National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-12-27

justihes the declarations made by the Union
men of the South as to the vindictiye bitter
ness and insulting disloyalty Of the masses of
the Democratic party of that section, and be-
cause 1t proves that all that has been charged
against that party In the South, as being the
owners, keepers and universally the sympa-
thizers of the Ku-Klux and White League as
sassins, is true.
Southern State governments, after the war,
the whole Democratic party, in most instances
standing upon their dignity and refusing to
take any part, and the Republican party being
composed, especially in the Gulf States, mainly
of blacks, some ignorant and worthless men
got into Office and power, and that some things
were done which all good men deplored; but 1t
cannot be denied but that in framing all the
new State constitutions, and in the legislation
under them, the Republicans of those States
ever kept in view the necessity of securing and
maintaining the results Of the war, and of Sc
curing in the fundamental law the civil and
political rights of all the people. They not
only recognized the freedom of the blacks, as
q result of the war, but they proposed by
statutes and constitutions to vest them with
persons, and as far and as long as they had the
power they upheld and maintained these, as
they conceived, inevitable fruits of the war. But
when the strong arm of Federal power began
gradually to relax its hold, and to leave the Ku-
Klux and White League assassins to that "local
self government" for which they howled so lus-
tily, the reconstructed States began by regular
system of frauds, intimidation, prescription,
violence and assassination, to fall one by one
into the hands of the Democracy; the result of
which we behold in the radical uprooting and
undoing of all that had been done by the
friends of the Union in securing the results of
the war; in the reputation of State obligations
now largely in the hands of "the
Yankees" issued in accordance with their
own vehement opportunities to build
their railroads; and in this last most unpro-
yoked and crushing insult given to all Union
soldiers, behold, Northern men and women,
you who labored and prayed for the success
of the Union arms, and whose labor and capt.
tai is now being tared.. to pay the expenses Of
the Shareholders rebellion, the feast to which
you have invited yourselves. You Northern
men who vote the Democratic ticket, but who
have lingering affection for the Union, and
feel just pride in the record you made for
its preservation during the rebellion, see how
the Democratic party of these. United States,
as at present led and controlled by the whip
lash of the ex- rebels in Congress, propose to
treat you and yours. Fitzhugh, at one time
docrkeeper for JEFF Davis conscript court of
star chamber, and now doorkeeper of the
National House of Representatives, can pro-
vide for his former pets; but when an appeal
is made for wounded Union soldiers 1t is met
by Copperhead of the North in platitude
of insulting generalities, declaring that ''inas-
much as the Union of all the States has been
restored" &C., &c.
The moral cowardice of the Republican party
in the last Congress.t turned over. the Union
men of the South, bound hand and foot, to the
Democracy; and, as we have said, one by one
the enemies of the Government have obtained
control of the local affairs of all the States,
except South Carolina and Mississippi, and
their possession of them is only question of
time unless the hand of violence which carried
Mississippi can be stayed. And emboldened by
success they come up to Washington and seize
the pillars of the temple itself and tell Union
soldiers to stand aside
And now do loyal Northern men like the
picture Do you mean to rise in your might
next year, as in 1861, and Iby the potent voice
of the ballot check the staggering insolenee of
these ex-slave-driving braggarts; or do you
propose to turn over the National Government,
as you have indirectly the Southern State gov
ernments, to its enemies, that they may undo,
all the National legislation considered neees-
sary to secure to the county the results Of
the war, as they have undons all legislation in
the interest of humanity and civilization in the
South?
These are questions you have got to meet
and answer ero tho close of the Centennial
wear. and spon the manner in which you shall
meet and answer them-will depend the future
Of our eountry-whether the control and man
agement of the affairs Of tho Government of
the United States is to remain in the hands of
its friends or be turned over to he.keeping of
its enemies. UNION.