New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-11-16
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
THE TRANSITION PERIOD.
LITTER FROM COLONEL CARRISGION-" WHAT
SHALL THE HARVEST BE" IN THE SOUTH

SHALL THE harvest BE" IN THE SOUTH
TO the Edttor OF The Trtoune.
SIR: There is only one vital Issue in pres
ent politics. With emancipation and nominal free SUI
frage. there increased Southern representation
In Congress. Thus far, the basis element OF that IL
held IN allegiance. The increased mum
Der who have The right to do not elect the add
onal representatives They have no free choice no tree
suffrage Ths Tact IL cognzod md inlorsed by lead
ing southern 1t Is mistake maintain such IL
condition. but I could hardy be OtncT9isc.
The hing weight Oi The war mp0verish" the South
and Tor many years the political managers had no SYM
patty with The people MANY sO-caltd carpelbaggcrs
used the black men for their own sei1'h prefermcnt
and crowded tho legislative halls with those who voted
for suca inca 'ures as were prepared ioi them
by men Of NJrthfrn birth The waste o. war was sue
crede,i by moru demoralizi1g waste Of such
restorative eiemrnts as tie var spared Taxes ani
Uiccpur hRsc together the ruin OF the whites
wi hJu cievating the black, IhcIe W7s no remedy )"
long the blacks remained ignorance, and the cGu
catcd white men, to tn manor b0rn we're '2cindeI
from then rgb fu share OF ,l,, refused 10 adapt
themselves To the new order tniu-, and 10 combine
for the good Of both race. Tho re Jon o. military lu!e
increased the difficulty, and Withdrawn lhr South
was practically surrendered t. e charge was In
trusted with is own heyranct In The meantime inc
black race entered Up,n II slfcuiturc which
has no Precedent IN history. More OF tlat
have learned - READ Nil'lfH stH StsI0
than within the previous thirty years. 1t has
become almost as much part Of theIr lie Il,
to s.ug; and tlis development will shape all future
issues al the South They do now, indeed, passively ac
ccpt their subordinate position but VIII assert Their
legal status A distant y ri d. This VIII come NJ the
instance Of r,ghtmnded men at the South. or by the
force developed strength il will i!i is Education
brings consciousness Of rights and of possibilities Tine
blacks Of the SUuth with acculnulaing resources and
Vlta IN
full enfrsnchisement, unless these accommodating r.
sources and quckencd powers are made to harmonic
with all other social hfr aud WITH the spirit ana
letter OF the Constitution NJ IL Is. The achieve
mems OF the French people are only type OF
tbe upward spring all pe0'les who consciously realize
the nj gs OF man No logic OF words combination OF
forces can prevent this result There * ~ ae BailVt
bat substu tal Reimbursement; md tIls clement 81 eau
cnactmcnts or a trained militia The world i hasten
Ing to period when the few cannot rule .he many. IN
Nation, state or city
During the transition period which succeeded enamel
patton, which still LASTS and must last nn'il physici
there nave been side ISSUES IN up he gaps and for
Tine obscure its great DRIFT AID certain Is'He re
granger, commune and lt-lnOAe; Or-zdtcnS nave Ia
vain Offered their cap tai % parils \" gricVducs Oi
trade or labor can long hold public attention Expos
uTrs OF fraud the political death OF party leaders can
not d. IL. Even such en- Issue pud!a0n or honesty
mas only to be understood TO DC disposed Of Leaders
caunot make party trlumphs. An iuteIigent peo-
pie make tie leaders, aud vote Without leaders
If user by leaders as merchandise The strength
her czy and these fixed. Whatever huc nations
tidal flow OF party Interests are resolved
at LAST by positive adhersncD to thc right. Party or
sectional tyranny cannot long list this silent 0mDpO-
tent force. During the period OF transition tue
reaction from has brought ia extravaganza, cor
ruprOn and excessive taxation. Economy IN adLlinlS-
ira ION and the dsp acemrut OF cCrrunt uHg aud pro-
fesslona onice-scekers have become ihe necessity ID
every sphere social life and relation. To attain ms
there must be valid and perVIsiYe ORDER ana peace
throughout the states.
II il at such hOdr that more solemn responsibility
rests III on south than in 1851. ItS statesmen have
tie power to insure true Acknowledgement 10 the eman-
c!plted race TO politics from sectional issues,
ana practically to establish those conditions OF real
liberty 10 secure when South CarOlIr signallv led
the way ia the first for American lnde peudeGce.
What shall. tine harvest Def c.
Charlottesville, Ind Nov Q, 1873.