New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-26
Is THE SOUTH LOYALs

Is THE SOUTH LOYALY
A CRITICISM or Ex-sPEAKER BLAISEs CONNECTICUT
sPEECH-PROoYs OF LOYALTY THAT SHOULD PUT
AN END TO THE DIsrRUsT or REPUBLICANS
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR: The speech delivered at New-IfaveD by
exspeaker Blaine, during the Connecticut
paign was much admired, and declared by Til.
TRIBUNE to embody and present forcby the views
which, II at oil, the Republican party would regain
power. Its leading idea Is contained in the following
from the synopsis Of the speech, reported In your
columns:
involve the questions Of citizenship. OF free suffrage.
and the supremacy OF the Constitution with its amend
ments, would he to surrender and dsband Their
organization before the legitimate ends OF the great
struggle had been fully attained II he was pointed 70
expressions OF Democratic acquiesccnce In these results,
he must receive them with caution, because the con
don Of the South did not correspond 70 these ASSN
specially referring 10 personal out,ages . eegmyV
but to that general condition OF inequality and oppres
sion under the law which prevailed IN so many OF INC
Southern States.
In good faith by very large portion OF tho Northern
people, and Mr. Blaine is doubtless in tho belief
that there still pending at the south Issues which
involve questions of citizenship, Of free suffrage and
of the supremacy OF the Constitution" with ia amend
ments While I concede hs sincerity must BE- par
doned for saying that it can only be done by making
large allowance for the effects OF prejudice
lie says that expressions OF Democratic acquiescencs
in these measures must be received with canton No
personal assurances therefore, OF my own or OF any
Southern man will avail anything. Would IL be worth
while call his attention to great public facts OF ncon
trovertlbe notoriety which wholly inconsistent with
the views expressed by him Would it be useless "
point him TO the fact that would be difficult for him To
find q Democratic State or County Convention held IN
the South during the last three years winch mas "!ed
explicitly to recognize the binding validity OF the con'
utonal amendments and the perfect legal and political
equality OF the negro This remark may not be true OF
Kentucky which, however, was not a rebel state
May call his attention to the further fact that Of
all the Confederate soldiers in the American Con
gress whose presence there has given timd Northern
men such fright there Is not one who has not over and
over again, in every manner possible pledged his fath
to these measures While silly or bgoted men may be
eve that these only parts OF gigantic scheme OF
deception by which the South Is trying 70 deceive the
nation Mr. Blaine ia too old politician and too much
OF a philosopher to know that such game OF by
pOcrisy embracing millions of people aud thousands OF
miles OF territory is prepOserous and absurd Would
be OF any moment to announce that political audiences
at the South always composed OF both races and To
state that have rarely heard Democratic orator adj
dress meeting without assuring the cOored men present
that he recognized their political e4uaityf moments
reflection should have taught Mr.. Blaine that In every
Southern State the negroes conpris very large element
the voting population and that where this IL the case
no party will ever dare make upon their legal or
political status. The ballot IL its own protection, an1
the history politics gives instance of its ever having
been wrested from a numerous class OF voters To
whom it had once been confied. MI Dsraeli and thu
British Conservatives doubtless think that Mr.. Gid
stones Ministry conferred most dangerous privileges
upon the English tenanry but they not mad enough
to think OF recalling them Whatever opinions Southern
white men may entertain OF the wisdom OF giving poit
cal power to the negroes. they readily admit that nothing
short OF a bloody revolution deprive them OF It,
Has Mr. Blaine reflected that all OF the Southern states
save three been for several years ruled by tho
Democratic party and that in of them has there
been slightest demonstration toward introducing tho
reactonary measures so dreaded by him y Would 1t be
of any force call his attention TO the fact that there
no constitutional Congressional requirements that
white lien shall educate colored children, and that
yet in every Democratic Southern State free
schools are kept open for the blacks, the
cost OF which Is almost wholly paid by the whites
If the concurrent testimony OF public speakers and party
platforms and OF facts like these makes no impresSon
nothing remains but express the hope that Mr. Blaine
will find time to visit this summer poverty
and GOvernmentcursed section and investigate Tor nm
SELF He may discover occasional disturbances between
the races local in their character unavoidable in the
sudden change which has been wrought among us, bit
wholly disconnected with any idea OF deprivation ot
political privileges He will ind widespread conyic
tion that reconstruction failure II the law makers
intended by it to build up wseydevsed system Of gov
eminent. He will find general concurrence in remark
recently attributed to Vice President Wilson effect
that the building up OF negro governments at the sostn
the blacks was stupenious blunder but he will lind no
party any considerable fragment OF any party which
universally recognized as rreversibe. lie will also find
an earnest desire make the best OF the circumstances
and to fit the black speedily possible for
proper discharge Of those important duties which Lave
been prematurely thrust upon him.
Mr.. Blaine thinks that there will longer be any
necessity for appealing TO the loyalty Of the North when
Logan and Wendell Phillips can speak "a freely At The
South as Gordon and Lamar did in New Hampshire. Is
it possible that he thinks that the time has not yeome
Gordon Lamar said nothing but the pleasanest and
most complimentary things 10 their New Hampshire
audiences; while Northern OF the carpet Dagger
kind every portion Of the South year by year
using without molestation language TO Southern
audiences which IL addressed by Southern mar to
Northern audience wOuld produce riot in 10 nnutes.
Gordon and Lamar were posted in pacards and hand:
bills by New Hampshire Republicans a. Rebels and
traitors" II Logan and Wendell Phillips and Mr. Elaine
will address to Southern white men the same STYLE OF
courteous Oratory used by Southern Speakers
in Northern cmes safely promise them hearing
as respectful and epthets more polite.
Horn 0ld0 Miss. April "a. 1873, H. III, CHALMERS.