The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-10-21
The Solid South.


The last stalking horse bestrode by q
spectre Ia frighten those non com batants in
war who have become doughty war
riors in peace, is the Solid South. II has
no terrors for us. We hail with Joy the
indications of "A united front in the south.
IL IL more than time the carnival OF Re-
publican crime in the Southern States
should be brought to an end. Plumber
should have its appetite stinted. Misgov-
eminent has long enough run riot. Ii
must be stopped.
There Is and can be no new rebellion.
That peril is past forever. What is won for
human rights will never again be the
trophy of the sword. The clarion blast
may be blown by the brass trumpets of
agitation, but the agitators are weak in
numbers, and wicked as they are in pur-
pose, they are poweIless for evil.
When aggressive tyranny sought to en-
slave our continent. the colonies became
solid With our strong blood, Oppression
may always be sure of RESISTANCE among us.
The solid array of the South is not of ag-
erosion. IL asks simply for the boon of
self-government under the Constitution
and the laws; aud IT has a right To demand
this.
To the emancipated negro the ballot was
given to hold those States to the Repubi-
can party; and for a time he was the inno-
cent agent of men who had no ambition
but that Of unlimited power. The contd-
ing black was to be the owner of planta-
tons In fee simple, with mules and horses
ia unquestioned possession. His credulity
was fed with promise but no performance.
The Solid South means only, then, that this
phautasmagoria has vanished from the
Hgnt The negro turns from the adyen-
turer and cheat, and needing no intimi-
dation, changes his vote.
The SOLID South proclaims that the
intimidation of bayonets must cease. and
the sabre be returned to its scabbard.
How long, we ask, Is the ballot to be cast to
the tread Of armed men and the roll of
the drum We venture the prediction
that after we have finished celebrating the
glory Of the century just ended, and sound
ing the march Of that just begun, the
presence of military uniforms VIII not be
suffered to proiane the casting of our suf-
frages. Look at South Carolina, with the
tramp Of the soldier over soil black with
the cinders Of war. 1t is the Carnatic of
HYDER ALI AS depicted IN the superb rhet-
oric of BURKE. What open war spared,
the civil bandit has gathered in tho sweep
Of his despoiling.
Louisiana, too, has been ovcrrun by the
bosom Of this destruction. Tho coast
from Baton Rouge TO New Orleans,
an Eden OF beauty and fertility, Is
utterly wasted. The tenure OF property
and the tenure OF life are alike uncer-
tain there, aud the State Government has
put her devastated acres IN mortgage for q
debt which she cannot pay. Mississippi,
also, IL the camping ground Of the Goth
aud the Hum The hot ploughshares
OF peace have cut deeper burrows than
those of war. Nor is the list complete
without Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.
GeoIgia, with BULLOCK, its venal Govern
Or aud It's purchased Legislature and Judi
GaIy was loaded with "A debt whose only
payment was by population; and 1t may be
remembered, a. exempifying the Divine
justice That the Northern agents of sub
sldy aud brides are each ana all ia financial
ruin. Why asks one OF GRART' )
Senators, docs Georgia give majority
of 10000 against usW Simply because In
the righteous law OF the universe, after
tho wrong comes the reaction, ana payment
10 exaoted with interest Lot Us then hay,
Solid South, and have itnow.
We hope, nay more, we expect, every
Southern electoral vote for SAMUEL }. TIT
DEN. Individuals, states, and nations, IN
their deeps OF adversely, seek for change
and the stricken people, now pursued by
the myrmidons OF power with the click OF
the arelook, wait INCREASINGLY for redemp-
tiaa by the silept power OF the ballot
oNthaless all auguries fail, the change Is
inevitable. The chain OF Republican in.
Vinoibilily was broken on the 10th Of Oo'