Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-05-12
IlaiIu 4stnntbct Sournal
AU q u - IA,
Saturday Morning, May IL, 1877.
From the Albany Journal.
The Southern Democracy.

We have been told over and over again
that republican rule has been disastrous to
the Southern States; that when the demo-
Gratis secured control there would be a
great reform and material development
and that the financial and general pros
perity of these States demanded such q
change. There is no test like practical
experience. What democratic rule prom
ises and what democratic rule does are
entirely different things. Georgia has
now for years been under democratic
sway. and yet the other day Georgia de-
liberately voted to repudiate portion OF
her indebtedness. Whatever other faults
republicans have committed, they have
never been regulators.
South Carolina has just passed under
democratic control, and almost the first
act under the new regime is to raise a
question about honorably meeting the
financial obligations of the State. 1t is
now reported that after much elaboration.
the Committee of the Legislature has de-
termined to make provision for the inter-
est on the State debt. But that there
should ever have been any question on
this point at all shows very loose notion
respecting public obligations. 1t is only
one door removed from the actual repudl-
alton of Georgia. We need not refer to
the senseless and pitiful performance of
the Legislature in extorting AFFECT apollo
ges from the republican members for hav.
ing recognized and sustained Chamber
lain. Such a wanton and disreputable
proceeding is calculated to raise doubt
of the capacity Of its perpetrators for self
government. But, though we might pass
this by as simply malevolent and foolish
exhibition, when 1t comes to the question
of disregarding the public obligations and
destroying the public credit it is much
more serions matter.
Alabama is another case in point. Three
years ago the democrats, by the same
kind of violent and lawless tactics which
have been employed to repossess the
whole South, secured control of the State
government. and we were promised a
grand change for the better. What is the
RESULT Instead of an improvement,
marked deterioration of most interests
The taxes are as high, and in some cases
higher than under republican rule. The
public works, instead OF being maintained
have declined. Property and especially
real estate has suffered enormously and
cannot be disposed Of at any price. La
Dor languishes and wages have sunk to a
nominal figure. Throughout the State
there Is a general depreciation and indus
try and trade are alike paralyzed. OF
course, Alabama shares the general de-
preston with other portions of the coun-
try, but there has been no such measure
of relief under democratic rule as was
promised. Ii democracy conldn't pre-
vent the business blight, it might at least
If there was any virtue in its professions
have reduced expenses and taxes. If
republicanism was as extravagant and
corrupt as had been represented, if DEM
ocracy was as reformatory in its influence
as had been boosted. an improvement in
what was directly under the control of
the government might have been exhibit
ted. But even this is worse rather than
better.
Instead of promoting good government,
the ruling forces in Alabama appear to
have devoted themselves to terrifying
their own power and deprivlng the re-
publicans of any possibility of success.
They have framed their election laws In
such way as to give them complete con-
troll, no matter what the public will. In
the appointment of inspectors, in the
gerrymandering of districts, IN the desig-
nation of places ofregistration and voting
they have fixed the whole machinery to
accomplish their own purpose. There is
place in Alabama, but thus far it is the
peace Of resistless force on the one side
and hopeless acquiesence on the other