Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-11-04
Senator Blaine ON the South.

Among the remarks made by Mr. Bai1c
Saturday evening ct the Academy Of Mu::c, 10
Philadelphia, was the following 10 reference 10
the s:u:horn queatioo:
I'VE have been told for Sometime pas. By q
certain class of political thinkers and teachers
that the southern question vas definitely get.
tied, and that patriotism only required that its
agitation be stopped and the Hhu!e people be
allowed to unite 10 fraterual embrace aud Goa
graduation over the removal of ell cause of
discord. The remedy Ct silence IL he Ncr!h
has, en- sure, been well tried during tic years
of 1877 and 1878. This gear we have been
engaged almcss wholly in the consideration OF
our finances, ard the most rad!ca! smoag u
have made bu. incidental rcier2Gcc to any 9TH
er sutj:ct. Is the rcsul. satisfactory? Are
matters 10 the South progressing as patriotic,
fair dealing men NUT desire? Let Is see.
There is 10 the southern States colorcd popu.
laticn amounting to we'll nigh i've millions, all
entitled to suffrage ca the same terms as the
whites. Tc these States there arc apportloned
thirty five representatives 10 CcDgrcss aod tGlr-
ty Eve presidential electors By rsas)n CT their
negro population. Tho political strength OF the
great State of New York ia the North is offset
by the colored population Of he South. AID
yet this very population, by virtue OF whose
plumbers this great political! strength u aSseo,
ed to tho Scuth is rieiily excluded from all
effective participation 10 lis privileges, and the
entire five millions Of colored people will prob
ably be unable this year to eject single repre-
sentative in Congress.
Even ia the States of South Carolina and
Mississippi, where the coored neo largely cut
number the white mcu, the result will prob
ably be unanimous democratic delegation in
Congress. By perversity CT constitution and
o retirement of cruelty, the calored men are
used only to give additional political power to
the very class and the very party whose prlacI
PIES aud whose practice they have NEST cause
to dread. By destroying the po!i;icl! power of
the negro the white men In these States vastly
increase their ON Influence, and n the two
States have named, the Confederate soldier
is to. day casting two votes ia the control of our
national policy, when the Uaion soldier 10
Pennsylvania and New England casts tu. o1e.
With this state CT Thugs the American people
will not rest content. II is rar!sy urjust, net
only to tho colorcd man 10 the South, but to
the white pau 10 the North, AID VIC will be
compelled in the eod, fem sell interest
and self protection 10 resort to that which
at the outset We should have rtsortcd
to from principle. In all The great imam
cial and economic contests Of the future, the
North cannot and will not permit 'ho hostile
democratic power Of the Scu:h to be doubled
by tranpling under foot the rights OF eoored
citizens. Suffrage was not given as a mocke.y
and the people OF the United States will see
that rights conferred arc rights enjoyed, and il
they fail to see that, they will in the eud fad
that the liberty of one class Of citizens cannot
be trampled on without endaogcring the lib:r-
ties Of all classes.