Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-11-14
PUBLISHED DAILY AND TRI-WEEKLY By
EDGAR 4NOwDEN:
THURSDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER Il


The main reason the radicals have tor asSum-
iog that the negroes in tho South were intiml'
dated from voting for the republican candidates
is that in certain districts (which the negroes are
in the majority conservative candidates were
elected. Now every southern mar knows that
this is no reason at all, aud if northern people
we're little more familiar with the affairs of the
southern portion Of their country they would
not be deceived quite so easily about the char
acter of their fellow citizens of the South. Ii
the South is q unit on any one question 1t is on
that relating to the treatment Of the negro. Tor
every white man there knows that his prosperity
and happiness depends 10 no small degree upon
the we'll being and contentment of his colored
neighbors; and what is true OF one district IN
the South 10 regard to that question is true OF
every other. The negro maj orty in tho districts
10 which intimidation is said to have been used is
but little no greater than it is in the Petersburg
or black district, in this State. and yet neither
Mr.. Jorgensen, the republican congressman
elected from that district, ror any one else, can
say trutbfu|ly that intimidation was attempt
ed there. It is we'll known fact, however,
that many negroes 10 that district did vote for
Mr. Jorgenssn's conservative opponent. LIZ
this district it is also we'll Known that many
negroes voted for General Huaton, and in this
city, while many of them voted for the demo-
cratic greenback candidate, not single one
voted for tho republican candidate. The ne'
groes in tho South are by no means the most
intelligent class of the population, and it has
taken them long time to find out who are
their real friends. but it has at las dawned
upon them that their Interests are deeply in'
volyed with thcs, Of the people among whom
they live, and having at least sense enoush to
know on which side their bread is buttered,
they have commenced to vote with their white
fellow citizsns, and the radical assertion that
they have been inundated is Waaton and
grstuitous aspersion upon both their courage
and Intelligence. If they havo not sense enough
to vote intelligently why give them the ballot ?
and with a republican Presiden. to back them,
what rational man believes that negro ma
jority of FIVE thousand. or 67e hundred, in a
district, would allow itself to be kept away from
the polls Doubtless the Same means used to
influence votes in the North we're adopted 10
South, and money and promises are as otteo-
tive there as elsewhere, bnt no ono at all IA
miliar With southern affairs believes that single
negro was kept away from the pulls by fear Of
personal violence, and the attempts to prove
that intimidation was resorted TO are nothing
more than efforts to create party capital Tor the
next presidential campaign. That they are In.
huential means for the attaiom cot of the end
10 view is proved By the Presidents new So.
called southern policy. and by the support 1t te
ceiYes from both the factions il his plrty-ln
fact by the consolidation of those two factions,
which it seems to have effected.
When General Johnston said, the other day,
that long before 1880 the 'solid South" aud
the "solid North" will be forgotten terms. he
could not have heard OF the late change thai
has taken place 10 the Presidents expressions
respecting the southern people. and.his implied
intention of having as mauy white men Of the
South prosecuted SO could be arrested upon
the afidavis of ignorant and irresponsible De-
groes, which afhdavits, as has often been proved,
can be bought in unlimited numbers in the
South for a dollar apiece. Before the change
10 Mr.. Hayes expressions to which we allude
had occurred, the southern people, 10 order to
advance their individual, as we'll as collective
interests, If for no mere laudablo purpose. had
determined to be moro national and less sec
tionsl in their politics. The surcease Of tho
injury and the insult to which they had been
subjected during the administration of General
Grant, and. which was brought about solely by
the influence Of the large majority by which
Mr. Tilden was elected President, had put them
under what, so great was their gratitude. they
considered obligations to their friends in the
North, aud, though they were intent upon Sc.
curing democratic President 10 1850, they
really believed that the success OF their efforts
would be national blessing, and rebound as
much to the North as to tic South
But, while the vast majority Of them
were striving for democratic success,
and republioanism only had nominal cxis-
tenoe, the leaven of independentism was be-
ginning to spread. and large number Of those
who had been forced into tho democratic ranks
By radical oppression had begun to think
that there was no longer any necessity
for them to remain in these ranks, and that
the time had come to oppose democracy 10 its
stronghold. All this, however, has now been
done away with by tho Presidents wanton and
voluntary asperson upon the motives and
character of bis fellow citizaus of the South,
md by the acclaim with which that aspersion
is hailed by the republicans of the North. That
it was useless as q party measure and was re.
sorted to merely to reinstste himself in the
affections of the ultra men of his party is proved
by the recent elections, for they showed that
.r.kh L. l.