National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1876-08-02
WHY oUTRAGEs OCCUR IN REPUBLICAN
STATES,

nave Ueeu SOluS Inc IOuuuS VI tHe press.
Their purpose and effect is to deceive.
Even some Republicans are staggered by
their apparent truthfulness and inquire for
the reasons. We admit that political out
RACES occur most frequently in Republican
States, and within them in Republican
counties where the colored voters have a
majority. To those who have not studied
the Southern problem this may seem mex
plicable, but the solution is easy. The
difficulty is organic. II lies at the bottom
of society. Race differences are first to be
taken into account. Master and slave
Anglo Saxon and Alricsn-were the old
elements. Their relationship has been
changed, ana together they now constitute
the new political forces Of the South. True
to his nature the negro is gentle, forbearing
peace loving and trustful. Slavery taught
him to fear, look up to aud respect the
white man as his superior in all things
Emancipation has changed the relation,
but not the nature and the Unborn teachings
of centuries of slavery. Under the most
favorable circumstances he still feels much
of the old restraint. The old master is
equally slow to adapt himself to the new
condition. He spurns political association
on terms of equality, and claims the exclu-
sive privilege to determine, grant or with
hold the right of the negro.
Past relations measure these more than
present conditions. The negro is permitted,
not consulted. He gets no rights, except
such as the old master chooses to grant,
and the bestowal of the least is regarded as
a great concession. In this arrangement
the negro is a silent spectator, feeding on
the crumbs from the political boards. He
is expected to receive and be thankful for
small favors. But quietude under these
circumstances is evidence of nothing but
the fact that he submits to be ruled. 1t
does not mean justice, fair dealing, con-
tentment or anything of the kind. As
well say he enjoyed all this in slavery be-
cause he submitted. Then, as now, he
yielded to force he could not resist. He
was always expected to insurrect, but he
never instructed. He accepted his lot,
made the best of it and remained obedient.
During the war for his perpetual enslave
ment he served his master with unselfsh
devotion. When he became free he sub
mitted to code of black laws as degrading
and oppressive as slavery, and still he was
quiet.
In most of the old slave States the old
master element has absolute power and the
negro citizen is as completely ignored as if
he were still slave. tits white supremacy
and negro subserviency, just as it used to
be, though the forms are changed. The
negro yields. He can do nothing else. He
takes what he can get and is declared to be
satisfied.
The scene is changed in Republican
States, when not disturbed by Democratic
agencies. There the Constitution, the laws,
the spirit and policy of the Government,
the teachings and influences are Republi
can. Every one feels and breathes free.
He speaks, acts and thinks like a free man.
The ballot of the colored man is taken at
its full value, and he dareS to assert and
enjoy his rights untrammeled. All his
surroundings impress him with his man
hood. He is elevated politically, socially
and morally. and cherishes noble aspira
tons. His children are educated, and be-
come intelligent citizens. They may enter
the learned professions and be respected.
He lives in new Civilizations civilizl-
ton that ignores and forgets all past inc
qualities and enjoys its blessings. Mr.. La
mar said NEGRO suffrage hangs like mis-
tletoe on the body polite, to sap its life"
Under Republican government the colored
man is in the life and sap of the tree. But
this means antsgonism to the old master
idea. "White supremacy is disputed by
equality. The best government possible,
administered on this basis by Republicans,
would be declared an intolerable oppres-
sion. Not the character. but the Republi-
can administration of the Government
would be offensive. The voice of the ne
gro must be hushed. The "Radical"
must be driven from power. The old mas
ter element must be restored. Against this
resolve mere numbers have no value. Ma
jOrities are no obstacle. The contest is
one of force. 1t involves the organization
and armament Of battalions instead of the
peaceful solution of ballots. If a Republi-
can State majority is to be overcome, they
assail the Republican counties, and employ
enough force to carry them. One slaugh-
ter like Clinton or Hamburg may be
enough. 1t is the signal for general
attack all along the line. Ku-Klux bands
begin their midnight riding; Republican
clubs are visited and broken up; negro
cabins are fired into and threatened; public
meetings cannot be held for fear of further
massacres, and Republicans are afraid to
attend; murders and assassinations are
Systematically committed; every conceiva-
BILE species Of intimidation is employed, and
when the election comes off the Democracy
have things all their own way, and the
State goes overwhelmingly Democratic.
White supremacy is vindicAted, outrages
cease. There nc longer is need OF them.
No one disputes the means employed, aud
no one dare to. II would be death if he
did. Having conquered by force, they
hold by threat of its repetition. Possession
counts for more than nine points. The
colored man sees his hopeless condition
and surrenders. He can do nothing else.
His manhood is broken and he sinks back
into servility. His political and civil iden-
tity is gone. In Southern parlance, he has
been put back into his place" We all
know what that means. He takes off his
hat in the good old way and salutes
"massa" in bated breath; he pays taxes
with distrancbisement added if he fails; is
excluded from the jury box; sees his
schools abolished, and. his children grow
up In ignorance to share his fate in turn,
and wears the mark of his degradation and
the yoke of bis subjugation, and murmurs
in vain. He msy pray for new enfran-