Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-10-02
1.-THE MISSISSIPPI PLANn

tne Nol'n as Inc mississippi plan " in
politics, otherwise the practice of intimida-
ton of negro voters by various means known
to those who manage such proceedings.
We believe, however, that the extent to
which this practice has been carried has
been grossly exaggerated for political effect,
yet it cannot be denied that it has been
prevalent to greater or less extent in vari-
Gus States of the South, notably Mississippi,
Louisiana and Arkansas. While in some
sections of these States negroes have been
permitted to vote as they please, in other
sections means more or less severe have been
employed to induce them to vote as the
whites desired, or to abstain from voting
altogether. ..,... ...
The practice is decidedly reprehensible on
many accounts. In the first place it is I'M
lawful, and subjects the offenders to the &C.
verest punishment. Next, it is undemocratio.
The essence of Democracy is that all citi-
zens shall be allowed to take part in the
government Of the country, and to express
their opinions at the ballot box without let or
hindrance, and any course that interferes in
tho least with the exercise of this right is de-
serving of the severest condemnation as
subversive of true Democracy. Again, it is
impoiitic. It eycites the hostility of the
persons deprived of their privileges, and
makes them forever after the bitterest enc
mics of the party to which their prosecutors
belong. It further makes an entire party or
an entire section responsible for the crimes
of few individuals, and thus works ircal-
culable harm.
1t is the opinion of the GLOBE that far
wiser course could be pursued to reach the
same results. Instead of treating the re-
groes as if they had no rights that a white
man is bound to respect, they should be
treated as citizens, ard instructed in their du-
ties towards themselves and the government.
The colored people OF the South are
naturally tractable and apt to learn, and if
properly treated would soon understand that
their interests and those of the white popu-
lation are identical, and the two races could
work together in harmony. This plan has
been tried in Georgia and Alabama with sig
nal success, especially in the former State.
The whites of Georgia took good advice at
the time the carpet-bag government was
driven out of the State, and at once SGT
about educating the freedmen in their duties
as citizans. Schools for their benefit we're
established in every town, and young and
old took advantage of them. Their former
masters undertook the task of instructin9
them, and persevered in the face Of many
discouragements. It was not long, how
ever, before the negroes came to look upon
the native residents of the State as tier
truest friends. What little of distrust at
first remained was soon dissipated, and white
and black worked side by side, politically
and industrially, for the best good of the
whole people. Tho results are that in
Georgia no citizen is disfranchised except
for crime; the negroes are intelligent, softer,
industrious and prosperous; the State is vel
governed, taxes are low, and the debt is be-
ing rapidly extinguished; while no complaint
comes to us from the planters of scarcity
of labor nor from the negroes of being de-
frauded of their pay. These results have
been accomplished by pursuing an honor
able, intelligent course towards the colored
people, laying aside the preiudices of race,
and recognizing the altered condition of
things. In Alabama, South Carolina, and
Virginia the same course has been pursued,
though not as generally as in Georgia, and
like results have come from it.
or
people of Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkan-
sas the e1pediency of following the good ex-
ample set them. We do not hold the whole
people of those States responsible for the
outrages that have been perpetrated, for
we believe great majority of
the more intell igent of the citizens disap-
prove of these acts of violence as strongly as
do we. The crimes committed are almost
wholly the work of desperate and ignorant
men, who have but little if anything at stake,
and permit their hatred of the negro and
their hostility to his requirement of the
rights of citizenship to run away with their
judgment. They are inf1icting a wrong
upon the whole country, however, that they
wot not of, for they lead the people of the
North to presume that the entire South
countenances their deeds Of violence. The
punishment for such a course, which must
inevitably come, will fall upon many inuo.
cent heads, and result in incalculable mis-
chief.
We trust that there will be a change of
policy in the sections noted towards the COL
ored men. The experience of Georgia ought
to be convincing argument that it pays to
be just, humane and honorable. We have
no fear but the negroes of the South vii,
work in full accord with the whites as soon
as they are couvin ced that they are to be-
dealt with honorably both in business and
political sense. Let them receive their wages
regularly; allow them to vote as they may
see fit, exercising only moral suasion for
their conversion, and within five years they
will be found shoulder to shoulder with the
whites, working faithfully for the develop
ment of the country and alive to the inter-
ests of the party that shall secure to them
the greatest privileges. The shotgun policy
is poyerless to effect good results, and is
singing disgrace upon the people of the
sections in which it prevails.
TAMMANY BEATEN.
Tammany has been outwitted at its own
game. We yesterday referred to the appli-
cation of that society for writ of man,3a-