Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-02-23


poll to poll all day, voting every where. The
largest vote ever cast before in Charleston county
bad been 2o,GOJ, Yet on election day, although
wv To COO negroes were brbed or len by fear Of
starvation TO refrain from voting, and although 800
or zoo who did vote cast the Democratic ticket, the
total vote thrown reached the amazing figure OF
y 81, and the county went Republican by 3gl
vntes-6,0OO having been the average majority in
tho past. In counties terrorized by the whites
white brayOes rode from poll to poll, voted time
and again. Hundreds OF GeOryians and North
CIrOlinisns crossed the borders and Joined in the
work. In Edgefieii county the influx OF Georgians
anu the repeating wore simply tremendous. The
total number OF voters in that county according to
thn recent state census (Which was Denounced as
exaggcranng the population by tho Democratic
press, because the census takers paid by fee
o hVe cents or every name recorded. instead Of by
salary b Is Il23. and the county has always, hithcr
to, gone Republican by I,OD0 yet although 90
negroes certainly, and an unknown number above
That, were induced by money or fear Of starvation
To refrain from voting. the total number o. vote:
cast was 1929 and the De carried the county
by the astounding and te.l-tale majority OF B. 22j
The votes were fairly counted, for Cham
beriain had placed one Democrat and two
Republicans at each poll. The precinct
manager returned the actual vote the
county managers corrected obvious errors
The State board OF canvassers exercised the
authority which it had welded unques-
toned Tor eight years, but every quibbit
was urged against it by the Democrats, and
1t was finally dragged before the supreme
court.
The writer says if the Republicans uiti,
matcly prevail there will be rival Cover
nors and Legislatures in South Carolina
alter the Louisiana fashion. The Demo
Gratis are reused to the last degree they
are in the mood to rule or ruin.
There is almost reign OF anarchy; the negroe:
are burning and stealing; tho whites are shooting
"a ba Hat MIL ,nrfu "a,
crimesan ARRAYS. The races here are so worked
up that anything nay cause bloody conflict; the
whites could probably defeat 4 negroes easily
and slaughter them like dogs, hut he torch, The
negroes would fire Charleston IN iousand places
ii driven to bay the whites knOy his and restrain
the young men; the negroes XXI il, too, and are
accordingly innocent and maevo =.
The writer has no faith l.. be talked-o
reconciliation of the South /, the North
The hatred of the Inundated Southern
people was absolutely unfathomable; and
it yet continues. The talk about the heal
ing OF the recent wounds. the filling up OIL
the bloody chasm. the reconciliation of the
sections, etc, is opposed to common sense
reason, the experience of ages, and the
facts in the case The South is a conquered
land, and the SOutherners. still retain.
ing their disgust for the commercial
and equalizing spirit of the North
have had national hatred added to
national antipathy by their defeat
Exceptionally, eourtesies are exchanged
but they only prove the rule. While the
hatred OF the North is largely modified into
hatred Tor the Republican party, attach
meht to the Democracy is too much like
that of hard-pressed soldiers to mutneer'
in the enemies camp. The gl0ries of the
lost cause and the brilliant deeds of the
Confederate army are taught every child
Ii Is taught resolution to avenge the
slaughter of its heroes zone of these days. VI
The histories of Pollard and A. ii. Stephens
are text books in every white school. The
professions of conventions to abide the
results of the war are for effect. Beyond all
things the Southerners would rejoice to
be Independent. But they will not engage
the North single-handed, especially with
the negroes behind them. But solid
South. a subdued colored race, and for
cign war might give an opportunity. Next
to separation the South would relish ruling
in the Union. through solid South and a
divided North.
Three evils and dangers would follow
Southern supremacy. First, tremendous
rush for office, with great clamor for in
ternal improvements in the South. Second,
n pressure OF Southern claims of all kinds,
direct and indirect Third, the danger of a
warlike foreign policy. Students OF
Southern character may reflect upon them.
Whenever they dare, the Southerners will
disff anchise the blacks outright, and now,
where they control, they practically do it.
NOn-payment of taxes--even the poll-tax-
DISTINGUISHES them in Georgia. The fire.
caters would compel the poor whites to
submit to an educational test if they could
eliminate the negro in no other way. If the
North lets them alone they will 90 as far
toward restricting liberty as they dare with
black codes-as they did in the first Legis-
luture after the war, before universal suf-
frage.
The negroes take easy to oratory and
public meetings, tho lobby. and ring man
agement and intolerance. On national
questions they follow Northern Republicans
implicitly; III homo matters they show in
dependence. 1t is said they are led by
demagogues they really rule the dema-
gogues. They are jealous of dictstiOn, of
trespasses and arr, SITS. The fear of being
re enslayed will move them in an instant.
Such is the picture drawn by this native
OF the South. We must regard it as one of
the most truthful and impartial descrip-
tons thus far given of the condition of
Southern affairs. The irresistible concl u
sion from the facts presented Is, that the
irrepressible conflict between two civiliza-
lions is not yet quoted The North has a
great duty. to be discharged with uryield-
ing power end patience. Liberty, justice.
intelligence, equal rights. peace, and econ
omy must be sought and maintained. This
will never bs done through Buchana and
Tildens, and the worst thing that could
happen to South Carolina, and to every
Southern State, would be restoration Of
Democratic control Of the government.