The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-04-25
Reconstruction Exposed.

The last OF the bogus governments Wmch
the uuscrupulous and unprinclpled Repub-
Iican party set up in the southern States as
a means Of controlling the votes OF those
States in presidential and congressional
elections, and thus of perpetuating its own
power, has disappeared. Quoting PRosrERo
we can say OF the villains who have been
masquerading ia that State as rulers OF
the people that their revels now are ended
and that the PACKARD government, IKE
an insubstantial pageant, has fadcd an"
left not a rack behind. Whilst 1t IS the
duty OF all patriots TO rejoice over Tue
deliycrauce OF the southern people from
Tie enemies OF social order and pubic
prosperity, and not to look too closely
into the motives which have actuateo the
President, it would be wrong to forSet that
no such evils would ever have been VISITED
upon the South il the leaders OF the Repup-
rcan narty had not been unScrupulous,
cold-hlooded tyrantS and villains. The
crime Of putting the intelligent, refined
educated, wealthy ..a&sites OF the South I'M
der tho control OF bEutal, coarse, ignorant
pauper negroes, led by unprinc,pled adven-
t,,rers from the North, is without parallel
in history. II was the sum OF all ri!hinles.
I. was crime against civilization, against
religion, against humanity itself. We may
therefore be excused for calling attention to
what the President has demonstrated TO the
world by Withdrawing the Federal troops
from Louisiana and South Carolina.
First. the result proves that the so-caiieo
governments which for ten years have cN'Steo
in several OF the southern States were no gov
crnments at all. They were mere dummies.
They could not have continued III existence
one day without the support OF the Federal
Government. They were mere automata
which were used by the Administration ut
Washington 10 hide the military rule which
they really represented. The war bad come
to a close. and it did not appear to be con-
sonant with "free tD Institutions or re-
publican gorernment--that is, as Mr.. LIN
coin said, government by the people for the
benefit OF the people-to place military gov
errors over the States OF the South. SO these
bogus governments were set up. Ihey
were maintained solely by military power
They had no place in the affections OF the
people, and commanded the respect OF none
of the real rulers-the Intelligent, honest
taxpayers. They were humbug anda cheat
from their beginning to their close, never
able to stand alone, but always leaning
upon Federal bayonets. Mr.. HAYES has de.
70 oil q
Nobody ought to have the face to deny them
hereafter.
Secondly, the rapid Disappearance OF
these bogus governments shows the world
that MIR. TILpEH was elected President OF
the United States last November so far as
the votes OF large majority OF the only
people who are fit to be rulers, or who can
Justly be considered q part OF the govern.
ing class. were concerned. Ii Mr.. HAYES
had received in Louisiana Il majority Of the
votes Of the people who control that State,
Mr.. PACKARD would have been able to main
tain his position as Governor without any
army to assist him in so doing. He would
have experienced no more difficulty in the
task than Governor KEMPER does in holding
his office. But Mr.. HAYES didnot receive the
support OF any considerable number OF the
voters in Louisiana who arc qualified to
take part in governmental affairs. Those
who voted for him were mere children, so
tosspeak-ignorant negroes-led by few
unprincipled whites. The strength OF Mr..
HAYES in November last may be accurately
measured by the strength OF PACKARD to-
day. 1t amounted to just nothing. The
whole OF it was based upon military power.
We do not call attention to this fact to re-
proach the President Or to throw doubt
upon his title to the Office he holds. This
title, as we have heretofore said, is now
perfectly good. 1t was "healed" by Con-
gress. 1t is just as good now rs ii
he had received a lawful majority OF
the electoral votes OF the whole country.
And we have no idea that it will ever be
questioned in any court Of justice. Our
object is only to perpetuate remembrance
of the evil deeds OF the villains who brought
ruin upon the South, converting the rich
est, happiest, and most prosperous section
OF the Union into q land OF poverty. strife,
and dissatisfaction. Those people ought
never to be forgiven. Their crime is one
that must he handed down to posterity as u
warning to future conquerors. ERosTEA-
TUs was patriot and philsnthropist as
contrasted with them. Let them pay the
penalty OF their unnatural and unparalleled
crime.