National Republican., 1876-08-23

wearied of giving testimony. For the last year
or two they have found themselves between
two fires. In the South, for any statement, by
letter or otherwise, exposing the White-Line
outrages, Republicans are subjected to every
conceivable intolerance, ostrscism and perse-
cution. They are denounced as enemies, liars,
slanderers, scoundrels, thieves, Jail birds,
escaped convicts, villains, &c. In the North 1t
is easy to pass this by as "the idle wind' or
the yaporings of vulgar brute, but not so in
the South. Ostracism, insult, and life even
are involved there. On the other hand, the
statements of Southern Republicans have been
questioned, doubted and derided in the North
for some time past while the Lamars,
Hookers, Singletons, Hamptons and others OF
that sort have been looked to for the facts of
the situation. Has the North got over this
folly? If not, is it worth while for Southern
Republicans to stand in the breach and be fired
at by both parties Or shall every Southern
Republican, including scalawag, carpet -bagger
and colored, give each his individual experience
in trying to be Republican in the sunny
South!''
.. There are in almost every town in the
North Republicans who have been South in an
honest effort to build up new homes, but who
have been prosecuted out OF that section and
returned North in disgust and generally with
the loss of property and money. Let all such
give their experience among the Ku-KluX and
White Liners. Such statements would const1-
tute a history and create q special literature
for this Centennial year.
;. There are volumes of Congressional docu-
ments containing the testimony taken In nearly
all the Southern States relative to the hu-
kluX, together with the volumes about to De
issued by the Senate committee recently in
Mississippi. Democrats say the witnesses are
not to be believed. The statements bear the
evidence of truth on their face. These docu-
meuts can he had of Senators and Representa-
tives by the asking. Let the people read.
TWO SUGGESTIONS.
Nothing would so soon make a Republican
of a Northern Democrat, or take the kink out
of doubling Republican, or of a critical,
carping newspaper, as few months residence
in one of the old slave States. A mere ex-
cursiOn or trip through those States affords no
clue to the truth, but the reverse. To eX-
cursionists the South is at its best. Northern
Democrats are deified, and prominent Repub-
licans are specially favored on such trips.
But these dOubters and revilers will not test
the truth by actual experience, and so it is
suggested that a few citizens of undoubted
character combine and send South several
peculiarly qualified, reliable correspondents,
men whose reports will not be questioned
even by political opponents. If such men will
20 South in disguise, see and converse with all
sorts of men, in all sorts OF places, listen to
the speeches of Democrats. the truth can thus
be obtained, and the North would believe. g.
Some Northern Democrats have resolved not
to believe anything, and thus their hearts and
consciences are closed to all evidence. But
the above plan would break through their re-
solves and send conviction to the most obdu-
rate hardshell. Southern Republicans ask
that their Northern friends take steps to de-
termine conclusively whether they or traitors
are te ling the truth.
Query. The North would not believe in 1861,
until Fort Sumter was fired on, nor hardly
then, nor until the second call for "fve hun
dred thousand more" troops; will they believe
now until after treason has the nation by the
throat. S. Il.