The daily gazette., 1878-07-09

the straight republican ticket" and to
see to 1t shat everybody else did so too.
In Louisiana it was usual to send a band
of music with the "organizer." In Ala
bama 1t occurred to one Brilliant organ
izer to send handbiils through his coun-
ty, signed with General Grants name,
ordering the blacks to vote the ticket un-
der penalty of being dealt with by the
District Attorney; and the vote was very
| full at the election. In a Louisiana par
| ish in 1874 the colored voters were sum
moned to barbecue and admonished to
vote straight by order ofGeneral Butler
and they all turned out without delay.
Everywhere they were assured that
| their liberties depended on the predomin-
ance of the republican party in the State
| and that, no matter what promises the
democrats made them, they really meant
| to re-eDslave them. Under the stimulus
of this as III ance, and with the furth- r
assurance that federal troops were at
| hand and that the President was the init
| mate friend of the local republican lead
! ers, the negroes became ardent politicians,
and did not hestedte 10 threaten day Of their
color t0ho should Uote the democratic ticket
| nth death, or what was almost equally
serious to the blacks, exclusion from
church and from female scciety-what
among the whites was called "ostracism." )"
Fortunately for the colored people and
for the country this uns, rupulous man p
ulation of ignorant voters Is no long, +
possible. 1t would be absurd in repuhli-
can politicians to tell the negroes that a
democratic success will re.enslave them,
for they had been living under democratic
rule and see that IL has in many import
ant ways been a blessing to them, and
they entirely safe III life, liberty and
properly. Further, as the Southern State
governments are in democratic hands the
republicans lack power to send out Off
cial "oreanizers" and to beguile the col
ored leaders and preachers with promis-
es 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 in
tiuences, NIL U0te the democratic ticket
more we suspect will take no interest in
the election many others will vote with
the republicans, especially If these rea-
son with them and do not merely attempt
TO frighten and cajole them We suspect
that the presence OF eminent Northern
republicans, such as Mr. Conkhng and
Mr.. Blaine and of such rafting speakers
as Mr.. Martin |. Townsend, would be
very effective In any Southern district
But we hope the republicans will not
make the mistake of addressing them
selves 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 cor
| dially acc pied President Hayes South
| ern policy IL could this fall have in this
way established p oper ami honest rr-
publican organ zation in every Southern
district and State, but its opposition to
that policy will make the work much
more difficult. The wisest course would
be TO make no nominations AT all, but to
declare themselves ready everywhere to
Support the best of two candidates. This
would encourage the so-called 'indp-
pendent movement in all the southern
States.-N. Y. HeTald