National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-09-15

been for some time, the theatre of "domes
tic Ciolence," and the Executive Of that
State has appealed to the Federal Govern
ment for aid to suppress it. The case has
been held under advisement by the Execu-
tive and law officer of the Government,
and delay occurs under the assumption
that Governor Ames has not exercised his
own powers and prerogatives to preserve
order and protect the lives of the people of
his State. Under this delay the colored
citizens, who are unarmed, are subjected to
murderous crusade of armed white men
who slaughter them indiscriminately and
at sight Already large number have
been hunted down and killed in cold blood,
and the reign of terror has not been abated
either by State or Federal interposition Of
power. How long, let US ask, is this reign
of slaughter to continue without an exer-
else of the authority of law to stay its pro-
| gress throughout State where the people
are guaranteed by the Federal Constitution
against domestic violencef What if Gov.
Ames has not called out the militia, when
he has none at his command with which to
quell disturbance,and preserve order and hu-
man life, does that furnish an excuse for the
Federal power to lie dormant, while race
OF American citizens are being slaughtered
like sheep in the shanbles3 This fact has
been brought to thefattention Of the Ma
tional Executive and his law officer, and
yet no Republican form of government
is secured for an unfortunate State. When
these men, who are now engaged in the
wholesale murder of unarmed and unof-
Tending colored citizens, took up arms
against the national life, the Executive of
the nation did not stop to hunt up
nice law points and excuses for the
suppression of the outrage. The arm
of Federal power was barred at once in
its defense. There was no hesitation, no
hunting up constitutional questions and
points, no waiting upon efficient or inefi-
Gent State authorities, but prompt and
vigorous meeting of the issue followed.
The present case, though confined perhaps
to few hundred citizens, has demands
upon Federal interference that cannot be
denied or disregarded without fearful re-
sponsibility.
So we. view the case, and we do not hest
tate to express our views. We do so
frankly and plainly, but with all due re-
spect for the adopted policy of a Republican
administration which we feel bound to
sustain in all that is right, and do not hest
tate to criticise when in our honest judg-
ment it is in the wrong.
1t is a well known fact that the Governor
of Mississippi has no organized militia with
which to sustain his authority and efforts
to enforce the laws against an armed ban
ditti Under compromise the militia has
been disarmed, lest it should engender ILL |
blood and invoke hostility on the part of |
the unreconstructed whites. The disarm- |
ing of the State militia was q signal for the |
Ku-Klux to arm and prepare for massacre,
and they have held themselves in.readiness |
for that purpose. The work Of open,
bloody and unprovoked murder has begun.
Unarmed and defeassless citizens have
been hunted like wild beasts, and have |
been shot down at the will and pleasure of |
armed Democrats who do not conceal their |
purpose to decimate the Republican party, |
if needs be, through violence and blood |
shed. The Federal power hesitates to
secure for this persecated and wronged |
people ga republican form of government,
such as the Constitution guarantees to
them, and the Democratic camp is made
jubilant by this mistaken policy.
Let no one be deceived or deluded by the
cry that peace reigns in Mississippi, and
there is No call for EederaI intarfaro,ca for |
that is the syren song of the sworn enemy
of the colored race in the United States. 1t
would lull apprehension and paralyze the
Federal arm that the murderous work may
be continued to ultimate success and a
State is subjugated to Demo-
cratic rule by the murder of American cit-
zens, whose only otfense Is that they sup
port that party which set them free. The
only question of importance now is, shall
a Republican administration stand with
folded arms and listless nerve, and permit
the colored people of the South to be muir
deredor driven from their homes that their
suffrage may be lost and their States be-
come slaves to the domination of unrecon-
structed traitors and rebels2 This issue
has been raised in Mississippi, and if sue
cess attends the Democratic Ku-K lux there,
the whole South will be conquered and
made captive to Democratic rule before an
other Presidential election. Can the coun-
try, the Administration or the supporters
Of the Constitution and the Union any
where afford such q consunmationH We
Lhink not.