The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-01-07
Congress and the South.

Some of the Republican papers that
have not arrived at full realization of
the downfall of their party are calling
on Congress to take mold of this danger
Gus Southern question, and extract the
sting. They declare that the condition
of the South is alarming; they even
admit that Republicans have made ii
SO; they acknowledge that it will be a
terrible mistake TO leave things down
there in their present condition, with no
alternative but robbery or revolu-
ton; and they therefore appeal TO a
Congress that has less than two months
to sit to take the matter in hand and de-
wise some measures to arrest the threat
ened trouble.
We fear that these appeals come too
late. 1t Is like asking dying man TO go
to work and undo the mischief of a life
time. What we see in the South today
is what the Republican party has labored
for nine years with unwearying diligence,
and with fair and fuuI means, to bring
about and is ii reasonable to expect it
to change it all in sixty days. If the
Republican journals had done their duty
at an earlier day-if .hey had de
nounced reconstruction five years ago,
or even three years ago, as they
denounce it now; if they had dIsowned
the carpet bag governments, instead
of applauding and commencing them
we would not be confronted with
this peril that is SO rapidly
assuming shape in the South. The Re
publican party once had power TO settle
the Southern question; but we fear that
IL has passed out Of its hands The very
beginning of a settlement would have to
be a confession by Congress that its
Southern policy was and is wrong and
ought to be undOne; and this confession
is more than we have reason TO expect.
1t is probable the President and Congress
will attempt to give US IA new chapter Of
the disastrous policy, instead OF chang
ing it. President Grant declares that he
will uphold the Kellogg Government till
instructed by Congress to abandon it
and there is no reason whatever to be
lieve that Congress will instruct him to
do anything of the kind. We hear Of
preparations for more vigorous measures
at New Orleans-the recall of Gen.
Emory and the sending of a sterner com
mander to take his place. This indicates
that the Administration Is getting ready
to suppress revolution instead of at
tempting to avert it, and that there is no
reason to hope for II change of its repre-
hensible policy Its policy is one that
calls for shot and shell, and these agen-
cies it is preparing 10 use. The lawless
and void order of a corrupt and impeach-
able Judge must be enforced if it re-
duires ali the force of the United States
army and navy to do it.
If the afflicted whites Of the South
could resolve to bear with their oppres-
sions little while longer--if they could
bow their necks in mute patience and
accept the aggravations Of their coDdi-
ton which their enemies are preparing
TO impose, the eloquent spectacular their
fortitude would bring its reward at last.
We would wish that they might decide
on this course: it would secure the peace
of the country and extort the admiration
and gratitude of their countrymen. IT is
certain that this stubborn partisan Ad-
ministration will do nothing for them
until forced TO it by the terrible power
of an angry public opinion; but that
opinion is now being formed and com
pacted 1t grows with every fraud per
petrated by the Louisiana Returning
Board and with every exposure OF the
carpet-bag felonies. Sooner or later IL
will confront the President as the re-
sponsible author of crimes which ne per
nlits his partisan appointees 10 commit,
and express its demands IN way tnat
he will not dare 10 disregard; and when
that time shall come the plundered
whites of the South viii find in il their
full deliverance.-lSt. L0uts Republican,
Dec 81.