Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-04-20
STAND BY THE PRESIDENT.
His Southern Policy wa Restore Peace and
Property, and Build Up Strong Repub-
iiedn Fdrty in ne Southern States.

EDITOR BLADE;--I regret 20 see dis
position on the part Of some good and
true Republicans to withhold their support
from, while others openly oppose the Pres
ident in his efforts to solve the difficulties
which have for several years 40 distracted
the Southern States. The President has
made new departure, and all concede that
his purposes are good. Then, why not
give him such support "a may he necessary
to iairly test his method for securing peace
ard prosperity throughout the whole conn.
try? take Tor granted that every person
isanxiOus to see order restored at the South
and that none desire TO see State govern
ments kept in existence by the power of
United States soldiers. True, we would
all sec the colored people Of the South pro-
tected in the full enjoyment of their guar.
nnteed rights, even though to secure such a
result II may be necessary to keep n small
army In every Southern State. But is it
necessary TO keep small army there for
the protection OF the colored people? That
is just the question which the President
proposes to solve, and IN all efforts in that
direction he should have the hearty sup
port Of every citizen.
The writer Of this has given the subject
no little thought and investigation Over
year ago he spent about one month in
the South, chiefly in Louisiana, and dur
ing his stay there interviewed the lending
men, as well as the common people of diff
terent shades Of opinion, and not doubt
was left upon his mind m to the proper
solution of the difficulties which have been
SO disastrous to the South. Few persons
have visited that section prepared to calm
ly and impartially investigate { he situation,
who have not been Satisfied that n change
Of policy ia demanded.
IA | have said, we all have felt Lcenly
sensitive TO the fact that the colorcd people
of that section must he protected and ed
ucated, and We have too generally assumed
that this protection and education would
not he extended tn them voluntarily bythe
white people Of the South. Much of this
sentiment has its root in the conduct of the
whites toward the colored people while
slavery existed, and many greatly magni-
fy the color line at the South. That line
IL largely imaginary. 1t is no more dis.
tinct at the South than ut the North in T.
deed, the Solhern whites have always been
surrounded by blacks and do not think MS
much about color as we do here at the
North.
That the Southern people have felt out
ragged by what is known as carpet-b bag rule,
aud that they have been grossly outraged
through that source, there cannot be a
doubt. l met Northern men in New Or.
lenns-men who were Republicans when
living in Ohio-suLstnntial business men
who declared themselves Republicans
still-yet they bitterly denounced the car.
pet-bng government and said they would
be ashamed to attempt its defense. At the
time it was perhaps quite impossible 10 pre-
vent inscriptions Northern Adventures
from taking advantage of the ignorant col.
ored people and the cowed spirit of the
Southern whites to secure power and plum
der; but that such things should be per-
petuated, and maintained through the per-
suasive influence Of the sword, is not rea-
sonable.
That there are more colored than white
people in the distracted States, there is
not doubt; that it would be natural for
the colored people 10 vote with the Repub-
licans, is equally certain; but must stand
ing army he kept there to insure such a
vote? You cannot make the ignorant
blacks equal to the intelligent whites in
that manner, and 80 long as You attempt
to control the States by votes obtained in
that wny, just so long must you expect to
see color line-the mass Of the whites
against the power which thus rules them.
Now, how can the colored people be pro
tccted without this interference by the Cen
erai Government7 is question which the
reader will naturally ask will tell you
how it may be done, in my opinion. With
draw your troops-let the people of those
States govern their local affairs just aE other
fnf ana al I -
gacity ami influence Of the intelligent have
its weight there, as elsewhere, and there
will at once be an end to trouble But"
it Is SAID, "they will all be overwhelmingly
Democratic in that event" How do you
know that? True, up to this time, the
States which have so been treated have
given immense Democratic majorities but
wa, that not protest against the general
policy of the Republican Administration
towards the South rather than opposition
to Republican policy in other respects :?
Was it not Representatives in Congress
from those very States who broke their
Democraticshnckles last winter and secured
the peaceable Inauguration of President
Hayes, firmly believing that he would favor
policy which would secure peace and
prosperity to every State in the Union
Did they not give evidence of the fact
that large class of the best people of the
South stand ready to clasp hands with the
Republican party the moment it plants
itself upon the principles embodied in the
Presidents inaugural?
I" But how will the colored people be
cared for?" asks the reader. He will be
we'll cared for. With the white people of
the South divided, politically, as there is
every reason to believe will be the case,
each party will want colored votes. To get
colored votes, each party will favor
such measures as may be demanded to pro-
tect the interests and advance the intelli-
gence OF that people, just as each party at
the North strives to secure the votes Of for
eign-born citizens by liberal legislation in
their behalf.
This is the natural and only reasonable
solution of the Southern problem, by his
Southern policy. He has taken step
which deserves to be sustained by every
true friend of the South, and of the Cen
eral Government, in all sections Of the
country. Any other policy must result in
disaster, and at the end OF half century,
should the Government survive the shock,
peace and prosperity would be farther re-
moved than at present. 1t could not be
otherwise. Such government as now exists
in Louisiana is unnatural and must result
disastrously.
This is the proper time for the inAugu-
ration Of the new policy. 1t is four years
before another Presidential election will
occur. During those four years the South
ern wing Of the Republican party can be
made strong enough to insure full protec-
iion to all. The colored people will have
plenty Of home friends among the whites,
and we shall hear little or nothing about
the outrages, intimidation, and ditfran-
ehisement which characterized the elections
last fall. have not doubt but the Re
publicans, by judicious administration of
the Government for the next four years,
may safely count upon division Of the
Southern Electoral vote at the next Presi-
Dental elaction. The indications tending
to show that very many OF the most influ-
ential men at the South will be with rs al
the next Presidential election, should the
President I've sustained in carrying out his
policy, are certainly ample TO warrant the
belief that powerful Republican party
may be organized in the Southern States by
judicious aotion on the part Of the Admin