Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-12-30

to vote freely for the men they desire TO
support. The means resorted to. to pre-
vent the expression of their preference,
constitute the shame and the peril to free
institutions. 1t is no tritling or insignifi-
cant matter when a minority of the popu-
lation resort to wrong and violence to OBJ
tain control of the government. and
make the will of the majority of no ac-
tent with our republican system. and may
well raise the gravest doubts in the minds
of thoughtful and patriotic men. There
are two or three considerations in connec-
ton with these developments which de-
serve notice
The first impression Of many people is
that the President course towards that
section has been mistaken one.
The real grounds of the disappointment
now felt are not on this account. but be-
cause it i, apparent that the controlling
element of Southern society i still mimi
cal to Justice and fairness. There was
strong hope that il would prove true
what 50 many southern men as>erted-that
if the responsibility of maintaining order
and protecting all in their rights was
thrown upon the people, they would do it
faithfully and efficiently. They represent
ed that disagreement by aliens and the in
reference of the national government with
their local concerns. which they were able
and willing to conduct in good faith towards
all classes if permitted to do SO. exasper
ated their people, and provoked outrages
on the part of the reckless saa kind of pro-
test. and that such occurrences would cease
when the irritating cause was removed
The lawlcss spirits who would not sub
nit to what they deemed an unconstitu-
tiona and untriendly espionage. were said
to be few. and would willingly defer to the
authority of the wiser and conservative
men of their own state. While many men
in the North did not put much confidence
in such professions, others hoped they
might prove well-grounded.
The fall elections have rudcly shaken
their happy representations. 1t ap-
pears that the reckless element is not
subordinate. but controlling. and that
the freedmen are still victims of prediu-
dices not Yet overcome, and of wrongs
which public sentiment is powerless to
suppress. One fact stands out clearly
now that was not clear before namely,
that the Southern people are not willing
to obey the Constitution and the laws
faithfully; that their violence and denial
of rights is provoked by nothing but
their own perversity of disposition. This
is not IA pleasant fact TO be obliged to
recognize, but there is one immense adj
vantage to the friends of right in the pres
ent circumstances The pretext that the
conduct of the Southern people was the
natural result of being deprived of the
privilege of governing thems elves, is
destroyed. The whole nation recognizes
that the responsibility and the shame are
wholly tnelrs.
What can the North do about it? 1t is
certainly in the power of the North to pre-
vent the men who do and sanction such
proceedings from obtaining control of the
national government. The united pro-
test of the intelligence and Christianity of
the States which saved the Union against
the men who have so little notion of the
meaning of republican government AS to
tolerate carrying elections by violence,
will have its effect. There are even from
the South tselfindcations of sensitiveness
to the Judgment of the people. They are
not so Incidentally infatuated as to be
content always tn be under the ban.
When they discover that doing wrong is "a
losing game, they will come to better
mind. We may be disappointed that the
leaven of freedom does not work faster ;
but we may have confidence that the whole
lump will be leavened in Gods good
time films Hcrdld