Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-08-04
From Harper's Weekly
The Southern Question.


has awakened, show that the southern
| question is still one of the most vital and
important subjects Of public attention. 1t
certainly is not because OF any wish or ell
fort upon the part of republicans in the
northern and western part of the country.
In their State and National Conventions
they have insisted only upon the honest
constitutional protection of equal rights
and in New York last year they demand
ed "a lust. generous, and forbearng pol
lev in the Southern States" Nothing
could be more baseess than the ill-timed
and testy testing of Mr., Cox, that the late
troubles at Hamburg, in South Carolina,
are in some way designed Tor political
effect. As General Garfield truly and
gravely said, murder is not to be laughed
ont of such occurrences. His question,
indeed, goes to the root of the matter.
| Are such events in the Southern States
sporadic. like the late Newark slaughter
in New Jersey, or do they show general
feeling hostile to the equal rights OF
colored citizensp The history of those
States for the last half century supplies
the answer to his question. Nearly four
millions of colored persons, who, with
their ancestors, had been held in the most
inhuman form of slavery for more than
two hundred years, were suddenly freed
and elevated to equal citizenship with the
master class. as consequence of the in
surrection of that class against the Union,
and of its total and ruinous defeat. The
general feeling of that class can only be
one of contemptuous incredulity and dis
trust of the equality of those whom it had
not considered or treated as human be-
ings; and while many of them would not
openly manifest their discomfort, it is in
evitable that there should be large and
reckless number who would not conceal
their feelings nor hesitate at the most
heinous crimes for its qualification.
This is precisely what has occurred.
The Southern situation has constantly pre-
septed two facts: The most cruel and
bloody outrage, terrorism and massacre
of the colored population, and a white
public opinion that practically approved
by declining 10 protest or to act with any
vigor or efficiency. This is not a theoret-
ical observation or abstract inference. In
reply to General Garfeld's direct question
Mr.. Lamar of Mississippi said that the oc-
currence a. Hamburg was not sporadic,
although unnatural; it was the effect of a
morbifc element that he thought would
disappear under good governm ent. The
Richmond Wing says that while it believes
the great mass Of the people in the South
ern States to be peaccably inclined, 1.-The
misfortune is that public opinion is not
outspoken enough to discourage these
bad men from such acts against the weak"
adding that the negroes are sometimes ex-
asperating. And Colonel IIigginson.
calling attention to the fact that even the
colored magistrate at Hamburg, before
whom the case was brought, and whom
he personally knows as brave and loyal
man, was also forced to fly for his life,
speaks for thousands of intelligent and
patriotic men in this part of the country
in letter to the New York Times:
"Of all the Southern outrages since the war,
there is no one more sure to have an important
influence than this Hamburg atrocity. There is
conflict of testimony about it, 1t occurred in
broad day, was utterly unprovoked, was attended
barbarian. IN
cluded the armed invasion of neighboring State.
For one, have been trying hard to convince
myself that the Southern whites had accepted the
results of the war; and that other questions might
now come uppermost. So far from being big
oted republican, took part in the Fifth Avenue
Political Conference and should certainly have
refused to support the republican nominee had he
not commanded my confidence. AS it is, l am
more than ever grateful for the influences which
secured the nomination of Hayes and Wheeler.
OF what use all our efforts to lay aside the is
of the war, if they still to be kept alive by
our white fellow-citzens of the South J The
spirit that sends armed men across the South Car
DINA border to-day may just as easily send them
across the Pennsylvania border next year, if it Sc
cures the aid of democratic national Administra-
ton. For one do not propose to acquiesce in
this"
Here is a question not to be shuflled
aside by the cry that democrats have ac-
complished reform by cutting down the
army and reducing the salary of some
foreign minister. Who commit these un.
deniable crimes against the very order
and existence Of society? Democrats.
Who condone these crimes by silence, by
incredslity, by calling them negro riots"
or by sneering at the bloody shirt ? Dem
ocrats. Is it, then. to democrats, to
party which counts for success in the cleo
ton upon the votes CT all in the Southern
States who actively or passively connive
at these constant and monstrous crimes,
that the government of the country can
be wisely intrustedP
10 Nax.r Norl.