National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-10-10
WHO Is RESPONSIBLE?


take square look at the facts connected
with the Southern exodus. Its vision APP
pears to be distorted and its language, we
apprchcnd, is slightly clothed in prejudice.
II criticizes Professor LANGsToN's address on
the subject, and charges that he attempts
" to destroy the whole industrial system of
" that section by deprivingit it of its chief ele-
"ment of labor supply" In referring to
the leading Radicals of Washington who
had seats upon the stand and applauded
the sentiments of Professor LANGsToN, it
SAYS:
They not only use all the means at their
disposal to prevent the introduction of capital
and immigration into the South, but are now
striving to deprive that unfortunate section
of its labor. and reduce it to the condition of
an impoverished wilderness.
1t will give our cotemporary much toll
to find facts with which to sustain the above
allegations. 1t has entirely mistaken in
these utteances the real causes which pre-
went the introduction of capital and immi-
grafton into the South" The legitimate
causes which stay the tide of capital and
emigration from flowing Southwark reside
there-not with the Radicals here or else
where. The very spirit which controls the
South-the hatred of the "Yanks," the
ostracism which meets the loyal man of
capital when lie emigrates into the South,
the ostracism of those of that class who
have ventured there and have suffered in
mind, body and purse, under the repulsive
spirit with which they are met socially,
politically and otherwise, when they
have attempted to take up n residence in
the late insurgent States-all point to the
real causes which deprive that unfortunate
section of its labor and reduce it to the
condition of the impoverished wilderness"
Those who have tried that experiment, un-
less they clothed themselves i'll Democratic
| principles and took up step under Demo-
cratic leaders, have told n sad tale Of their
misfortunes, which has tended to stay the
tide of loyal emigration. Even those =" to
"the manor born," who presume to exercise
Republican faith in the discharge of their
political duties as citizens, find it a thorny
path socially to tread, and they are getting
away as rapidly as their circumstances will
permit. If they cannot exist comfortably
among the Democrats of the South, how
can Northern Republicans take their
capital and their families and venture into
that proscriptive and inhospitable section
of the country? 1t is no place for them,
and they know and feel it, and hence
immigration into the South has ceased.
As to the exodus, il has its origin in the
treatment the ex-slaves have received from
their late masters. Instead of recognizing
them as citizens and permitting them to eXer-
else their rights as such freely, as other citi-
zens do, and recognizing their labor fairly and
Justly in the way of reward, they have been
bull-dozed and murdered out of their rights
as citizens, and have been despoiled Of the
fruits of their toll, until they have no alter
native but to submit tamely to accumulating
wrongs, or seek homes and rights elsewhere
The cause of all this exists in the South
and the consequences must fall there also
A dogged and stupid persistence in the
policy which has led to the exodus only ag
gravates it and renders it the more certain
And it is a matter of very serious doubt i
a reversion of that policy will tend to stay
the worst consequences that impend ovel
that section. The truth is, that the Soutl
has plunged madly and blndly into this
pool of trouble, the most serious conse
quences of which have not yet been encoun
tered and it is nonsense to attempt tc
change the responsibility therefor to thc
shoulders of Radicals here Or elsewhere.