National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-08-09
THE MCGEE GAME-LAw''-rHE soyTH.
ERE LABOR QUESTION.

EhH LABOR QUEbTION.
A few days ago we copied from the New
Orleans Republican an extract to show that
the ''nigger game-law" has been violated
both at Nstchitoches Qa.) and Vichsburg,
(Miss.) This game law, 1t should be un-
derstood, is tacit covenant that the blacks
shall not be murdered by thew hite Leaguers
during the period Of their especial useful
ness, when they are engaged in making
crops for lazy white landowners and ban
ditti. The violation of this covenant shows
conclusively that the repeated assertions Of
the Opposition press that the South Is at
peace are false. The truth is, the spirit of
not and murder is as earnest as ever, and
only requires trifling incentive to break
out into open violence. The following ex-
tract from an article in the Mississippi Plot,
uader the caption Of 1.-THE Vicksburg Dis
grace" will serve to illustrate our mean
ing:
"We have not the heart for the portrayal of
this additional disgrace that has been placed
upon our sister city of Vicksburg. 1t is quite
as much as need be said that some Of the citi-
zens of that place, with others, determined to
honor the day revered BY all true Americans
as the nations birthday, in q proper manner,
at the court house; their meeting was inter-
rupted, broken up-the people making their
exit as best they could, and some two or three
persons killed and others wounded. The sec
Rotary of state and the state superintendent of
education, both colored men, were for a time
in danger Of losing their lives. Judge George
+. Brown, Chancellor Edwin Hill, and other
bonored citizens, had to make their escape,
and barely succeeded. The infamy of the
affair is chargeable upon the White League or
ganization."
But the most significant result Of the
condition ofaffairs to which we allude, and
at the same time conclusive testimony that
the White League is still in existence,
notwithstanding the absence of political
provocatiOn for its cruel depredstions, is to
be found in the following preamble and
resolution adopted by the colored citizens
of Natchitoches parish few weeks ago:
"Whereas the White League inths parish of
Nstchitoches did, in the year of our Lord A.
D. 1874, take steps 10 deprive us of every right
that belongs to us and
"Whereas we did petition to the Congress of
the United States to COLOMBO us and
"Whereas the Congress Of the United States
failed to do so therefore, be &
"ReSolued, That we, and each of us, do SOL
EMMY pledge ourselves to settle up our bust
ness the coming fall and be ready to leave the
parish of Natchitoches by the first of January,
1876, unless we are protected in our lives and
rights as American citizens"
In other words, the system of terrorism
by which the White Leaguers deprived
colored citizens of their rights last year is
still in vogue, and serves to induce them to
attempt to better their condition by aband-
onIng their homes, unless the protection
due to American citizens is provided to
them. That this protection has not been
provided is disgrace to the Government
which boasts that it affords safe refuge to
the oppressed of all nations. So long as it
is unable TO protect its own native.born
citizens and laborers, it will be admitted
that such boast is mere mockery. But
the most serious aspect of this case resides
IN the fact that the blacks, naturally con-
sentative as they are regarding home asso-
Citations, should reach such determined
conclusion. There is no exaggeration in
their declaration, no extravagsnt or need
less use of words but firm and uncom-
promising announcement oftheir intentions,
which shows that they have been goaded
up to point where further forbearance is
simply impossible. They intend to 60
away. That is fixed fact, and they 60
because they can no longer enjoy the
rights of citizenship or the safety of
life and property in locality which they
have blessed by their industry and in
community which is almost solely depend
ent upon them for support. Still more
serious is the possibility that their example
may be followed by others. No one could
blame the blacks of any Ku-Klux infested
locality if they should initiate it, and we
hope they will do so. In no other way
can the utterly ruinous character of the
Ku-Klux reign be more forcibly put before
the Southern people. So long as they neg
lect or refuse to punish the turbulent class
responsible for these outrages they should
be taught by the bitter lessons of experience
their complete dependence upon the labor
ing element of the country. The app ,als
for aid to Congress by these blacks were
ignored because certain of the Republican
members of that body were so weakened
or $50 thoroughly cowed by the aggressive
policy Of the Democracy that they did not
dare to strengthen the hands of the Ad-
ministration in its efforts to restore peace
and quiet. When any remedial measure
was suggested for that purpose they were
frightened from the paths of duty by cries
of "a strong central Government" 50
military dynasty" and the Third Term"
This cowardly policy, combined with the
relentless prescriptions of the enemies of
the blacks, is bearing its legitimate fruit.
The men of both parties who are respon-
sible for the result-either as guilty of
crimes against the public peace and the
persons or property of citizens, or as
guilty of neglect to provide remedial meas
ures-should not be forgotten. ..-t .