace fully restored. that we have antici.
pated events. and relied upon Imagination
when we should have waited for the fact.
We have been like The tenderhearted
mother who thinks it hex duty to whip her
child into obedience. and after the whipping
destroys all its good effects with caresses.
presents of tarts and other evidences of
affection: and the result is that the child
comes 70 the conclusion that it is not such
a bad thing to be whipped after all. and
SO plunges into mischief again Al the first
opportunity.
What we need is firm and decided
po!lCS. we Waut uCteEullueu L 0lYeu States
marshais, backed by all the aid they may
need tor the proper performance of duty.
and also courts to punish offenders as tLev
deserve. All other nations would regard
treason as heinous crime. and. like muir
der. punishable with death. Here we seem
to treat it simply as a little indiscreton. OF
not any particular consequence. and pass it
over as scarcely worthy o: notice. 1t is
likely that the Democratic gains in the North
vii: serve TO strengthen the Southern law.
breakers IN theis evil purposes of oppres-
sion: that they will disregard. to a still
greater extent. the right OF the negroes. and
as tac as possible, the relation of
master and slave. The latter will be unable
to obtain redress at the hands Of the State
courts. and the practice OF intimidation will
continue with renewed .orce Such state @;
affairs can not result otherwise ttan in con.
fiicts between the federal and State autho;;.
ties. and when such conflicts do arise. the
only proper course left TO pursue il to sus.
tain the forme, with all the means that
may be necessary to indicate the suprem.
acy Of tie constitution. LIE: the FIRST case
that arises he acted on immediately and
thoroughly. Let it he demonstrated that
there is power which can rule this coun-
Ky. and that it will be tally exerteii. Then
he conviction vii! spread that the .!ay of
.r!fiing Is over. and i: the issue mean. war,
20 be il.
AS We .a,i above. i; the Democratic ruie,s
VI the South behave themselve. and pre-.
serve order they will receive the heartfelt
hanks o. the nation. ard in all probability
re continued il Office. But we have little
lopes OF any such results. We pre,,ic: tina;
he coming experience. Of the next TWO
1ears vii! open the eyes OF the people and
ring them 20 the realization o. the tact
hat they have been irving very danger.
us experiment. Then they will place their
rust again fully II the party that was once
he salvation OF the nation. for though the |
Democratic mai critics had been rolled up |
mountain high ,his fall in every State in
he Union. We should .t.I! regard the vas; |
majority Of our people as truly loyal, but !
he victims o: ssievcus decept.on.-.MI
-.ulie Sentinel.
lr. simOntOn and the Associated Press.
We receive an occasional letter from Mr..
:. W. Smonton, the able agent of the Asso.
lated Press. exposing wha. he calls the |
shameless ;abslcatioL. o: the American |