New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-04
4 JFARNING.


hot just now from the Administration news
papers. He returned from Southern trip the
other day, and told a representative of The
TRIBUNE in Washington that he should
hereafter take little stock in Southern ont
"rages.r He found no traces of intimidation
or Ku-Klux conspiracy. The whites were not
violent and the blacks were not afraid. The
misfoi tunes of the reconstructed States were
piiiabc enough, but they wero not Mt
tributable to animOsities of race or politics
"He talked with Confederate soldiers,
"with Northern men. negroes, caIpet-baggefs,
"and travellers, and he was surprised at the
"good feeling existing" There was no more
usc for military interference than in Pennsyi-
yania and Judge Kelley added. with an en-
pliasis which seems to have made deep i'm
preston upon his political friends, 90 he vote
II most regret during my 4 years service in
Congress is that which | cast last Winter in
"favor of the Force bill" Every honest and
slIrewd Republican politician who has gone to
the South with his eyes open has had an ex-
rercnce very much like Dir. Kelcy's. Mr..
Phelps and Mr.. Foster visited New-Oreans,
and got nearly the same general impression OF
the condition OF the Gulf States that Judge
Kelley brought away from South Carolina and
Georgia, though. of course, they found more
or less disorder in certain chronically turbulent
districts. Every competent observer, no matter
what his politics. agrees in the report that III
spite of few local wrongs which, If invcsti-
gated, would probably he traced to local causes
of irritation the South is sincerely disposed to
peace. justice and brOtherly feeling.
And this is Just what wIetchcd faction OF
place seekers and office holders are unwilling
that the country should believe. When Or
correspondents were sent into the South last
year, with instructions to ascertain and report
the exact truth, without regard 10 political
considerations, they sent us the same story
which Judge Kelley is repeating now, and the
inspired newspaper organs denounced them nc
cor,lingly as Ku-Klux apologists Prominent
politicians whose loyalty to the party is
above question follow in our correspondents
footsteps, and coming back assure the public
chat Tux TRIBUNE has told the truth. and they
too are denounced b. the hacks and lackcys OF
the Administration as little better than masked
murierers and disguised secessiOniss. Tho
snug editors who sit in their Washington
offices and harrow up the souls of tho faithful
with horrible tales OF a society they have never
seen, and do not comprehend, have resolved
that the South is hot-bed of treason, and
they will hear no word to the contrary.
OF course these dishonest criticisms upon
honest witnesses have no Importance in them
selves, but they may have serious signif-
canoe as indications of the temper of the Ad-
minis, ration. When Mr.. Williams surren-
dered his seat in the Cabinet to Dir. Edwards
| Pierrepont. the country breathed more freely
i'm the belief that outrage campaigns were over.
The unanmity with which the official press is
belaboring Judge Kelley for saying that the
Force bill was entirely uncalled for, hints how
ever at the purpose of those in power to try
once more the experiment which ended
so badly last November. Ii that is
their purpose, their final overthrow is certain.
The Republican party will not lend itself to
any such scheme. The renewing of ancient
friendships and strengthening of national ties
between the different sections of our country
are the most marked phenomena of this CEN
tennal era. and if the celebrations which are
bringing North and South together at Concord,
and Lexington, and Charlotte and Bunker Hill,
and Philadelphia have no other good result
they will at least do much to make Force Bills
and Military Elections, and the whole recent
Southern policy of the Administration, impossi-
bic for the future.