The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-03
REDFIELD'S LAST LETTER.
How "The Solid Southo Game was
Playcd-Some Remarks upon "Dou.
bic Government'' in the South and
Especially in South Carolina.

Especially in South Carolina.
Correspondence Of tho Cincinnati Com
nlcrclal,1
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, December
2l.-Lately l met n Northern Demo
crat no was as mad rs a dog with q
tin kettle Tied to his tail, und not
without a reason, from his point of
view, equally substantial. "Why,"
said lie, in an outburst of Indignation,
"if it hadn't been for the yelp Of Sol
id South, Solid South, we would have
carried Ohio and Pennsylvania. The
Radicals played upon the fears Of the
people by pointing to the fact that the
South was solid for Tilden. That very
thing defeated US in those two States,
to say nothing of Wisconsin and the
Pacific slope. And now, after defeat
ing us in the North Ivy the Solid South
bugaboo, they say the South. wasn't
solid after all, and proceed to take
from US South Carolina, Louisiana
and Florida! Did you ever hear of
such impudence? But they have
played this Solid South card the last
time. Hereafter they will have to
have some other stock in trade" And
the Democrat consoled himself with
this reflection.
So, Republican, orators, you must
spring a new issue for 1850 and inter-
mediate elections. You started the
country by the cry of q solid South,
when, in fact, tho South wasn't solid
after all.
What will be the result of the pres
ent complication in South Carolina ?
Those who expect to find any perma-
nent solution Of the difficulty other
than turning the State over to the
Democrats-that is, the white people
can undeceive themselves. Social.
ed Republican government is at an end
there, aud If, perchanco, Chamberlain
continues to act as Governor, he will
be powerless.
What is such a government rs his in
South Carolina and Kellogg's in T.oui'
siana good for anyway? They cannot
stand alone an hour if Federal protec-
ton is withdrawn, and with that pro
lection they arc powerless to command
respect or enforce law. ] fail to see
what good is to come, from q continu.
ance OF an attempt to uphold so-called
Republican governments In these
States.
The double government at present
in South Carolina is the fourth of the
sort we have had in tho Southern
States since the war. You remember
the two-headed government i'll Ala
bama that was for 50 long u time a nui'
sance and. q shame. You remember
the appeals to Washington, the fights
and turmoil. 1t is all over, and Ala
bama is at peace. Then there was the
double government in Arkansas.
Brooks at tho head Of one end aud
Baxter at tho other. 1t is over; the
white people, that is to say the Democ-
racy, are i'm power. Old Joe Brooks
has u postoffice, and there is peace III
Arkansas. Louisiana had q long ex-
porience with a double government,
and, indeed, has it now, for McEnery
has never entirely subsidized. After
January she will have more Of it, for
Nichols and Packard will both DO i'll
augurated.
The reason that the Republican par
ty is q failure in the Cotton States is
because there is no white element in
it except the office holders. Two
blacks cannot conduct good govern
ment, and if they could, 1 don't be-
lieve the whites would long submit to
it. These agitators in the Cotton
States are rehcllious against negro rule
where the negroes are in the majority.
That is the truth of the matter.
And you need not look for peace
under so-called Republican govern
mcnt in the Cotton States, unless some
white material can be got into the
Republican party. tits the talk here
that Hayes, if inaugurated, may at
tempt to build up the shattered Rcpub-
lican party in the Southern States. 1t
can be doue, but the effort will require
skill and courage, and the cutting
loose from numerous carpet-baggers
who have brought shame aud disgrace
upon the very name of Republican,.
There is a good opportunity for
statesmen to come to the front about
this time if there are any in the coun-
try. II. '. II.