New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-03-11
Southern Opinion.

We are very glad to learn from Southern
sources quoted in our edition of yesterday
that Southern opinion approves of the tenn
perate sentiments of the Presidents ad-
dress, but at the same time we are not dis
posed to accept Southern opinion as mean
ing anything more than it EaTs, and we
have looked 10 vain for the expression of
that one assurance without which all else is
mere empty phrase and ceremony. The
Charleston NetCs and Courier, for instance,
does not question the Presidents motives,
"but one sharp, clear senterce, Announcing
that States, within the law, must manage
their own affairs in their own way, and that
the general government would attempt no
other supervision in South Carolins and
Louisiana than is the rule Ia Ohio or Con-
necticut, would have been more tor the
South, and better for the country, than
Oraeular generalities."
Now, we are not disposed to quarrel with
this claim, hich speaks significantly for the
Southern side; indeed, We do not hesitate to
say that President Hayes might very prop
erly have put into his address such u
declaration as is Outlined for him by the
News aud Courier, and it would meet with
approval at the North not less than at the
South. But Mr.. Hayes would have much
less prudence than he has hitherto shown
if he should fail to couple such pledge
with the condition that no other stste of
Carolina than exists in OaiO and COnnecti-
cut. If we could have any good and trust
worthy assurance from tba5 opinion which
is represented by the Net1S and Courier,
that the rights of all citizens would be re-
speoted in South Carolina and louisiana as
fully as they are in Ohio and Connecticut,
there would be no fear of Federal inter
ference in one State more than in the other;
but until this is the case there is no use in
atf Vhfin IN rha NJ mn al a nj
no use in crying peace" where there is no
peace.
Against the opposition of the Southern
States, at great cost and sacrifice, and at
the peril of our national life, we have lifted
the curse of slavery from The nation, but we
have not paid the penalty. This civil rights
question still survives to remind US of our
past iniq uity, and 10 put to us the Sphvn1's
riddle, Nbioh we must answer rightly OF
suffer death. F'Our millions of freedmen
remain among us lnOt in Ohio or Connects
cut, but in South Carolina and Louisiana J,
the legacy of our national sin, and the rid
die they put to us is, What shall we do with
themH There are only two courses; Either
we must confirm and maintain them in Lheil
citizenship, pursuing the policy of the Re
publican party since the proclamation ol
emancipation, or we must relegate them to
slavery. If we choose the former course
it is well; if the latter, then the republic
has been saved only to die more disgrace
fui death few years later,
But we have waited now twelve years
since the war was over for lone sharp, clear
sentence" from q Southern mouth announc-
ing that the citizenship of the negro would
be respected, and We have never heard it,
There is not one single act in the whole line
of Siuthern Democratic policy which does
not belle any such profession if it should
be made, and Southern political history ID
merely the record of one constant success
sion of struggles on the part of the South
ern Democrats against the common fair
ness, the decent privilege of citizenship
which we strove to confer on the freedman
1t is not Republican supremacy, it is not
carpet-bsg rule, it Is not dishonest taxation,
nor even the presence of troops, which is
the chief grievance of these who demand
local self fgOVernment;i it is negro equality
before the law which galls and maddens
them, and against which their faces are set
as q flint. Ii Is this wtioh has been the
handspring of their hostility and their
bitterness, and we have not seen any in
dieatiOn of relenting in that hostility.
This is not the state of affairs which
exists in Ohio and in Connecticut. There
no man breads prescription or persecution
for opinion sake; there every citizen, no
matter what his race or color, is absolutely
secure in the enjoyment of every civil or
political right under the law ana there So
ciety is not divided ingo two elasses-oue Of
uorelenting oppressors, the other of help
less victims. lt is almost impossible to CON
eeive of such state of atfairs existing
north Of Mason and Dixonis line, but if it
should unhsppily exist, we should demand
a sharp, clear sentence announcing that the
rights of citizens to that eiti1s nship which
was guaranteed by the nation would be pro-
tected wherever the American flag hJated;
and Il local eelfgOvernment was a mensce
t. these rights ins1ead OF protection, then
the strong arm Of the Federal power should
ea extended to Ohio or Connections, Just Sc
il wanld ba to Soath Carolina or Lsnislana.
81 Louis Glg5o DeM0rai.