Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-09-25
MORE MISREPRESENTATION.

MORE MISREPRESENTATION.
And now speaks the great Carl Schurz
editor, senator, statesman. He, too,
falls into the error common at the North,
of denouncing all white organizations
at the South formed for self-defense,
without looking into the causes that
called the White Leagues into existence.
he offers a deal Of wordy sympathy and
denounces carpet-bag governments.
This is the utmost extent Of the cold
comfort that comes from any Northern
source to the down-trodden people OF
Louisiana and other Southern States.
The color line was drawn as early
as nine years ago by the Loyal
Leagues. Formidable political organi-
cations based upon color alone,
subversive of every principle OF justice
and destructive CT all sound govern
ment, have been welded by few white
Adventures all these long weary years
without word of protest from the
Northern Republican press or stump.
As long as these dangerous combina-
tions, instigated by hate and held together
as standing menace to the whites-as
long as these co-operated with the Ma
tional Radical party and could be relied
upon, as ignorant masses only can, to
vote solidly at State and National cleo
tons, there we're no exceptions taken to
the distinctions based upon color. The
white people stood still and submitted
to these threats and oftrecurring out
RACES, hoping that the sun of intelligence
would pierce through and dispel the dense
clouds of ignorance and base prejudice
which cast their dark shadows over the
Southern land. Their prudence was
construed into fear, and greater excuses
of power continued to follow one
after another. In sheer self defense
and desperation the white people OF
Louisiana, and perhaps other sections,
organized to protect themselves, after
appealing in vain to the corrupt courts
for redress and to the general govern
ment for simple protection in their
rights as law-abiding citizens. Under
similar circumstances the people Of
Massachusetts, who boast that their an.
ancestors threw the tea overheard,
could not have done less. Their
safety has been inpsriled, their
property taken, and their most
sacred rights trampled under foot, and
now, ia the hour OF their extremity, when
they strike blow like ireemen, not at
the general government or any Of its off
GERS, but at local usurpation, reported
as such by a Congressional committee,
it is set down as evidence Of arebellious
spirit, and the whole South is villi6ed
from one end of the North to the other
Louisiana is nothing more than a con-
qusred province, ruled by a set oftbieves,
who enrich themselves by the misfortunes
ofthe people. All they now ask is a mill
tary government until such time as q
fair election can be held A few North
ern journals of the Radical school admit
that the Kellogg government is an illegal
one, but they seem to think It is good
enough for rebels, who pay all the taxes.
Mr.. Schurz and other Liberal Re-
plblicans, as an after thought,
discountenance the Loyal Leagues
in the South, but such a weak condema-
ton, coupled with much stronger cen.
sure of the consequent and inevitable
White Leagues, falls powerless for good.
No remedy has been suggested By any
of them. They all with one voice call
upon the Southern people to submit 10
whatever despotism may be imposed
without murmuring. 1t is easy to give
fippsnt advice at a safe distance where
the evils Of long continued misrule have
never been ielt, much less understood.
It is useless TO prate to men about
obedience to the laws and peace and
harmony when an armed enemy is Turk.
ing at the door. The Law Of selfdefense
is implanted in every human heart, and
even the most craven will turn and strik e
when pursued to the wall. The Northern
mind has so long been misinfOrmed and
prsjudiced that the people there cannot
readily understand the true state o.
affairs at the South Even the most en-
lightened minds entirely misconeeiTe oul
motives and listen with willing ears tC
distorted statements and false Nccusa
tons against us as 3 people. There is