Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-06-07
PLAIN WORDS FROM THE NEW
YORK III EKA LID

definite political standing, yet it
is classed as strongly Democratic in
its tendencies. At least it has no
leaning whatever to Republicanism
nor the present administrations
Therefore, when it talks so strong as
ii does in the following editorial from
that paper in regard to Southern out
RACES, ii is clearly observable that it
is driven to do so from the terrible
condition of things in the recon-
structcd States. We ask its careful
perusal. 1t docs not over-state the
facts, and these facts arc only omi-
nous of the portending danger of
what may be the result should the
Democratic party triumph in the
Presidential campaign. The Herald
says:
IT is time for lis to speak with the
utmost plainness TO our friends in the
South. There can only be one end to
this shotgun policy. These constant
stories of assassination OH the Red
River, of conventions dissolved bv
force, of riots, with "twenty negroes
killed and one white man wounded :"
of revolutions like that against Ames
in Mississippi: this prescription of
Northern men as "carpet-baggers,"
and of Southern Republicans as
"scalawags," this assumption that be-
cause citizen of New York removes
to North Carolina. and dares to GO
into politics as Republican, he must
necessarily be n scamp, and only to be
treated rs an outlaw, this ostracism
and prescription, and, above all,these
cruel, brutal, inhuman murders of
negroes that we have seen in New
Orleans, Memphis. Vicksburg and
ColfaX, and which we now witness at
Bayou Sara, only defer true recon-
Citation between the sections. 1t is
no answer to say that these outbreaks
result from the misgovernmcnt of
men like Moses, Whipper, and the
rest. We admit their errors. We
have censured the General Govern
mcnt for permitting them to hold
power. But this is no excuse for the
scenes that take place in Louisiana.
Sec how New York was misgovcrned
five years ago. See the misgovern-
ment in Chicago to-day. There is
nothing in the history of the South to
compare with it. But neither New
York or Illinois would stand excused
for moment if the reign of thieves
had given place to the reign of assas-
sins.
tf,.sh
those we have seen so often i'm the
South, and which we now sec in
Louisiana, to the reign Of assassina-
ton. The law abiding men of that
State must deplore it as much rs we
do in New York, and we trust they
will take up arms and suppress it.
We can not think of the gallant sons
of Lorisiana-thc men who followed
Beanregard over so many bloody
fields-going with shot-guns into the
swamps to murder negroes. We APP
peal to these men to put an end to this
reign Of assassination for, if they
do not, the General Government
will. Even if there were Demo-
cratic majority in the House as large
again as the present the people of this
Republic-who fought the war for
the Union-would never submit in
silence to Union which permits the
repeated assassination of citizens for
their principles. Upon this point
there must be no misunderstanding.
We differ about q hundred things, but
on this point we do not differ. Unless
here is an end to this negro killing
unless this reign of assassins-who.
whether they call themselves KuKlux
or White Camelias, are assassins, cow
ardly and cruel, because they select
their victims from an inferior, help
less, amiable and inoflensiyc race-is
terminated; unless the best sentiment
in the South at once Furnishes these
men and prevents a recurrence of
their crimes, the strong arm of the
General Government will fall upon
them. Once compel Grant to draw
the sword "for the protection of
Union men," and there will be no
need of a campaign for the Presidcn-
cy. Once revive the Sumptcr spirit,
and the delegates to St. Louis may as
well remain at home. Bayou Sara
'.riots" will determine the canvass.
We all remember how the country
thrilled with horror when Lieutenant
General Sheridan denounced the
leaders Of the Camelia lodges and
Ku Klux bands as "banditti." We
all remember how the citizens of New
York arose in Indignation at the Gin
suit" thus thrown upon a people by a
military commander. But as we read
this revolving dispatch from Bayou
Sara, the question arises ssMay not
the brilliant and illustrious Sheridan
have been perfectly right, even in
the extravaganza Of his denunciation,
and may not the honor and peace o.
the nation demand that he 60 at once
to the Southwest to put an end to
this reign of terror aud death? ~