National Republican., 1878-12-27

in the rights Of property and personal freedom
for all classes. These were the promises made
by the respectable better class" as they were
called, and echoed and re.echoed by cultured
gentlemen representing the Northern press,
both Democratic and papers professedly Re-
publican.
A pitcous appeal was made to the race feel
ing of the country, wherein the Intelligent,
wealthy, and cultivated white people were
represented as In shameful subsection TO tho
negroes. This piece Of old Democratic strategy
was successful, and paved the way for the
tidal wave" of 1874. 1t Is shameful reproach
upon tho boasted intelligence Of this generation
that such an appeal to prejudice can be still
relied on to mass ono class or race against
another It was my lot to spend several years
in the South and think understand South
ern methods and also Southern aims. was In
Mississippi most Of the time during the revo-
lutionary scenes Of 1s7i-'75, and had the best
possible chance to observe and ascertain the
true inwardness" of the bloody movement
both In that State and Louisiana. Any one not
blinded by prejudice and the passions Of the
hour could sce then as well as now, that the
thing aimed at was national control. That end
they have well nigh attained,
The men who stood behind the curtain while
furnishing the means, and who were tho real
heads Of the murderous and often worse than
| savage proceedings Of those days, will in few
weeks hence be masters of the situation. They
have already taken away the power Of protcc-
| tion to Southern loyalists, white and black. In
few weeks more they will be In position to
commence In earnest tho completion of the
second part OF the purpose, namely the reduc-
| tion OF the colorod race In tho South substan-
TALLY to a state Of slavery.
Close observation and careful inquiry con.
WINGED many thoughtful men in the South that
the whites there-not all but an influential
and powerful element-are resolved to reduce
the negro to practical slavery just SO soon ~
they feel sure that il can be done without dan.
| ger of incurring new war.
Indeed, any one who will look with his eyes
can see the necessary steps to this result al
ready going on. What can the steady growth
of contempt for the rights Of the colored people
TO life and property mean? What the popular
education of the masses to hate aud abhor
them, both through the press and oil the
stump What the widespread and continually
| increasing practice of resort to violence IN
almost every case of alleged crime, instead Of
| resort to tho courts of law? Why encourage
that which tends to degrade and brutalize both
the white mob and the black victims If this
course OF things Is without Significance there Is
none In any course of conduct whatever. That
the two races cannot live together as political
and civil equals Is hobby Of universal belief
ut the South. Hence the loud, increasing
threat of determination to which reference was
made In your paper few days ago. Men may
many of us who know the feeling down there
know there is trouble in II unless restrained
by efficient power.
The South nceus the negro as a labOrer As
such she would be sorely pcrplcxcd to give him
up. But she wants him US a slave. or in re.
lation equivalent to that. Failing in this. she
will attempt to drive him out or extcrminatc
him. Now, sir, We ask, how long shall this
course OF things continue? by hard labor
labor which II is doubtful whether white men
could he brought to do at all-this people pro.
ducc millions Of wealth every year. That
product goes TO enhance the comfort aud hap
piuess of the civilized world. 1t is vast con.
tribution to the strength and glory Of our
country. What contemplate excuse II is t.
say that our Government Is so organized that
protection to life cannot be given that the
citizen must rely wholly for protection upon
the disposition of hostile community. But
1t Is hppantly said that this scheme o
government works well In application tt
white men, and that 1t was no
made for others. But, we ask, Is no
the welfare of millions of wealth-produc
ing citizens worth consideration, even II thci
case is anomalous? As an economic question,
can the country afford to practically OUTLAW
onc-thiri of the population in half of the IA
tional territory, ath that, too, of class fur
nishing twOthrds Of the wealth. producing
: labor Of that section?
One Of three things, sir, must be done, an,
soOn-protect by law, or cxpatriate or cXtcr
inmate the blacks Of the south. And In thi
case, as In many others, neglect will be crimi
nal waste of time and money, if not oflifc alsC
, The present state of things cannot endure.
A COLORED CITIZEN.