National Republican., 1878-09-10
UNITED SOUTH.

Politically, the Southern States, without
q solitary exception, are now unit. This
unity of feeling, purpose, and action has
been accomplished since the last Presi-
Dental election, for in that struggle three
Of the Southern States gave majorities for
the Republican candidates in spite Of every
improper appliance that could be brought
against Republican success by the Demo-
cratic party. Fraud, corruption and intimi-
dntion were resorted to, that solid South
might be presented to tho world and q
Democmtic President might be declared
elected; but all these failed In three of the
southern States, and President HAYES was
declared elected by the last resort of Demo-
cratic ingenuity, which eliminated in an
Electoral Commission. Then tho Republi-
cans held three States.
In ls72, four years before, the following
Southern States gave General GRANT. de-
cided maiorities: Alabama, lOs23; Arkan-
sas, 3,3i6; Florida, 1896; Louisiana, 4,G3i
Mississippi, 3l,ss7; North Carolina, 2i,675
South Carolina, 1851; West Virginia,
2,s6i. Here are eight States in the South
which in 1872 gave an aggregate majority
for the Republican ticket of 133,137. Now
all the States vote solid for the Democratic
cause without any real or proper change in
the sentiment Of the people, rs q free and
untrammeled election would demonstrate.
1t is natural inquiry, what has become of
the party In those States which in 1872
rolled up these majorities on the Repub-
lican side? There has been no marked
change Of public sentiment. Ii every Re-
publican could be protected in his political
rights those States would speak out as EN-
phaticaly for the Republican inith now as
they did then. Three of them were saved
to Republicanism in 1876 in spite of
fraud and bull-dozinp, hut in the others
tho Republican majorties were literally
wiped out by rife clubs, outrage, violence,
and assassination, under reign of terror.
The laws have been trampled under foot.
The rights of citizenship have been utterly
outraged and overthrown by total disre.
gard of constitutional guarantees and
cruel tyranny that borders on bar barism.
Aud all this exists and is tolerated under
pretended republican form of govern
ment, where, unless our Constitution is n
delusion and our laws are mere glittering
gcneralties, without meaning and effect,
every American citizen is entitled to pro-
lection in his every right and privilege
guaranteed to him therein. The South is
not solid under the dictate of principle, for
If the people there were free to act and
speak In accordance with their real views,
tho South, like the North, would Be di-
vided in sentiment and action, and at least
six Of the nine States enumerated would
speak out in emphatic majorities on the
side of Repubhcanism.
The truth Is, the Democrats of the South
have resolved to crush Republicanism out
of that section by every available agency,
no matter how dishonorable, unjust, or ne
flrious; and there does not appear to be
any more protection for the oppressed and
wronged people there now under the Con-
sttution than there would be If no Federal
Constitution and Government existed. 1t
is OF this feature of our political affairs in
this crisis that the people, North and South
who are not in accord with the Democratic
party and its practices and purposes, have
q right to complain, and against the worst
! consequences of which they should seek to
guard efficiently.
There is no way to meet a united South
, politically now except by united North.
1t must be met successfully in the pending
elections, or the worst possible consequences
will follow TO the whole country. The
hi Il, hoc
full S20O,000O00. These are not barred by
the Constitution, and all como within the
jurisdiction and action of Congress, from
which there is no appeal. II the next Con-
gress shall be Democratic, these claims, and
Hood yet to come, will all he paid, as Ger.
tanly as that party has the power under
Southern domination to lay them upon the
shoulders OF the people, and thus increase
the burden OF taxation. Already the South
alleges that the constitutional amendments
and the laws Of reconstruction are unconsti.
tutionul and void, and hence, when once IN
power, under that allegation, they will have
no more respect for the barriers which the
Constitution seemingly places between the
boundlcss claims of the rebel South and
their iull payment, than they had for the
Constitution and the Union in 1861. Not.
withstanding the sacrifices made by the
President through his Southern policy
: to paciiy and couciliate that people
Q their orators and organs already de-
clare that Cancellation can only comC
r through the recognition of theil
claims by the North" Under this en-
, phatic declaration of purpose the futur,
{ needs no interpreter or revclator; it il
plainly presented to the comprehension
OF to-day. A Democratic Congress fol
tho next two years will institute such {
regime of wrong and oppression that nj
friend Of good and just government cal
f live in peace, or with any hope of peace
5 in the future without full surrender of al
that free citizen holds as worth preserv,