The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-04-26
THE SOUTHERN POLICY.

4 ILL NOU IAGnN. I UuIUI.
! The Presidents new Southern policy
| is about to be submitted to the test of
practical operation. The Federal
troops have been withdrawn from the
support Of Governor Chamberlain, and
the control of the State of South Caro-
lima surrendered to the pretender
Hampton. For this new policy, which
may yet be enforced in Louisiana as
well as South Carolina, we hope the
best results, but it is almost hoping
against hope. We do not regard it as
just. We look upon it as a concession
to that old Hateful spirit Of caste which
first debauched the morals of the white
Southern people, next made cravens Of
nearly all Northern politicians, Wheth-
er Wings or Democrats, and finally
plunged the country into the horrors of
civil war; General Hampton has Civ
Ell his word of honor that he will pro-
tect white and black citizens alike in
the exercise of all their political, civil,
and public rights. We hope he will
keep his word; but we cannot forget
that General Hampton is the author Of
the mississippi PLAN of carrying pol
itical campaigns. That plan compri-
ses, as its chief features, intimidation
and assassination It is above all
things cruel It is desperately wicked
1t is vindictive. 1t is murderous in all
it's methods, and it's dead victims, bur-
lied and unburied, attest it's brutality
and savage malignity. But this is not
all: Its adoption was a blow at the
vital principle of all free government
manhood suffrage. Its prosecution
in Mississippi was deliberate effort
to SO overcome the majority of the le-
gal voters of the State as to enable the
minority to gain control Of it's govern
ment; and the effort was successful.
Having conquered Mississippi, General
Hampton migrated to South Carolina,
heralding his advance with the procla-
nation that he would apply the Mis-
|sissippi plan to the politics of that
State. He Immediately proceeded to
organize the Democratic party of South
Carolina into regiments of armed SOL
diers, clubbing them rifle clubs. The
public is familiar with the details of
the Hampton campaign. It was, in
earlier part at least, campaign of in
timidation and assassination. Those
Republicans who could not be intirni-
dated were shot, and by such means
/ Wade Hampton obtained a certain
status in the courts as claimant for
the chief Office in the State. These are
facts of history. What bearing have
they upon the problem of free govern
ment? In the general melee about the
ballot-boxes, in which rifles and swords
and pistols and even cannon have
played SO conspicuous part, what has
become Of freedom Of opinion and of
political action what has become of
the fundamental idea and prop of the
Republic, free, equal, manhood suf-
frage? General Hampton promises to
protect the political rights and property
rights of all citizens! But how did he
reach the chief executive office? By
trampling ruthlessly upon every right
of a majority Of the freemen of the
State. Who can trust the word of
honor of such q man in crisis where
the affairs Of a government "of the
people, by the people, and for the peo-
pie" are at stake? Who does not per-
ceive that General Hampton mounts to
office only through the destruction of
the vital principle Of our representative
government? If any man holds Office
in this country by any other means
than the free will Of a majority of the
people he is a usurper. But it cannot
be disputed that Hampton is about to
exercise the powers Of Governor
| ~ no Of 81
people of South Carolina It matters
not by what authority he is placed in
the executive Office. He cannot bel
there at all except by wrong-doing.
Every time he signs his name as Gov
ernor he certifes that the freedom of
suffrage has been violated. Every
time he issues an executive order he
gives notice to the world that the
State of South Carolina is in the politi-
cal control of q minOrity-under the
rule of a mob! This is the serious,
the startling feature of the South Car
DINA and Louisiana situation. It is
not simply the misfortune of Demo-
cratic control of those States, though
that is bad enough, since such control
cannot but result in the almost infinite
suffering Of the colored citizens; but it
is realization of the portentious fact
that it is possible for a mob of armed
militia to overthrow legal State gov
eminent and usurp the places of the
legally chosen Stale officials; and this,
too, with the tactic, if not actual, open,
sanction Of the national government.
1t is to be hoped that we may yet be
spared the realization of such state
Of things in Louisiana,-Imter- Ocean,
rDru Ou OA0m