Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-04-17
From the Boston rrarellerl
Ine Crack OF the WHIP.

The Crack of the Whip.
Whenever, during the domination Of
the slave power in this nation, a petition
was presented to Congress, or strong
public demonstration was anywhere made
in behalf of emancipation, the lords OF
the plantation arose in the Senate, in the
House, in the press and in the pulpit at
the South, and fiourished the whip of nu-
LITIGATION and violence in the face of the
North. And the blacklist page in our his
tory is that which records the abject sub
mission of nation OF boosted free men
to this systematic domineering. With the
most shameful slacrity did the No,hern
men bare their backs to this political and
social lashing, and if there were few
among us who stood cut manfully and
squarely against the national disgrace
there were thousands who Joined in the
mad hunt after the free soil scalps. 1t
was only after years of this demoralizIng
rule, after the decorating process became
uubearable to the most slavish human ma
ture. after the nation had all but sunk
back into a condition so low that it was
almost unfit for self-government, that the
crack of the whip aroused the people to
the evil which was enveloping them In It's
deadly tolls, and caused them to assert
their manhood.
Is there danger Of a relapse Evil new
er sleeps. The instruments Of darkness,
driven to their hiding places by the agen-
cies of light, have never abated their an
imosities. They have practiced conceal
ment-they have not reformed. And Is
the nation again bowling down to this idol
of chivalric bombast? There are danger
Gus signs. There are indications that the
offspring of slavery have learned of their
lordly ancestors the virtue OF the whip,
and they are cracking 1t vigorously about
the ears of the ~ Yankees" Wade lIamp-
tons oratorical progress" to Washing
ton was but a sample of the whole. "My
people tell me to stand my ground, and |
will stand" said he, 81 will ask no favors
Of the President, and will accept no COM
promise" The crack Of the same whip
comes up from Louisiana. 81 hope that
our people" says Congressman Ellis,
"will by no act give even coloring OF
acceptance to any decision Of Louisiana
matters by the commission. We must
prepare to resist the decree if it is un-
favorable. A bold assestion OF our rights
will bring Us victory in the end" Thus,
where the republicans are beaten they
must submit quitely, but where the bull
dozers are beaten, their resort must be to
violence. THIS IS the threat which is ex-
pected to reverse the action of the Lou
isiana Returning Board and throw dis
credit upon the Presidential election. But
4 more significant crack of the whip is that
of one Of the Maryland representatives
when asked in relation to the reported de-
sign of TildeD TO institute legal proceed.
ing to Dust President Hayes from his office.
If Mr.. Hayes" said Mr.. Merrick-and
mark well the point of his threat, the
sharp crack Of this whip-"if Mr.. Hayes
does not remove the troops within rca-
sonabc time from both the Sou ,hern States
and restore them to home rule and pros
perity, you may look for some such move
ment on the part Of the democracy.
There is the snap Of the same old lash
about this language, and it ought to
arOuse Rob ToOmhs IN renew his threat
Of calling the roll Of his slaves on Bunker
Hill. The vassalage which the oligar.
chists hope to establish will not be far
below the standard of Toombs' fondest
dream. And now let Us watch, and wait
aud see If this nation will be dashed into
obedience by men whom any other gov.
eminent would have hung for crimes far
less than theirs.