National Republican., 1877-10-05
KrPUBLIcAN OR CONFEDERATE.


Tho "non- partisan" politicians seem TO
be greatly disturbed because the Hon. LY-
MAN TREMAINE asked, in the late Repub-
lican State convention, the question, Are
the loyal men of New York ready to hand
the Government over to the possession of
the men who sought to destroy itr' What
there Is in this very pertinent inquiry to dis
turb the nerves or complacency Of any Amer
lean citizen who loves the Union and desires
to see all the fruits of the war to crush re-
bellion secured 10 all the people of the
United States we fhil to see. Mr.. TREMAINE
may have discovered, OF thought he did, a
disposition to yield these fruits into the
hands of those who had sought to destroy
the Union, and he asked question that
challenges the sympathy of every citizen
who stood by the Stars and Stripes during
the struggle to overcome revolt
If the people of the South had accepted
the situation at the close Of our unpleas-
antness and respected the rights guaranteed
TO the American citizen Of African descent
by the amendments to the Constitution
with becoming grnce-if they had tolerated
freedom of political opinion and action-if
they had respected the hvesof Republicans,
whito and black, throughout the late Con-
federate States-if there had been no White
Leagues, no murders, assassinations and in
6midations to interfere with the free exer-
ode of the rights of citi zenship; or, IL these
things had not been continued down to the
November elections of last year, then there
would be less pertinence to this interrogn-
tory, that seems to have given such offense
to "non-psrtisans." But up to and during
the last election outrages, intimidations and
gross i>terfesences with the right of opin-
fun sud sufffnge injected themselves into
the political history of this nation, and II is
neither strange nor reprehensible for the
average Republican, either North or South,
to inquire as to the future.
What the future intentions of the men
who sought to destroy the Government are
towards it, the country has no knowledge
or assurance beyond what is given by
HAMPTON, HILL and few other leading
spirits OF the late rebellion. They may be
very honest in their intentions, and have
no purpose that does not consist with the
future unity and harmony of the States in
national brotherhood but, after all, the
country has no guaranty from the great
mass of the Democracy of the South that
history will not repeat itself in the very
next election that cnsucs, should the Re-
publican party venture to assert its exist
ence and contend for superiority in those
States where il was supreme 80 long as the
people were left free 10 act in accordance
with their own convictions of right and
duty.
We would not throw a straw in the way
of reconciliation, paciiication and fraternity,
unless they are to come through a surren-
der of the dearest rights of the American
citizen. We say, let us be friends, and oc-
cupy everywhere throughout the country a
plane OF common brotherhood. All that is
required on the part of Southern citizens is
for them to respect all the requirements oil
the Constitution. When evidence is afford.
ed that they have reached that point, then
the question which is attracting 80 much
attention and criticism would not present
ltstH WIN 81 mum ptItiHtH't anu lotNt'
We have no confidence to believe that to-
day, if an effort was made to reOrganize the
Republican party in any of the late insur-
gent States, with the purpose of asserting
its numerical strength at the ballot-box in
future elections, it could he done with
safety to life and liberty. So long as the
Republican party remains dead to action
and the enemies of rcpublicansm
have il all their own way, oI
course they are pacifled and peaceful, and
sing hozannas to the Union and the Consti.
tuition, for solid South against divided
North virtually secures the control of the
Government to those who sought to de-
stroy it.r In this a solid South achieves
what 1t failed to accomplish by revolt, and
we have no doubt that it much prefers tC
rule the entire Union than to haveits power
confined to its own projected conicdera-
ton. Such a prospect has led to the often
sive inquiry, but those who rcprehend i,
will yet learn that it is not confined to Mr.
TREMAINE or to New York, but impresses
the Republican party throughout the en-
tire country.
THE sPEAKERsHIP.
The Democratic clans are gathering pre-