The New York herald., 1876-10-25
why south Caroline May Go Dems-
cratic.

The republican fallacy in regard to South
Carolina, which affects many Northern
minds, is that because the colored voters
are in a considerable majority therefore
the State must Of necessity be repub-
lican, and the mere attempt Of the demo-
Gratis to carry it argues an intention to
commit intimidation or fraud or both 1t
ought to be enough to reply to this that If
it were true or reasonable all voting in a
State like South Carolina would be need
less effort. An appeal to the census would be
sufficient to declare the nominees of the re-
publican party elected without further
trouble. An election would be o mere farce
The decision of republican convention
would settle the political fate of the State.
OF course it is not true, though it forms
the basis not only of republican argu-
ment but of the Presidents military inter-
ference in South Carolina. The political
condition Of that State does not differ from
that in which other Southern States, like
Arkansas and Alabama, have found them
selves but out Of which they have
|.emerged into peace. The republican party
in all the Southern States consisted origi-
nally of a certain number Of honest white
men, certain number Of energetic and un-
scrupulous adventurers, also whites, and
the negroes The latter were ignorant,
grateful to the North for their freedom. and
for two or three years after the war in many
localities Justly apprehensive Of abuse and
wrong at the hands of the native whites,
who, irritated at their defeat and outraged
ut seeing their former slaves made their
political equals, rejected their political
alliance and foolishly. but very naturally
for they were human beings-drove them
into the arms Of the republicans The con-
sequences of this inevitable beginning were
these, and we describe them because, when
they are understood, the situation in South
Carolina becomes plain
l. The republican party in all those States
fell naturally into the hands Of the most
aggressive and unscrupulous Of its politi-
clans. This is the tendency of all parties
which have sure lease Of power. These
persons used the ignorant negro vote to ad-
vance their own fortunes. They corrupted
the negro by dividing with the leading
blacks the plunder of the States they mis-
ruled. Secure of the negro vote they stole
right and left and made the very name of
republican odious to the men who owned
tho property and possessed the intelligence
But this is not all. The honest republicans
of those States we're equally subject to this
misrule. Most Of them were Northern men
and attached to their party. They waited
in silence and hope for day when hon.
est counsels should prevail. But the
rogues had the ear of the federal
government; they sent their representatives
to both branches of Congress; they crushed
every honest republican with an unfinching
hand; and so in Louisiana, in Mississippi.
in Arkansas. in Alabama, as in South Caro-
lima the rogues ruled and continued to
rule, because their allies were appointed to
the federal Offices and they were able to
show the negroes that they, and not the hon
est republicans, had the favor of Gen.
eral Grant To the ignorant plantation
negro the supposed wishes of General
Grant are the supreme Law of the land. II
to-day the President should issue procla-
nation telling the South Carolina blacks to
vote for General Hampton seven-eighths Of
them would do it
2. At last the honest republicans rebelled.
In Mississippi, last year, they openly op-
posed the misrule of Governor Ames and
helped to defeat him and their party. In
Arkansas, in 1874, the same thing occurred
In Alabama the honest and decent republi-
cans refused any longer to be the tail of
Senator Spencer's kite. In Louisiana, this
year. leading republican politicians have
abandoned the State ticket, and refuse to help
Packard and Kellogg That is TO say, the
party splits. Was it not inevitable? Was
it not the best thing for the State? But
when this split occurs the factions divide
the negro vote. Nor is this all the demo-
crats who have had time to learn wisdom,
take pains to secure share to themselves
Of the negro vote. The result has been
shown in Arkansas, in Alabama, in Missis-
sippi, where the republican party organiza-
ton, in the hands of corrupt men. was at
last defeated.
8. Note the result. Arkansas and Ala
bama have been at peace for eighteen months
in spite of the President having in both
those States appointed to the most impor-
tant federal offices the very rogues who were
beaten by the joint action of democrats and
honest republicans. Even Mississippi. nat
urally rude and turbulent community, is
so tar ut peace that the republican leaders
have as yet found no pretext for sending
troops there. And the change has been sat
isfactory to the honest republicans, black as
we'll as white, of those States.
4 The process we have above described
is now going on in South Carolina and also
in Louisiana. In the first named State three
parties appeal for negro votes Hampton
heads the democratic ticket, and in many Of