Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1874-09-24
The Massacre of Republicans at
the South.


The Massacre of Republicans al
the South.
Democratic journals at the North,
having pursued a course well calculated
to encourage the revival of the rebel
spirit at the South and the reinaugura.
tion Ofassassinations and daring muir.
ders on account of political opinions,
now endeavor to convince their read.
ers that their Southern brethren are
not engaged in shooting down Repub.
licans, white or black, wherever found
For the purpose of throwing a little
light upon this subject, we copy the
following from the Selma, Arkansas
Republican:
Under the pretext that the Republi.
cans of Alabama are endeavoring to
force social equality upon the people
they are brutality assassinated by the
Ku-Klux in this State. The Republi.
can party has done all it could to show
the Democrats that it was not its object
to force what is termed the obnoxious
measure upon the people. The Repub-
licans at the State Convention adopted
a platform that desounces plainly and
distinctly anything of the kind. And
it is by lhe platform that we wish to
be judged, not by the crazy utterances
of certain individuals belonging to the
Republican party. The platform upon
which we must stand or fall, expresses
the sentiments Of the masses Of the Re
publican party.
This Is but shallow pretext for kill
ing Republicans. 1t no longer holds
good. The ku-klux must be put down.
The masses of the people of Alabama
do not approve of it, aud such outrages
must not be tolerated. 1t is for the
good of the entire people that these
Outrages committed upon peaceable
and law-abiding men should be ferret
and be made to suffer the penalty COM
mensurate with their infamous crimes.
The present struggle in the South is
really between the old Union senti-
ment and secession love for a Confed-
eracy. This fact is too patent to be de-
MED. The old line Whig party and the
old Union sentiment cannOt safely give
countenance, aid or affiliate, either d.
rectly or indirectly with the Democra-
cy of Alabama. Treason is not simply
lurking. but stalks forth in broad day
in this State 1t pains us to say it,
but we feel it our bOunden duty to the
Federal Government to say so. The
Democracy of the South to-day is more
bitter and partisan than ever before.
1t would nullify, did it but have the
power to do so, the Thirteenth, Four
teenth and Fifteenth Amendments to
the Constitution of the United States.
In its attempts to do this, it endeavors
to attract the sympathy and get the aid
of the Northern Democracy. It invents
falsehoOds and ISLANDERS regarding the
actions of the Republicans of Alabama,
and is silly enough to think its cum
ming and duplicity will not be discov-
cred by the Northern mind.
Shall the Federal Government give
ear to the present aspect of affairs in
Alabama? Will it submit tanely and
gently to having its defenders assassi-
mated in the South by a band of maraud-
ers and outlaws who stalk abroad in
broad day without fear of the law, and
and do their bloody deeds at night |?
We think not. The Republican party
has aided in making the United States
the government itsnow is-the best gov
ernment the world ever saw-and il
must not 60 down; because its mission
is not yet ended, and without the inter-
of either the State or Federal
government to suppress the ku-klux,
the Republican party in this State is
as sure to fall beneath the weight of the
negrO-hating Democracy as the sun
will sink beneath the western horizon
this evening to leave the world in dark
ness!
Here the case is clearly stated, and
by journal entirelycompetent to speak
upon the subject. Itstates plainly that
men are killed because they are Re.
pubIicans and loyal to the General Gov
and aff1rms that it is in fact
the revival of the war for the Confed-
eracy. 1t is unfortunate that the South
ern Democracy cannot become recon-
ciled to free government-that they
cannot abandon their old notions about
slavery, q superior civilization, ETC.,
and content themselves with the adop-
ton of the principles and practices of
our Republic. They are in no condi-
ton to inaugurats hostile measures
against the General Government, aud
should tell them that North
ern Democrats, while willing to en-l
reasonable practices for thet
purpose ofsecuring votes, cannot be re-
lied upon, in an emergency, to fight
against the Government. Northern
Democrats might do some service to
the South and country by properly de-
the outrageous conduct of
Southern Democrats, but instead of this |
they defend the Ku-Klux and thereby |
them in their murderous
work. The Government has very prop
,rly taken steps to protect loyal and
citizens against rebel des-
and we hope to see policy
In the punishment Of this
class of murderers, which may have
he effect to put stop to their bloody