The New York herald., 1878-07-08
The Southern States and the Fall
Elections.

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in the Southern States, and mean to con-
centrate their efforts in the South upon
these. They have selected these districts
because they have heavy prepondeance Of
negro voters, and they still claim that the
blacks must vote the republican ticket and
will do so if they are lett free to vote as
they like, and that where there is strong
negro majority it follows that republican
will be chosen if the election is free.
There was time, some years ago, when
this was undoubtedly true. While the re-
publicans possessed the State governments
and were able to call for federal troops the
negroes were plant tools in their hands
but even then it was notorious that the
colored vote required that peculiar
manipulation which in the Southern
republican slang was called ''organ-
izing." The ''organizer" was an i'm
portant functionary, usually q custom
house or other petty federal official OF the
calibre and oftenest of the character OF the
now notorious Anderson, who was sent into
q county with instructions to collect the
leading negroes, promise them such local
offices and other petty Qualifications as they
desired, and with their help hold barbecues
and other public meetings, at which the
blacks were told that General Grant or
General Butler or some other great and
good man wished them to vote the straight
republican ticket" and to see to it that every
body else did SO too In Louisiana it was
usual to send band of music with the
''organizer. In Alabama it occurred to one
brilliant organizer to send handbills through
his county, signed with General Grants
name, ordering the blacks to vote the ticket
under penalty OF being dealt with by the Dis
trict Attorney; and the vote was very full at
that election. In o Louisiana parish in 1874
the colored voters were summoned to bar
becue and admonished to vote straight "by
order Of General Butler" and they all
turned out without delay. Everywhere
they were assured that their liberties de-
pended on the predominance Of the repub-
lican party in the State. and that, no mat
ter what promises the democrats made
them they really meant to re-enslave them.
Under the stimulus of this assurance, and
with the further assurance that federal troops
were at hand and that the President was the
intimate friend Of the local republican lead
ers the negroes became ardent politicians,
and did not hesitate to threaten any of their
color who should vote the democratic ticket
with death, or what was almost equally seri-
Gus to the blacks, exclusion from church
aud from female society-what among the
whites was called "ostracism."
Fortunately for the colored people and for
the country this unscrupulous manipula-
tion of ignorant voters is no longer possi-
BILE. 1t would be absurd in republican pol
iticians to tell the negroes that democratic
success will re-enslave them, for they
have been living under democratic rule
and see that it has in many important
ways been o blessing to them, and that they
are entirely safe in life, liberty, and prop
erty. Further, as the Southern State gov
ernments are in democratic hands the re.
"organizers" and to beguile the colored
leaders and preachers with promises of
office and pickings. Northern republican
politicians are in error, therefore, when
they count upon solid negro
vote for their party. Many negroes,
under various legitimate influences, will
vote the democratic ticket; more, we sus-
pect, will take no interest in the election;
many others will vote with the republicans,
especially if these reason with them and do
not merely attempt to frighten and cajole
them. We suspect that the presence of
eminent Northern republicans, such as Mr..
Conkling and Mr.. Blaine, and of such rat
would be very effective in any Southern dis
trict. But we hope the republicans will
not make the mistake of address,
ing themselves exclusively or mainly
to the blacks They ought to induce
white citizens of character and influence to
accept their nominations and then send
Northern speakers to appeal for support
for these from the white as well as the
black voters. If the republican party had
cordially accepted President Hayes South
ern policy it could this fall have in this
way established proper and honest repub-
lican organization in every Southern dis
trict and State, but its opposition to that
policy will make the work much more diff
cult. The wisest course would be to make
no nominations at all, but to declare them
selves ready everywhere to support the best
of two candidates. This would encourage
the so-called independent" movement in
all the Southern States.
To this independent movement the dem
ocratic politicians make such vigorous OBJ
lection that it is easy to see they fear it. In
Legislature in caucus denounced in adj
vance every man who should attempt to
canvass as an independent this fall as an
enemy of the State and of honest govern
ment. But number of respectable and
influential citizens at once aud publicly