National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-09-17


way acceptable to the parties most directly
interested, and is acquiesced in heartily by
Senator Bruce and other Mississippians, the
friends and supporters Of Governor Anes'
administration, now in Washington, 1t Is
nevertheless apparent that an idea prevails
somewhere that the blacks should fight for
their rights as citizens. and falling 10 fight
for them will not be entitled to such active
sympathy as they would otherwise enjoy.
This is not our idea of the attitude in which
they were placed by the Republican party
when it made them the wards Of the ma
ton, and promised to protect them
in the exercise of their rights until
the Southern people become thoroughly
submissive to their recognition as
free and equal citizens. 1t certain
lY was not Mr.. Lincoln's idea, nor Mr..
Stsnton's, nor Mr.. Summers nor Thad.
Stevens. As certainly it was not the
idea Of large body of Republicans who
favored the plan of territorializing, so to
speak, all of the rebellious States, and
keeping them in the position of political
dependencies under military rule for long
years of probation. This plan, we believe,
met with Judge Pierrepont's approval at
the time the reconstruction policy of Con-
gress was agreed upon as more satisfactory
to the majority of the Republican mem
pers of that body than it was. But both
the territorial plan and the Congressional
policy of reconstruction contemplated and
provided for the necessity of protecting
the blacks in the exercise Of their newly
acquired rights during similar period Of
probation until their former masters, as
well as the turbulent elements of Southern
society. thoroughly acquiesced in COM
plete and peaceable recognition of all their
rights. 1t is admitted that, as slaves, they
were miraculously docile, and it was feared
that they would inaugurate their admission
to citizenship by deeds Of extravagant and
misguided assertions of their new privi-
leges. So true is this, that in Congress and
out of it, their white Republican friends laid
especial stress upon the necessity of their
behaving or conducting themselves with
greater decorum and more peaceable sub
mission to the laws than their re -enfran-
chised, ex-rebel fellow citizens. They
learned these lessons of peace and decorum,
and became more doclle as freemen than
they had been as bondmen. And at the
same time they were promised, solemnly
and repeatedly promised, that their docile
behavior should be rewarded, not only by
the friendship of the ex.rebels, which was
to be won by it, but by the earnest and far
reaching protection of the General Govern
ment They were admonished again and
again to avoid broils, to submit to persecu-
ton, and to rely peacefully upon the ma
jesty of the law for the yindication of their
rights as citizens. Certainly this does not
look as though they have been at any time,
until the present. expected to fight for their
liberties, and falling to do SO, to forfeit any
right to protection
We submit then, that the Government
is in duty bound to interpose without an
instant's delay whenever it is called upon
to protect them in the future, and that it is
both wasting time and giving the White
Leaguers an opportunity to accomplish
their object of decitizenizing or preventing
the registration of coloted voters to halt
before trifling formalities in the request
that Gov. Ames, or any other Governor,
may make for aid under such circum-
stances. The design of the Clinton ms
sacre was only temporarily accomplished.
because it is now possible that the registra-
ton officers in Kinds county will return, if
they have not already returned, to their
duties; but is it probable that the blacks,
intimidated as they have been, will take
advantage of the reopening of the registra-
ton books? This is the point which, as
believers in the right of equal suffrage, and
as partisans, knowing that the good Of
the country demands the continuation of
the rule of the Republican party, we are
bound to consider. And what are the facts
brought tolIght by that consideration now2
Simply that the White Leaguers having
partially or temporarily, as we have said,
broken up registration and thoroughly in
Inundated the overwhelming majority Of
the Republican voters in the State, will
possibly carry the election. This possibil-
ity realized, the Republican party will loose
one more State, both IN its representation
in Congress and in the Electoral College. If
this loss could be laid at tthe door Of the
people themselves and charged against
them as the result of mistaken change Of
political belief, there would be no ground
for serious complaint. But if such loss
occurs, it will not follow from any such
cause. 1t will simply result from the over
throw of the rights Of majority Of the
citizens Of the State by an armed and law
less minority, and the practical disfrsn-
chisement Of a race Of people for whose
freedom millions of treasure has been
spent and untold quantities of blood has
been spilled. But above all things, this
kind of White League success in Missis-
sippi means the same thing in all Of the
Southern States. 1t must be stopped
somewhere without delay, aud it strikes US
that Mississippi is q good place in which to