The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-09-13
Is there Bloody Shirt. or is it Mythical

Is there Bloody Shirt. or is it Mythical
A leading Democratic organ is
quoted as saying that ''killing negroes
down south is a wretched and infam-
Gus business which the ''Southern
Democracy can stop if they will"
Quoting the particulars of the recent
Hamburg massacre, from the Charles
ton News and Courier, the New York
Herald adds: eve hope. our readers
will bear4in mind that these extracts
are notSfrom speech of Senator Nor
ton, intended to inf1ame the North,
but from one of the ablest journals in
the South, and leading in the cam
paign in South Carolina for Tilden and
Hendricks With such authorities
for a shield, the writer has Il few
thoughts to submit with reference to
Southern OutrageS and Southern DEM
Ocracy.
Since the sacreligious eulogy of
Lamar upon Sumner. it has
been unpopular to assert the
truth of a ''bloody shirt and of 'sout-
RACES upon Republicans in the
s.Sunny South,' by her snoble sons"
Such assertions are denounced in the
South as islanders upon the brave
and generous chivalry Of that fair
land, and their authors have been
pelted with the epithets of thieves,
liars, towards, scaundrels, jail-birds,
escaped convicts, etc.
Under such circumstances, traduced,
denounced, and ostracised in one di-
recti0n, ridiculed in another. and ques-
toned and doubted in q third, South
ern Republicans had almost ceased to
but chose rather to leave the North
and the old Radical papers, like those
named above, to their folly, Of which
they repent at their leisure.
But a change is at hand. With such
authorities as those quoted at the head
Of this article the word of a southern
Republican is not now involved.
These authorities will not be question
ed. And besides the above, there are
volumes OF testimonies taken by COM
mlttees Of Congress. In these volumes
are thousands of Outrages. and evil
dence of brutalities, and persecution,
and intolerance, and ostracism, and
murders that would disgrace the Sioux.
The secret and sworn societies for the
commission of these crimes and for
thwarting the reconstruction policy of
Congress are fully developed and ex-
posed. Of these sworn facts the North
is ignorant. They have been ignored
by the press or that section, and the
statements of individuals have been
treated as fabrications. The truth
however is coming out at last, and
Southern Republicans are likely to be
soon indicated.
In addition to the authorities and
evidence above referred to. the testi-
mony taken by the Senatorial investi-
eating committee, Of which Mr.. Bout
well is chairman, in Mississippi. the
present summer, will be given to the
world in a few days. This will shock
every impartial, candid man in the
country. The truth has never been
half told. The madness and folly Of
the North in ridiculing and suppress
ing truth, involving not merely the vi
tality of republican government in the
States. but the very life of the Nation
al Government, are ineXplicable to
those living in the midst of these fatal
scenes. Thank God, however, South
ern Republican can, at last, hold up
his head. and keeping before him as !,
shield leading Democratic organs, can,
without shame. declare the truth of
Southern outrages for political pur-
poses. No ''bloody shirt - Great God!
there is, and has been all this time. Il
fearfully bloody shirt, saturated and
dripping in every thread with the
blood OF Republicans, martyrs to South
ern hostility, to the Union. the flag,
reconstruction, and to the great senti-
ment of independence-equality before
the law
The above volumes Of testimony and
reports upon Southern outrages can be
had of the members of Congress by
the mere asking. In Gods name. will
not the people call for them and learn
the truth?