Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-12-02
THE OUTRAGE MILL"

The duty OF the citizen is lost sight Of,
and lealty to party takes its place
Whatever transpires OF "a political nature,
becomes at once a subject for comment.
friendly comment on the part of the party
with which it originates +; unfriendly with
the party in opposition. The duty Of the
citizen is 20 watch every proceeding with
an eye of jealous vigilance, to condemn
every wrong, no matter where its origin.
How far this is carried into practice the
present situation of the country presents a
fair criterion.
Democrats sneer at the reports Of vio-
ence in Southern communities and speak
Of these reports as the Outrage MILL"
To judge from their assertions, they be-
lieye these reports are originated solely
to create Republican political capital at
the North. If such were the case. we
should blush for the party which had the
impudence aud hardihood to stain the
American name for such purpose. For
In these accounts which reach us. we read
the details Of acts which can make Turk
ish barbarity hide its head in shame.
We have no desire to exaggerate details,
for the truth is a thousand times too bad.
Yet we are cooly told they are manufac-
tured, that it is only by waving the
bloody shirt" that the Republicans
could hope to win. And when Democratic
! journals boast Of the majorities which
Tilden received in certain Southern States.
it Is only gloryng in national shame.
For instance, the Examiner says that
in six counties Of Georgia Hayes did
not receive Il vote" What does this
mean? 1t would seem strange if six
counties can be found in any State where
the party which is the representative Of
the free and liberal principle. which rule
in the government has not one supporter.
Is it not, rather to be regarded as proof
strong as Holy Writ" that the charges of
ostracism and intimidation are true ,
Especially SO in Georgia. That State is
one Of the seven which contained a large
slave population. Those slaves were given
freedom and its rights by the Republican
party. IL is but natural in return that
that these freedmen should range them.
selves in support Of the party which gave
lhem these privileges. But they have
not, and the only plausible explanation is
found in the fact that they dare not.
Again, let US look at the case Of one of
the " 5ull-do.ed parishes OF Louisiana.
East Louisiana gave in 1874 Republican
vote Of LOGO and II Democratic vote Of
500 in round numbers. This Fail, the
vote stands Democratic 1888, Republican
three. The sixteen hundred Republicans
have dwinGled down to three solitary in
dlyiduals, while the Democratic st. ength
OF the parish has doubled. This is amar-
velous change Of public sentiment. Re
publican journals have told how this
sentiment was brought about, and we're
Sneerlngly tod that the "outrago mill .
was at work again"
These are net pleasant things to think Of. +
They speak in plain language OF aeon
dition Of society which puts our boasted .
civilization to shame. And the sole rea-
son why these outrages are not stopped.
and their perpetrators crushed under the
just Indignation of an aroused people, is .
simply and solely because the truth
not believed. Men look upon the details .
with the jaundced eye of party. 1t is .
not to be expected that such Il state of .
affairs can always exist, and the agrees
escape with impuuity. In fact. such a
change OF programme may be looked for .
at almost any day. The affairs at Cam
boy and Charleston show what may be
looked for in such an event. 1t will not .
then be the old stereoiyped story OF so
many "niggers" killed-no whites in
jurcd. The generation Of blacks now
coming on the stage OF action are far diff
erent from that who were freed and en-
franchised They know Of the horrors Of /
slavery from the personal experiences of .
their parents. But they know moth
ing Of the abject submission which char
acterized the coiored race in slave ho ding
times, and which even a condition Of free
dom has failed to eradicate. They have
more or less OF education, and conse-
quently more or less knowledge Of their
rights as men. Such class will not be
apt to submit tamely to deprivation OF
rights but will resent violence with vio-
lence and return blow for blow.
1t is to guard against such contingent
cies that becomes the duty Of all good .
citizens. Party must be laid aside for a .
higher leaity, duty assume the place now
held by political feeling. One side must
be wrong in all these transactions which
are heapng such disgrace on the Ameri-
can name, and it becomes our duty to
give to all such questions of violated law
an unprcjudiced investigation and see
where this blame really rests. It's solely !
because we accept the Interpretation given |
IN party sense, act and talk as though 0uj.
side can do nothing wrong, that we are
again threatened with danger to the public /
peace. II the weight Of public opinion had |
gone out with crushing force against the
first vi0lators Of the law, it would have /
held those ready to follow in their steps
in wholesome dread. No good citizen
wants the candidate Of his arty whether
he be Hayes, or Tilden, counted in unless
he be fairly elected. And no good citizen
wants the candidate of his party to walk /
into the Office Of President over the bod.
les OF his murdered political opponents
Nor will any citizen who appreciate, his
privileges as such, deem an election fair
where club law is invoked to keep voters
from the polls, and bullets take the place
of A4lLnL. Pm II H. .-.:.-l 1 - - !