The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-09-13

The Radical carpet. baggers in the South,
who feel power and plumber gradually
slipping from their hands under the infiu-
cree OF the Democratic reaction in favor OF
honest and lair rule tor that much mis-.
governed section, are not slow
10 seize the opportunity offered
by the manifest intention on the
part OF the Washington authorities
60 make the bayOnst decide the election in
the South this tall. The hand of the
Southern Radical name which has an
fortunately become the equivalent of thief
and plundsrer-is visible in all the steps
which nave been taken for overawing the
South by military force, from the first
bloody shirt order of Cameron to Tait's
recent order, which was produced
jointly by the Grant cabinet and Messrs
Chamberlain and Patterson, the chief
among the cormorants who have brought
South Carolina to its present condition of
anarchy and bankruptcy. Now, that the
administration has declared itself, appeals
are coming from all paris of the South Tor
military to control the elections and prevent
a tree expression of opinion. A Washing
ington dispatch to the Cincinnati Gazstte
gives a very fair illustration of the policy
that is to be pursued through out this I'M
happy section. 1t says:
Application has been made to the suthori-
ties here that the military Tor es of the I'm tea
States should be distributed in Florids, as fol-
lows: One company at Marengo, in Jackson
county one comoa at Tallahassee, In Leon
renee county, one company at SaudersOn, in
Duval county, and one company at Gal .es-
vilIe IN Alachna county. These points are IN
tue staiioning OF troops there wou q give pro-
lection, and feeling OF security In the c0un-
ties named which are the chief colored coun-
ties. Moreover, the points nams are strate
gtc ones, the railroads and their several
functions could be held In case of nee ssity,
VIII en- would aIm1t OF the CO centration OF
forces at any point at a m meuts W srning, in
case OF OuI break. The five points men,
,ioned are the chief centers OF the desperate
class. 1t is also suggested that there should be
one company at 1T. Augustine, one at Tampa,
and one at key West 10 give a IeeIipg of secu-
rity and confidence in the east and south of
Florida.
here we have unmistskable revelation
of the real design in ending troops to to
the South. Florida is state which has
been ia large measure free from political
or race disturbances. Though compelled
for a time to bear the burdens OF Radical
misrule, It's people have suffered patient
ly, and broils and oRtrages have been al
most unknown within the borders of
the state. There is perhaps no locality in
the South where the massing of troops on
election day is so inexcussble as in Flor
Ida. Looking at the matter from Rsdi-
cal poiut OF view, however, 1t is now FL
cult to fnd a reason for the policy hinted
at in the above extract. Florida
casts but a small vote in the
electoral college, but in q close
canvass little is worth saving.
1 he mass Of the voting population is COL
ored. This vote, II lett alone, would be
divided between the two parties, leaving
the Democrats fsir working majority in
the state. This it is proposed to overcome
by a liberal distribution of troops through
the 'icolored belt" by which the negroes
will be drsgooned into voting solid for the
Republicans, and three electoral vrtes
gained for Hayes and Wheeler.
Another part OF the design in
massing troops at this point is scarcely
less apparent. The stations selected are
mostly close to the Georgia line, and as the
dispatch nsively remarks, are strategic
points" where troops eau readily be con-
centrsted by railroad at any desired local
lily. 1t is scarcely permitted US TO doubt
that there is design upon the freedom OF
elections In Georgia, In massing
these troops so near its borders.
Georgia is so unquestionably Democratic
-
state that 1t Is hardly to be supposed tina
the maj GRITTY can be overcome py force OF
fraud. but series of cleyerly devised
"outrages,v with sudden rush OF troops