New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-10-21
NORTH AND SOUTH.
Mr.. GREELEY AND THE SOUTH.

Mr.. GREELEY AND THE sOUIH-
A CARD FROM HIS CHOSEN CoMPANIoS on HIS
SOUTHERN TOUR OF 1S7f-GES. MERRITT on
WHAT ME- GREELEY THOUGHT THEN. AND WHAT
HIS TEACHINGS WOULD LEAD TO NOW
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR: Some OF your correspondents seem to be
Taborinp under the misapprehension that in sup
Dortine the Republican ticket this Fali you are in
consistent with the position and views entertained
bv Mr. Greeley before his death. Having had and
i1rnroyed favorable opportunities of learning his
vieySs in regard to United SOuth' under such
leadership as Tilden and Hendricks, cannot doubt
hut that he would were he alive give IN earnest
support to the Republican cause.
No man can truthfuy claim that Mr.. Greeley
UouId in the remotest degree aid in deprving any
citizen of his Just rights. While demanding uni
yersa suffrage for the blacks with the fullest and
freest opportunity for its exercise Ire was Wiling TO
coneede universal amnesty to the whites who had
participated in the rebellion, and he believed that II
these conditions could both be accepted IN the spirit
of generous compromise by both races, they would
get along well together and thereby solve the diff
cult problem of reconstruction. First, protection
and equal rights; then generosity and the restoration
of forfeited privileges That tins desirable state OF
feeling has not been reached is not 80 much the
fault of the freedmen as OF their late masters. They
kept alive the sectional animOsities which brought
OH the war, and which Ought to have disappeared
with its termination. 1t certainly Ought to have
been appeased when the Government permitted
leading Southern rebels to resume their old places In
the Congress Of the nation.
The course pursued by the Democrats of the South
to politically sHbugate by force and intimidation
the freedmen and the whites who synipathized with
them Ought to array against them every Union low
ing liberal-mnded man in the country. Mr. Gree
ley considered the fact that the Southern people
were under baneful leadership and had been by it
forced into the rebellion and war. aud he also be-
heyed that the only hope for peace and prosperity
since the war was for them to accept Republican
leadership and in good faith aid in carrying out In
their integrity the amendments to the Con-
stituton. A favorable opportunity was Of
fered them by the Cincinnati platform and
candidates IN 1872, and which they failed to
improve Mr. Greeley encouraged that independent
movement az much in the hope of deseetlonalHlng
the Democratic party 10 correct the fanls OF the
Administration in regard to the civil service, &C.
lis speeches and private conversation during his
Southern tour in 1871 aswell his speeches during
the campaign Of 1872 all pointed IN the same direc
ton. You know how anxious he was to have the
Southern people not only TO recognize the new con-
ditcn of things rs established facts which they
ON ght not to try to change but to accept the stua
ton IN the proper spirit. III Ech Nt' WINS W
treat the newly enfranchised az equals before the
law and to encourage every effort put forth to edu-
cate and enlighten them.
At Jackson, Miss, he warned tie people of the
danger of permitting the young Of either race to
grow up in ignorance and vice, and urged that the
wall of prejudice should be broken down. lie went
50 far a. to urge bis hearers to commend the noble
example of those Christian teachers who had left
home and friends to help TO educate the poor and
unfortunate race; aud he also warned them not to
Dee led by demagoUIes AGAINST the true interests OF
their country. lie feared condition OF things which
we now see a solid SOuth under cid lrsters and n
revival OF hope that in some way the verdict of the
war may he reversed, and he did what lac could to
ayertIt With his weil-known opinion of both Til
dcu and Hendricks political leaders, and his out
spoken opposition TO all oppression, con any friend
or auirer OF his doubt but that were he now IN the
editorial chair be would with his od-time and char
acteristc yigor support the Republican candidates
a, the surcst means Of promoting the prosperity,
the hagpines5. aud true glOry of the American
p.ouleT L. \. MERRITT.
EgtSdalr, Oct Is, 1876.