National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1876-04-18
The POLITICAL SITUATION.

HdTper's Weekly. in an editorial on the
Political Situation" says: There is IN
questionably q well-grounded fear Of
democratic restoration, fear of injustice
"to the colored citizen, of payment of
"monstrous rebel claims, of tie terrible
"rcactIon of the supremacy of party to
(Which the great body of the late rebels,
"the real skeptics and enemies of popular
government, and the foes of the common
"school system all belong"
While this sentence is not as well coz
structed as those which usually come
from the pen OF George William Curtis,
and IS liable to be misconstrued into 4 dec
larltion that there is a prospect of Demo-
cratic success, yet, when the meaning is
obtained. there is q vast amount of truth
cJnyeved in a few words. Mr.. Curtis did
not intend to say that there was danger Of
Democratic success. though he might
have said this and possibly have had rea-
sons for so saying, if all Republicans were,
like Mr.. Curtis, unwilling to abide the
fairly expressed wishes of majority. But
we do rot propose TO discuss that question,
for we would be 10th to believe that Mr..
Curtis. maugre his rather incongruous vi
terances at and since the Syracuse CONVEX
ton, would imperil the future of his coun-
try By refusing TO give hearty and undi-
V:ded support TO whoever may be selected
a: Cincinnati as the Republican standard
bearer.
AThe sentence quoted above strengthens
ia in that opinion, for it is undoubtedly
true that Democratic restoration would
cluse not only injustice to the colored citi-
zcns, but would deprive them of all their
rights except the bare name, without the
substance, of freemen. In every one of
the States lately in rebellion where the
Democrats are in power this has been ex-
empiifed and fully proven. The negroes
''hav. no rights which Democrats arc
"bound TO respect" is the principle upon
which these State governments are con-
Quoted. Kentucky, Missouri, Tenues see,
Georgia, and Texas are examples of this
feeling. But even a worse theory is acted
upon in the rebel States which have not
yet succumbed to Democratic rule. There
ii is held and acted upon that the right to
liVe-to enjoy the God-given privilege Of
breathing the free air Of heaven-doss not
belong to the negro unless he will submit
to the domination of Democratic minori-
ties. Mississippi and Louisiana prove this
assertion, and the smooth speeches Of L -
mar and Gordon are given the lie by the
stern realities to be seen in the States from
which they claim TO be Representatives.
The action of the Democratic House of
Representatives is proof positive that "the
payment ofmonstrous rebel claims W ould
be insisted upon. The control Of only one
branch of the Legislature by the Dem
ocratic party has developed the fact that
claims amounting to untold millions are
lying in allegiance, only waiting until that
party has secured control Of the Govern
ment, 10 be rushed like an avalanche upon
the country with clamorous demand for
payment. And the subservience Of the
Northern doughfaces and copperheads dis
played in the House has proven that as Of
old they are ready to submit to any de-
mands made by their Southern masters.
The Democratic House has shown us,
too, how far this terrible reaction of
which Mr.. Curtis speaks would go. When
the terrible struggle for the life of the ma
zion ended in the triumph of its brave
armies and the complete overthrow of its
enemies. paans Of praise were shouted to
She soldiers who had so bravely sustained
the Government, and grateful people
could not offer too much as their reward.
But the Democratic House reverses this,
and while clamoriug for "reform and re-
trenehment, dismisses from Its service
old and tried servants, many Of whom were