The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-11-08
Soldiers and Negroes.


The presence Of soldiers in the South on
election-day is well suited to the object of
exciting the negro. An epaulette, strap,
and drum will make him soon forget the
manner in which he has been bamboozled;
how he has been made, like slave, to do
none of the Radical promises as reward
for party servitude have ever been redeem
ed, and how he has been robbed OF his
money by the Freedman's Bank and in q
hundred ways by Radical hypocrites. Yes,
he iorgets all, and follows the party that
to protect him. 's'1''isf-l
But the soldiers themselves are not parti-
sans. They have no heart for the disgrace
full work assigned them, and obey the
yalloo marshals with the utmost reluctance
and disgust.
So here we have the ruthless Radical
party working with materials that promise
them absolutely nothing save what is eva
nescent and prolific OF disadvantage to them
selves. What was the result OF things
yesterday we could not know when this was
written. But whatever that was cannot
alter the natural tendency of the attempt
to carry elections by forcing the negroes to
vote Tor Radicalism, and to use the soldiers
in the matter OF forcing them SO 10 vote.
Leaving out OF view the clear violation OF
both law and Constitution in employing the
national forces to advance the interests OF
party, there are that uncertainty and capri
ciousness, and disqualification in the negro
which will render the constant employment
OF compulsory means necessary to make
him vote as his Federal masters choose.
Can this system continue! The soldiers
repugnance to such service is so irrepressi-
BILE that he cannot be made to per-
form it for any considerable time with
such efficiency as is necessary to carry
out Radical purposes. Meantime such
: abuse Of authority and such continued So
cial disturbance as attend its exercise occa-
sion widespread dissatisfaction inthe whole
country. Every man sees that the tyranny
In the South may easily be the tyranny in
the North, and the adherence of the sys-
tenn will steadily grow until the whole ma
ton win rise up against it. We feel now
that the introduction Of soldiers into the
South at this election has done the Admin
istration far more harm than good. But
whatever be the case now, the system can
not last. 1t must end soon, and end in the
destruction Of Radicalism.
The situationtof the negro must be &C
/ tcording to his nature and his disposition and
capacity In comparison with the white race.
The little stimulation of week or two
through military array has filed the negro
in South Carolina with conceit and inso-
lence. The white man, on the contrary,
governs himself, and bears with patient
fortitude the indignities caused by brutal
Administration. Which Of these two must
rule? Mr.. REDFIELD, OF the Cincinnati
Commercial, told the truth when he said
that the white manSmust rule-that the negro
isincapable of governing himselb and equally
Incapable Of defending himself, and that
wherever he had beef put ,in!authority in
the South the government "has been a
libel upon civilization" +. ..At....
However this election,is decided the peo-
pie cannot stand policy that is designed
to subordinate the South to negro author
ity. Nor can the soldiers be compelled to
bolster such an abomination.. They every.
where sympathize with their own white
racial honor to them for it-and are bold
in their declarations of that sympathy.
Here they were enthusiastic for the whites,
and in Petersburg they fred the guns for
the Conservative demonstration on Monday
night.
The law Of nature viii triumph--races
will take their proper platforms-scoun-
drelly craftsmanship and yindictiye mea-
sures will go to the place OF all mischievous
and execrated things; and this whether
TnDEN be elected or not. The public
mind cannot be kept upon a continuous
strain Of excitement and apprehension.
When they subside Radicalism is dead.