The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-06-11
Mississippi.

Mr.. Nordhoff, the intelligent and i'm
partial correspondent of the New York
Herald, has proceeded on his tour of in
quiry from Louisiana into Mississippi and
fluids in the latter state some facts and fig
ures quite as astonishing as any he discov
cred in the former.
There is negro majority in Mississippi
of from $4,000 to 10000, which is supple
mented by between 5000 and 10000
white Republicans. Two-thirds of the
latter are said to be natives of the state,
and about 5000 negroes are supposed to
affiliate with the Conservative party. The
debt of Mississippi is regarded as compar-
atively triAing, but the jobs and the job
berry are something enormous. The Ames
wing, which is the controlling faction,
swings the colored Republican vote in a
solid mass, and in order to do this is
obliged to keep that element in good hu-
NOR by liberal distribution of patronage.
There are negro members of the legisla-
ture, negro county supervisors and treas
urers who cannot read or write, but who
are known to be as rascally as they are ig-
norant. They steal openly and impudent-
", and are allowed to do so by the au-
thorities, because their influence at cleo
tons is too valuable to be dispensed with.
The late treasurer of Kinds county, where
the capital is located, was totally illit,
crate negro, and recently lost his life at
the hands of another African on account
of some disgracefnl intrigue, Grand
juries are not unfrequently composed ex-
clusively Of negroes, not one OF whom
can read little or write his own name,
Before these juries the best citizens are
liable to indictment for offenses never COM
mitted. 1T is a notorious fact" says Mr.,
Nordhoff, that Gov. Ames has appointed
to judicial places men ignorant of law, and
that he has used his appointing power to
shield criminals who are his adherents, and
to corrupt the judiciary of the state:"
"a city government was to be elected last August
in Vicksburg, and the Republicans nominated for
for twentyt three offenses and for laldermen seven
colored men, most OF them OF low character, and
one white man. who could neither read nor write
nounced by Gen Mckee, Republican member OF
congress, in public speech, and, with the help of
the Republicans, was beaten OF the present super,
visors OF Warren county (Vicksburg) the president
and two others cannot read"
On the other hand it is said that many
Democrats are in league with the black
and white Republicans in schemes to
plumber the treasury, and that large por-
ton Of the honest Conservatives are so bit
terly incensed against negro and carpet
bag domination, that they are ready to
oyerstep the bounds of law and justice to
get rid off These are serious evils, but
are they not, to very great extent, una
voidable in the present condition of Missis-
sippi politics? Wherever corruption and
roguery constitute the rule rather than
the exception, no party can expect to
be exempt. Every party has more or less
scoundrels in it, but as long as general
good government prevails, they are held
in comparative subsection to the code of
honesty and decency. When bad govern.
ment prevails, the scoundrels come to the
surface and make the most of the oppor-
tunity. And bad government ,oiN prevail
whenever and wherever there is q hope
lessly ignorant and depraycd majority to
be manipulated by shrewd and unscrupu-
lous politicians. In the light of expert
ence and common-sense we are unable to
see how any state where the negro vote
preponderates, can maintain good govern
ment-no matter what party may be in
the 'ascendent, Put negro majority Of
$4,000 or 10000 in Massachusetts and
Missouri tomorrow, and within ten years
they would be reduced 10 the same leve
as South Carolina and Mississippi. As 6
voting class the negroes are a failure, anC
as ruling class they are an unmixeC
curse. This is the whole matter in a nut
shell, and grave as the issue involved nee
essarily is, we have got sooner or later t.
face and settle it. South Carolina anC
Mississippi are now thoroughly African
lied, and the results are before the world
Louisiana is threatened with a similar
fate, producing, of course, similar results
Are the American people willing. in view
OF the past and with just comprehension
OF the future, to allow three states of the
federal union, or even one state, to be sac
ri6ced on the altar of negrophobiaP We
do not believe they are. st, Louis Rep