The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1876-10-21

The BLooDy-SHIRf CAMPAIGN
A FAILURE.


A FAILURE.
Hsw Yosk Hessld MI
The Republicans founded their
appeal on what Il popularly CALI
Cd the ''blooded shirt" With the
exception Of Mr.. behurs and Mr..
I'D. Cox we remember no promi-
nent speaker in either Ohio or In
diana who brought into promin-
ence those reforms which the coun-
try needs. Civil service, curren-
%, economy, respectability al
went by the board, and press and
speakers urged only and continu.
ally the danger Of . " united
South" the danger Of rebel war
claims, and attempted to arouse
the old war fever, the feelings Of
bitterness, hostility and suspicion
toward the Southern whites. Now,
Of course, this was done deliber-
ately. It was no chance work. In
July there was still reason to hope,
and even to believe, that the
"bloody-shirt !" would not appear
IN this campaign. Suddenly aud
simultaneously It was raised in
both States by oil the Republicans,
without cause, and without any
reason except one-that they be.
lieved that, on the whole, this was
their strongest card. The field Of
argument lay open to them to
choose. They could have planted
themselves on Civil Service reform,
on general good viii and conf
dence, but they preferred an ap-
peal to dying and dangerous pas.
sions, that seemed TO them their
surest, and, we must believe, their
only way to success.
Well, It has failed them. Sub.
stantially their campaign with The
'sbloody shirt" Is . defeat. II was
desperate enterprise, set on foot
by the anti-reforln wing Of the
party, which assumed command
and had its own sweet win In the
campaign. II was the plan Of bat.
tie Of the Chambers, Mortons, Lo-
gans, the "war-horses" Of tho Re-
publican side; and the subordinate
leaders, not even excepting poor
Mr.. Echurs at the last, fell obcdl-
emily into line and fought It ont,
and subsequently got beaten. Un-I
doubtedly they deserved It; but
will II teach the Republican party
no lessoA2 Will mot Governor
Hayes and those leaders Of bis par
~ who desire reform now sec that
the old appeal to the "bloody-
Shirt" to prejudice, hatred and
upreason is Z failure, and that It is
high time for them to oust the
false leaders, to return to the H.
sues and questions and make their
struggle for November upon thesel
Two courses are now open to the
Republicans. They may 60 on o
they begun, or they may at once
and finally cast Of the "bloody-
shirt" and base their appeal to the
people on distinct pledges Of re-
form and good government. II
they havs the courage to do the
last they have still . hope Of sue
cess for there is no doubt that
while there is : universal demand
for ~ change" . considerable
part Of the voters would prefer
this "change" to come about nm
der Republican Federal rule. II
the reform wing Of the party
should now come forward and
take possession Of the party ma
chinery, vigorously and decisively
inspire its councils and efforts,
and shake of the Southern delna-
gogues like Kellogg, Packard,
Spencer and Chamberlain; II they
should proclaim good will, and
cut loose from the authors and
supporters Of notorious abuses at
Washington and in the South, then
they have still > chance Of success.
But Il, ON the other hand, rs seems
much more likely, the party goes
on ~ It has begun, then II seems to
~ it's fate is sealed. II will be COM
PEELED in that case to encourage
still more Its basest elements every
where, and to proceed to extreme
measures in tho South in support