Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-03-03
Temper OF the South, and the Demo-
cratic Purpose.

WASHINGTON, February IS 1875.
1t was not necessary to visit Wash
ington to perceive that the Southern
question overshadows everything else.
That is apparent to everybody, no mat
ter how remote. For the time the
fnaFce and all other subjects are we'll
nigh forgotten in the one-exigeut ques-
ton which now looms up in such for
mldaole proportions. But though it's
over'owering Importance is manifest to
all, It IS only by contact with those
who have had special and personal op-
portun'tles Of learning the facts that
We can gain any adequate conception
Of the true condition of affairs and the
real gravity of the situation. The
demagogues have been busy coloring
everything with false hues. They have
undertaken to change black into white.
Through accident aud design and a
strange combination of circumstances,
they have had some advantages and
false impression has been widely diff
fused. Many good and honest people
have been misled; and others. not so
good and honest, have been willing to
mslead them. Some have beea timid
soae have been deceived; some have
been sore, and some have been mbit-
ious. The Democrats have busily plot
ted; the independent press" has bus
lily misreprssented; some Republican
newspapers have misapprehended the
real drift; impatience with minor mis-
takes has wrought indifference to great
er evils fair criticism of quetionable
propositions has sunk into general,
undiscrminating spirit of captiousnsss
and thus. between mistaken friendship
and masked hostility. between honest
errors and dishonest pretensions, the
party has been demoralized and the
enemy encouraged.
And while these varions influences
have been at work, the ship has been
drifting upon the rocks. The country
has been advancing towards a peril of
which it has yet no real idea, and
which, when it comes to comprehend
the truth will .tartle and appal every
patriot. 1t will come to understand
that Sheridan was right, not iu the
measure he proposed, but in the truth
he uttered and In the warning he gave.
! had two hours talk this morning
V = . member of the ves'iratinc
Committee, which has just returned
from New Orleans--a mem ber in whose
GOODNESS of judgment and fidelity to
truth and conscientiousnes of character
tie country has entire confidence. Of
course, if | knew the character of its
report, [ should not undertake to an
ticipate it, and very much Of what was
stated am not at liberty to repeat.
But there are some points which it is
permissible to state. The very worst,
said this member, that has been report
ed as to the terrible condition of affairs
in the South does not begin to give the
whole truth. Unless one has visited
New Orleans, the imagination cannot
conceive the dreadful reality. Wnile
the plan for compromise under the
auspices of the committee was 10 prog
ress in New Orleans, scores and scores
of the leading business men, not Re-
publicans but Conservatives, went pri-
vately to the members and said: For
Gods sake, do not leave the State until
you have effected a settlement of this
difficulty and given Us reign of law
and ORDER They were all intensely
anxious for the compromise. They
were asked: IF you would come out
publicly in favor OF this compr. mise, it
would do much to secure its accept
auce; why don't you do it?' We
dare not, was the answer; 8" if it were
known that we were here privately With
members Of the committee, urging the
compromise, our houses and stores
would be burned over our leads within
twenty-four hours"
AS an illustration Of the spirit of the
Democratic managers of the n orth, one
of the Democratic State Senators OF
Louisiana, whose name [ have, and
who is one of the most conspicuous
among them, said that while the prop
osition for compromise was before the
Democratic caucus, hundred tele-
grams were received from Democrats
in New York, Washington, Baltimore
and other places, urging It's rejection
They don't want peace and order in
Loulslana-they want party capital.
The same Senator said that, if he chose,
he could ride through his county and
shoot down men with perfect impunity
SO completely dead were law and
justice. Mr. Conger, of Michigan,
Chairman of the Vicksburg and Mis-
sissippi Investigating committee, gives
an equally terrible picture of affairs
Among all his associates ne has the