Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-09-28
The South"

| for the condition of the Southern States.
| 1t Is asserted that il ought to have pac flied
| them and established harmony and that the
! Southern situation is the reproach Of Re
| publican craftsmanship. Now, we con-
cede all that may fairly be urged against
the party We do not defend the extraor-
binary report OF Mr.. Boutwell,, nor any OF
| the proved delinQuencies and rascalities of
| any Republican officer. nor the extrava-
ganee and corruption of much legislation
| In some OF the Southern States. Bot the
responsibility of the South rests m2iuly
! with tive Southern whites aud with the
Democratic party both la the Northern and
, Southern States. When the war ended
the entire moral aud mental mastery Of
the position WAS IN the hands OF the South.
ern master class. This has been always evil
dent to any one who reflected upon the sub
ject; but the late speech Of Mr.. Lamar, the
only really able Southern Representative.
II accepted as a correct statement, would
put 1t beyond question. He Involves him
self, indeed. Ia n logical absurdIty by the
effort 10 use his own statement against its
necessary conclusion, but his evidence is
decisive.
In speaking of the slaves aud masters.
Mr.. Lamar said. Harmony, friendship. and
confidence existed between these tw q races.
Indescribable sympathies, old memories,
kindly services mutually endered, tie. OF
childhood, OF youth, OF manhood, DAYS of
labor, days OF battle, nights OF watching,
nights OF anguish, had so intertwined the
lives OF that generation of Southern men
and women, width and black, that at the
close Of the war there was scarce black
tdan, woman. or child who did not have
some endearing relation with white Ban
woman. or child, and was not also the Oh
let. of r.nipraaat attachment
This. then, according to Mr.. Lamar, WAS
the relation between the races when the
slaves were emancipated, But II II were
so. 1t is not conceivable that the docile, de-
pendent afectionate blacks whom Mr..
Lamar describes. would Instantly have de-
serted those with whom they were living
in such cndearng relations. to ally them
selves with utter strangers. Yet the fact
OF the deseition is undenisble, and II can
have. upon Mr.. Lamar's theory, but one
explanation. II IL the freedmen suddenly
distrusted the master class.
What was the reason of this distrust up.
on the part OF those who had been upon
such "eudearing' terms with the wh'tcsy
Mr.. Lamar insists that the government in
spired di-tru-t by sssumin. the hostility
OF the whites But had the relation been
what he describes. no government could
possibly have accomplished such result.
From his own argument. the conclusion H.
Irresistible that II i the Intelligent South
erh whites. and no. the ignorant blacks,
who have drawn the color line. For If In
any State the spirit of the master class
had been truly friendly; II the first State
legislation after the war had not been an
oppressive black code II the tone OF the
press had been sensible aud sympathetic
instead OF cruel and scornful; II labor con-
10 a .Nl H..
enforced; If school. had been literally en-
couragrd; II political corporation had
been sincerely sought; II white public opin-
ton had made the kn-hlux impossible BY
it, summary repression; II III. press had
denounced IL, and the courts aud jurics
snd all local legal authorities had pursued
aud punished Il; II, indeed. there had been
snywhere among any considerable part "f
the white population. a solitary sign of
really friendly Interest. or care. or desire
making the best instead OF the worst OF the
situation, there would have been no white
line. no considerable ku-kluI no southern
question.
The troubles ofthst question are not as
i constantly alleged, mainly due 10 the
Republican party. but 10 the sullen folly
which has always insisted upon one thing
aud one only.-ihat the Southern whites
choose. Thi. Is what IL meant by home
rule and this Is what Mr.. Lamar and the
Democratic darty hope TO accomplish by
the election OF Mr.. Tilden. The Republi-
cans are responsible for many mistakes
and offences in the Southern States, out
the greatest Of all for the country, would
be 10 abandon them In despair. There u
quite enough intelligence and patriotism
among Republicans to pursue policy that
could not be stigmatizcd A. that OF the car
pet-bag or the bayonet,-it Is that fore
Swallowed by Mr.. Hayes; while tina, OF the
Democrats must necessarily be that OF Mr..
Lamar and of jefferson Davis Ia 1861, Let
IA alone lhcy uisha.' - l. =. -'~"v
- secure slavery out OF the mon and
they wish TO be let alone now 10 secure
practical political subsection OF the negro
within the Union. This is a policy sure to
follow Democratic success, and no less
sure TO keep the country indefinitely dis
turbed. because the conscience and com
mon-sense OF the American people who
freed the slaves viii not endure the injus-
tlce involved in such situation. The H.
nal settlement of the question lies, and lies
only, In the defeat of that Democratic par
~ 10 whose success ''the South looks TO
get even with the negroes and the Re
publicans. and In the triumph OF that Just
generous and iOTOeafing pot"t. under Re
publican auspices. which the election OF
Gov. Hayes will secure.