National Republican., 1877-11-20
southcrn Sense OF Justice.

The Raleigh IN. C.) Observer, having fallen
into an cf'usivc mood, makes s,mc ad.
missions that arc worthy Of note. In the
first place, it displays glccIul feeling over
the fac: that the ku-Klux, whose prosCcu-
tiOns IL declares we're insti.nt, d by Tie
Federal authorities, have escaped c1ndi:n
punishment These men. who, in disguis.,
and under the cover Of night, had filed
Cicir own history with a record Of atrocities
and crimes that brings shame to the check
Of civilization, have not been punished rs
their crimes deserved. The Obsrrer is can.
did cnon. h to admi: that these ''r,rosecuti0Rs
T'rc abandoned ICcGns Of the impOSsibihiy
Of securing It c0sri, ton" This impossibility
to secure conviction did not arise from any
want of proof as to guilt, for that WAS not
even denied; but the difficulties that lay in
the path to conviction were conting cent uron
the fact that the people and courts had de
termncd, no matter how deep or patent the
guilt, that convictions ghOuld not cnsue.
This YVES the paSOn, in connection with 9TH
crs, perhaps, why justice was dis,,rmcd and
assls,inations, muulcrs, and other atr0citi, :
went unpunishCd, and the offenders are to-
day GlOTying in their shame, while they are
hOnorcd by their sympathzing ncighbols
and friends.
The OLScyrcr also admits the truth Of the
statement that the State courts OF South
Carolina have been busy in pro>ocutin. !c.uI-
ing Republicans with abundant Success
This fact s npldc occasion for Democratic
rejoicing. The guilt OF these leadln. Re
publicins Is no more apparent under the
maIni:yng power Of outright perjury than
llld offended, while the latter had served,
tn" Democratic power of that region, and
the one must 10 free, while the other must
pay tn" p'naiiJ "i trunp,Ii-up charges, that
have been sustained by the intrIpoSitiOn of
O!hcr crimes quite ~ dark as any brought
against the accused.
The spirit Il the MS'7r,r IL not that OF
Etirnc.ss and justice, hut Of rxultatiun over
tlr double fact that the mlr,lcrpus ku-EluX
have escaped the just I.nalriv. Of their
b'"ndy cI,mrS, While prminrnt Rcuuhl'-
GrN &rc hc.Ag hlcccsmuIly lroscutcd for
c"Im'+ that are trLml ed up and Sustained
by lcriurirs nS black ~ pcrdition itself
Tn, is pointed at us IN err OF rucl.,ution,
rat"rnity, and tood feeling; hut it will be
bL;rcn and shurt-l lived i. justice is to he one
n''rl md punishment only matter
OF prejudice and political prrsccu.
ton. We would not screen Re
publican who has Lccn guilty OF crime,
Let each iLw-brcn;cr whether Democrat or
Republican, he treated alike in mrting out
punishment. "l"tno guilty man cs,qll c '
II man murders his ncighbur 70 keep HIM
from voting, hang him. II Republican Is
guilty OF forgery, or bribery, or perjury, let
linn be brought to justice also. But let ius-
ttcc be cven-handcd, and dealt out to all
Offenders "wilhOut fear favor, or the hope ul
reward" If POPE dciiauds SNALIS Of 500,
let him he punished for the fraud but do
not permit him to escape punishment lul
the reason that PORE is white and SMALLs
wears black skin.
II these are the legitimate fruits Of paci-
fcation, they will never answer u high sense
oi honor and justice among candid men
""o ~ b'''' 'hiN h'tNlDn as u COillllOn DlOlntI-
hood, bound together by mutual respect and
confidence. Nothing short of pElcti o.
equality before the law will subserv. the
ends oi reconciliation and paclication An
attempt 20 fraternizc the whole country ON
any other premises will prove miserable
failure. The Union men OF this nation
have been duped so long and 80 en-
tirely by Southern pretenses and assurances
that have never been kept in good faith
that they will not accept any bait now Of
fered until IL has been examined, tested, and
proved. The utter fiithlessness of the
Bouth In regard to the terms and laws ol
reconstruction at the time and since the
close of the war has taught the North q
lesson that those who pretend to desire
for qualification and Cancellation now are nC
more TO be trusted than the murderous Ru'