The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1875-01-09
The Southern Problem.

Lieut.. Gen. Commanding.
The Southern Prcblenl.
From the St. Louis Republican.
We have endepvored recently to
trace reconstruction in the South
through its present phase Of con-
fiscatiou and robbery on the one
side and revolution on the other,
to the inevitable and most formi-
dable problem in which It must
end at last-a contest between the
whites and blacks for the posses
sion of the lower delta region of
the Mississippi-and asked ,ohr
public men to give it their atten-
ton. The Republican press Is at
last beginning to perceive the diff
ficulty ahead, and our cotempora-
ry, the Democrat, has the candor
and the courage to admit that, as
far as it caafsee, there are but two
solutions Of 1.-THE reduction of
the. blacks to slavery, or the aboli-
ton. ipf free government in the
South. Itthus states the question.
"N is folly to ask why the re-
re construction measures have not
brought sbout that peaceful main.
tenance Of loyal government for
which they were intended. The
naked fact is that they have not,
and that to-day loyal men cannot
be sustained in power in q single
Southern State except by federal
force or the expectation Of II.
The rebellion in Louisiana, tho
riot in Warren county, Mississip-
pi, and the confessed inability Of
Republicans, though largely in the
majority n those States, to defend
themselves without the aid of the
President, settles that question.
I'VE haye tried to face this
grave issue without prejudice or
the self-deception which attach
ment to. party theories and poll
cles is apt to produce. We tell
the people Of the North frankly
that the measures of rcconstruc-
tion and negro suffrage have not
only failed to bring about the de-
sired peaceful maintenance of free
and loyal self-government IN the
Southern States, but they have
forced upon the country an issue
which threatens our very form ol
government: Continual federal
Interference In the affairs Of States
will end IN ~ abandonment oi
free government altogether. Re
fusal to interfere, and to maintain
the actual majority in the enjoy
ljoyment of its civil and poiitica
rights win very speedily result II
the practical repeal not only of th'
Fifteenth and Fourteenth amend
ments, but. of the Thirteenth a
well. Liberty Of labor will no
long remain after equality Of civi
and political rights is denied.
Here, then, is the ugly mega
tive. We share most fully tha
dislike of continual Federal inter
ference which finds evident ex
preston In the course of Ncrtherl
Republicans. We know that !
win prove dangerous in the las
degree. We know, too, and hav
not hesitated to say plainly, tina
the sort Of government which ex
lists in thb'hame.of Republicanis
ID some Of the Southern States !
not such as honest men can posi-
; bly, defend or excuse. But havin,
daily communication with tn
people of the South, and feelin,
their spirit IN this very State, W
tell the people of tlc North tha
equality Of civil and politics
: rights, and even freedom Of labo,
will go by the board, unless som
measures are taken to keep ii
other government than any tba
Southern Democrats will malntai
; 1--WE believe, friends Of tn
! North, that this il the solem
truth which long before the Presi
Dental election will force itsel
upon your reluctant recognition
, Vicksburg is only the vanguard. q
an army Of riots. Every ono Q
them will have more or less ex
, cuse in the misgovernment Of III
majority. But every one Of then
j will ha thu forcihla r,vo.x1.,<...< :,