Daily Kennebec journal., 1877-04-21
IlaiIp Nnnrbst sournal
Arrogance of the Bulldozers.
AU ~ u - II A,
Saturday Morning, April 81, 1877.

The conclllatory poHcy Oh the AteS''
is evidently not working out better
spirit in the South. The crack oil the Dull
dozers' whip resounds louder and fiercer
than ever since Chamberlain yielded.
Every step gained by his opponents has
served to increase the arrogance of the
Southern democracy. Notwithstanding
his pledges to await the decisions of the
courts in regard TO the State officers hold
ing their positions under Chamberlain,
the usurper Hampton has turned them out
and sealed the doors of their offices
against them. Little cares he or his fel-
-bulldozers for his promises to Presi-
dent HAYES, whose confidence they so
outrageousy abuse. Hampton never in
tended to keep his pledges. Bound to the
purpose of extinguishing republicanism
in the State through the power attained by
control of the State government, he will
go on step by step for the consummation
of the plans necessary TO accomplish his
object, paying no regard whatever to the
promises he breaks.
In Louisiana the same arrogant spirit
prevails among the bulldozers. The Com
mission it appears have felt in some meas
ure its effects The democratic press oil
New Orleans has lectured and threat
ened the board by turns, giving them TO
understand they had nothing to do but
recognize Nichols and return to WASH
ington. Any other course, any attempt
to investigate and discover facts necessary
to fair and jus. decision, it was plainly
hinted would lead to trouble and violence.
If reports are true the Commission has
not met with very courteous treatment
from the Nichols faction, and some OF the
members at least were not backward In
resentng the treatment received, nor do
they hesitate to make known their belief
in Packard's election and right to hold the
Office of Governor. The talk OF Mr.. Mac
Veagh to the Nichols official who was
boastng of The force that could be brought
10 support Nichols has the right ring in
it. IL don't know" said MacVeagh,
"about the matter of brute force; we did
not come here to look into that; but it
strikes me there are unemployed men
enough In my district who would be glad
to come down here and try conclusions
with the White League on an issue OF that
sort"
But the demands of the bulldozers have
only begun in asking the recognition OF
Hampton and Nichols. Their object is
the complete notification of the constitu-
tional amendments and the laws passed
for their enforcement bearing upon the
rights of the colored people. This object
was cloaked while they had doubts about
the success of their plans to gain posses
sion Of the governments of South Caro-
lima and Louisiana, but now the cloak is
being thrown off, and the word is passing
along the lines of the democratic party
that there must be an advance in the di-
rection indicated. The New York World
of Wednesday gives the signal tor ad
vance in an editorial in which IL says:
"The Southern States will yet be under
the republican hammer, even when the
troops are Withdrawn. The republican
party has since 1866 put whole mass OF
Legislation on the Federal statute-book to
enable the President to interfere in their
elections by supervisors. marsha.s and the
army. Those laws must be repealed or
made dead letter before the Southern
States can be as self-governing as up to
1861, and before the judgments of the
Supreme Court can have free course and
be glorifed. VIII the South trust the Ad-
ministration without further guarantees
Has it kept faith with the carpet-baggers,
its partners in election frauds ?"
The insulting tenor of this language
toward the administration is quite as no.
ticeable as the arrogance of the demand
which il makes, that the laws for the Sc
curing of fair elections, either North or
South--for they apply equally to both sec
tions-shall "be repealed or made dead
letter." Speaking of the Supreme Court
and the elective franchise. the World far
ther says In the same article; THAT
Court has said that the United States
have no voters to protect, because
the right to vote comes from the States
The republican party denies this. and puts
laws on the statute-book which direct and
enable Federal officers to interfere with
voting in the States. Self-governmen,
and Home Rule demand the repeal of all
this vicious legislation, and til it is done
the South must stand by its arms, which
arms are its democratic alliances with
the North and West, not for any mere par
tisan elevation of particular men. but for
the constitutional right of each State TO be
free from such alien interference and die
tation. When President Hayes. in sol
emn message to Congress. urges the re-
peal Of all the legislation to which we re-
fer, and the republican members of tn,
House and Senate really vote to repeal it