National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-08-04

have nothing to do with 1t. To give the
ballot to the negro was the greatest crime
oftheage. His proper condition was slavery,
and to slavery they would send him
again whenever they had the chance by the
return of their Northern allies to the con-
troll of the Federal Government Of course
nothing could be more gratifying to the
unscrupulous men who in many portions of
the South had sspoused the cause Of the
colored man as the stepplng-stone to politi
cal and pscuniary advancement than this
foolish course upon the part Of the South
ern politicians.
No one who looks below the surface Of
affairs win deny the truth Of these PROPOSE
tons; VIII deny that primarily the Southern
politicians are themselves TO blame for the
condition Of the South. The Southern
man who became Republican from the
purest and best Of motives was denounced
as an enemy to his country and ostracised
by society. To 3 limited extent this scri-
monious tone of public sentiment has under
gone change; but ss general rule the
South Is as bad, as blind, as prejudiced and
as stupid to-day as il was when General
Lee surrendered to General Grant. The
division and dissension which then existed
has been perpetuated, and as we write
finds expression and illustration In the
formation Of white leagues in Louisiana
and In political war Of races in Alabama.
The Democracy Of the latter State have
Just held their State convention, and. as
far as they could do II. have inflicted upon
Alabama the worst blow she has received
since the same party hurled her into the
rebellion. They have divided the State
into two hostile camps. into one of which
they have driven the white men and into
the other the blacks, raising the battle cry
of death to the negro. The first resolution
in the declaration Of principles set forth by
them proclsims THAT the Radical and
dominant faction Of the Republican party
Gin this State, persistently by false and
fraudulent representations, have infamed
the passions and prejudiees Of the negroes,
''ss q race, against the white people, and
''haye therefore made It necessary for the
''white people 20 unite and act together in
'iself-defsnce and for the preservation of
white civilization. Here we have the
race issue distinctly raised and avoHed. The
white Democrats of that State declare open
war for the preservation ofWhite civilization.
In doing % they deliberately misrepresent
facts. This race issue was not, as they
would have the country believe, forced
upon them by the carpet-bsggsrs. On the
contrary, It was proclaimed by their own
leaders and conventions as far back as 1868.
The leading Democratic paper In the State,
the Mobile Register, boasts that It has been
advocating the arraying Of the whites
against the blacks ever since 1868. In the
same year Democratic convention In the
same State resolved that "the Government
"of the United States Is white mans
Government, and that white men ought
"to rule America that the negro Is unfit
" for the offices Of Government; that as the
fright of suffrage is the fountain from
(which flows all political power In the
Government he should not be invested
with that privilege" And about the
same time General John L Morgan, then,
as now. prominent politician Of the State,
declared that the NEGRO suffrage question
is difficult problem. It must be practi-
"cslly dealt with. We must be firm and
deliberate. Only one possible line Of
policy could be pursued which would re-
"sult benefcially to both races. The black
Trace should be absolutely divorced from
"an participation in the Government Of the
country. If the negro had equal capacity
with the white man for the exercise Of
"ths ballot he should not be permitted.
"Let Us not mince matters, but declare that
I'VE do not believe the negro should have
"sny share In the administration or coun.
"cils of the Government The Northern
"people understand this and are moving
Gin hosts to nd the country of this evil "
The Democratic platform Just adopted is
only the epitome of these teachings, dating
back to nearly seven years ago.
It is because Of these feelings and senti-
ments that the Southern question has be-
come so full of bitterness and disappoint-
ment. When the armies of the Confederacy
were disbsnded, 1t is rot an exaggeration to
say that they were turned against the I'M
fortunate people whom they looked upon
as the cause of all the difficulty. They
compelled them to band together in self
defence, and made them trust and follow
implicitly men who in many csses used
them for their own selfish purposes, If
they had pursued different policy--a pol
icy which suggests itself 70 the dullest CON-
prehension-the South would have differ
ent story TO tell to-day. But in every State
and in every Congressional district from
Virginia 10 Louisiana the negroes were
treated as aliens and enemies; 70 be ezter.
minated instead of protected and educated;
10 be kept In Ignorance instead Of taught
the duties and responsibilities Of citizenship.
The fact Is the ex.piahters never despalrsd,
and Il would now seem do mot now despair
Of being able 10 remit the eolored'peopie
10 their formef condition. Hence the op.
preston and Che dehuhoistlon and the war
Of races which We see to-day. The e0Rdl.
lion Of the whole Southern eoaAtFy Il
movement Of Southern iHeompelehey, and
II Il 70 DO feared viii continue 70 remain 20
GOT yeAn 70 come, II the opposition party
Of the South shall initiate the terrible and
deplefable example COT them IN Alabama,
IN the convention which has Just been held,
u VIII only Impose Asw duties and Fespoh'
slbliities upon the Republican party Of the
NeFihI the necessity Of teaching he South
that upon every foot Of The Uhliad States
there shall Be equal justice i9E Al msna
TIE SOUTH CAROLINA GAZE