Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-02-03
ARE TIE NEGROES IN DANGER OF
BEING ENSLATED.

ARE TIE NEGROES IN DANCER OF
BEING ENSLATED.
The old proverb says that where there IS
smoke there must be fire, and where there
is so much anxiety amongst the deter
mined enemies of the freedom OF the col
ored race in the South, and such unanimi-
ty of sentiment that blow must be struck
against the republican party in the inter-
ests of the democratic white inhabitants
of the late Confederate States, there must
be some cause for it. Those States, MS
they came again into full fellowship in the
Union, had constitutions which recognized
the inviolability Of the Union, and which
guaranteed to colored citizens all the rights
of citizenship and equality before the law.
Those States were admitted on the honor
of the Southern people that their consti-
tuition should never be altered SO as
abridge the rights of the blacks. One OF
these rights was free education in the CON-
mon schools of the States; that negres
might receive instruction and become in
telligent-as intelligence is the great bull
wark Of the republic.
yreason of the democratic party 5 com
plicity with the rebellion, the nation en-
trusted the republican party to conduct
the war for the preservation OF the Union.
The Union was saved; and the repubi-
can party undertook the reconstruction of
the South and the repair OF what had been
laid waste in the contest. All the world
recognized that the rebellion was put
down; that its power was broken; that
the object for which it was precipitated no
longer existed when the slaves were freed.
The loyal people, therefore, had right to
expect that the work Of reconstruction
would proceed unhindered by those who
had rendered reconstruction necessary
But with unparalleled clemency. amnesty
was provided for by a republican Con-
gress, under which multitudes Of rebels
were rehabilitated; and as time advanced
other classes of rebels were amrestied,
until less than eight hundred are denied
full American citizenship. 1t was OBJ
served, however, that from the first offer
of clemency change took place in the
sentiment of the South; a change which
showed that those who had been amnes-
tied revived practical disloyalty which
they had previously concealed. And as
the amnesty measures included wider cir
Giles of men compromised by rebellion,
the white citizens of the South seemed
suddenly smitten with a frantic alteration
of the crime. and to draw closer together
for the purpose of becoming a community
distinct by disloyalty and conIederated for
the purpose of defeating reconstruction.
The people who had received amnesty also
exhibited determined opposition to the
republican party which had granted it;
and while they accepted republican grace
with one hand, they struck down white
and colored republicans with the other. So
perverse has the South been that the ex-
IRENE doctrine of State rights, which had
down with it, is paraded with vigor wor.
thy OF better cause; and one after the
other the constitutions haze been altered
in States seized by the Southern democrat
cy, and there the principles Of the rebel
lion seem firmly entrenched.
As none Of the rebels amnestied were
Lol Tnr ba
and only some Of them punished when
they were proved to have committed the
atrocities of the Ku-Kux, colored men
who had always been obnoxious as citi
zens were to suffer. BY degrees their
language became stronger; and last year
war was deGantly advocated if the repub-
lican party should be successful in the
coming Presidential election. such men
can only be successful in the South by dis
franchising the negro; and the negro to-
day is driven from the polls, or made
afraid to vote. In the great war speech
of Hon. b. II. Hill. Of Georgia, in
January. 1915. he had something, of
course, to say to the eolored man. War,
conflict, blood and thunder, the cverlast.
Ing wall and whine of the South, would
be nothing if ii did not threaten dire con-
sequences TO the unfortunate blacks. SO
Mr.. Hill, after pouring out his heart TO
arouse his sympathizing friends and tell
them he was ready TO fight to put down
the republican party, followed with
warning to colored citizens.
"He impressed upon the colored men
of the country the truth, that il the folly
and wlckedness were contaminated in