National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-03-11
rE REPUBLICANS OF THE
TIE
SOUTH-LOUISIANA

| oOC Id-LO UISldNd.
In the political history of the country no
such arraignment for persistent and unprin-
cipled persecution of political opponents
can be found as that which is furnished in
the policy of the Democracy toward the
Republicans of the South. Originally pos
sessed of greater share of political expe-
rience and of cultivated intelligence than
their opponents, they were enabled to cope
with greater or less success against the
legitimate and overpowering strength of
the Republicans But as time wore on, and
the blacks began to understand their newly
acquired privileges, and to exercise their
rights as citizens at the polls or in official
position, the advantage Of experience and
intelligence was replaced by additional ras-
cality, by intimidation, by kuklux murders
and by wholesale massacres like those of
New Orleans in 1866, and of Colfax of more
recent date. In short since the provisional
governments of the rebellious States were
established in 1866 the history Of politics
in the South shows bloody record COM
parable only to the Characteristic disquiet
of the Mexican States, with some of the
highway robbery left out, and not few
murders added. Innocent men, women and
children have alike been the victims of
apine and murder, while the property of
black and white Republicans became an OBJ
ject Of destruction for the midnight raiders.
For years the courts, controlled by native
whites OF Democratic, secession and pro-
slavery proclivities, were closed to all ap-
peals for justice except from political friends,
and even the active work of the Freed
men Bureau failed to establish an approach
TO equitable relations between the contend
ing classes. The aggregated efforts of the
best minds in Congress, together with the
humanitarianism of the civilized world,
were combined to effect the object of
pacifcation and to overcome the pre-
judice of race as well as to heal the
wounds of civil strife. Emigration from
the North poured into the fertile South
ern States, and millions of dollars of
Northern capital found investment in the
impoverished enterprises of the ex-rebel
section. In this way the people of the
entire country became united in its progress,
as they were necessarily interested in the
preservation of the results of their victory
in the war over the theory of secession.
They believed that their interests would be
served best by maintaining the supremacy
Of the Republican party, aud for that pur-
pose encouraged the growth Of its princi-
pies in the strange soil in which they were
planted. Each step in this. direction was
met by the criminal policy to.wbich We
have alluded. and although that policy has
not yet -been abandoned, legal questions
have been raised. constitutional Issues have
been forced, and every Conceivable method
has been resorted to fer the purpose of
breaking dowx The Republics p4afI The
reconstruction acts, hsye been contested on
constitutiohaf grounds, md even theJva-
lidity of the war amendments to the Con-
stitution has lbeeA br66sht into Question.
The public and private persecution Of Re:
publican officials, attempts to impeach
them and TO ostracise them in every way,
to deprive them Iof Reasonable commercial:
privilege and 70 shtraps ,tbeW into tbel
continuation Of errors TINT might BE COM
strued g crimes, 1ksve 7fbs1kSd sopd5l u
this policy. In fact . conspiraey for the
defamation - well - the destruction Of
everything that u Republican in profession