New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-10-11

and torturing the pages of the hallowed Bible
for the support of slavery did not escape the con-
sequences of such SIM They seen in the blunted
moral sense which permits them now to apologize
for the crimes of the South, brazenly deny ther
existence and to ally themselves for political pur-
poses with the criminals. desire Ia avoid all eN-
travagances of speech. and all unjust Implications
but certainly is not too much TO say that the nope
of the Democratic party to gain control Of the Ma
tional Government in the next election rests excu-
siyeIy npon union between the barbaric forces oil
the South and the unlntelligcnt and INSCRIPTIONS
voters of the North That these elements embrace
all the actors in that party by no means aihrn nut
| do say that but for them it would have no hope
of success.
But what shall be done to overcome the demorai-
cations which have survived the existence OF sIav-
erv. and which threaten us with such torm'dahie
eVils9 Certainly no unconstitutional measures
should he reSortcd 10 or thought Of hut do aihrm
that II is the solemn duty of the National Govern
ment ia 60 the very verge of IT'S rghtiul powers
for the protection OF citizens who, Though slavery
itself Is dead. compelled to drink ITS bitter
drces Ii Is great pity that after the war, we dld
not 50 amend the Constitution as 10 make perfectly
clear the right If that Government 70 interfere i"r
the protection of citizens in the South or IN the
North who can find no redress in the state courts
for the most scandalous Outrages upon their persons
and their property Bnt II It he true, as the south
and her Mort hcrn friends eXultngy boast, that the
National Government can do nothing directly to
suppress the outraecS by which the South has been
made solid then all the more Is II the duty of the
intelligent conscientious and GOd-iearlng citiZens
OF the North to SEQ TO il that that Government
does not fall into the hands of the bar
barians. and become the open ally OF such
wcGedness If there is no Constitutional power of
fha a
power of he Government on the side Of justice and
political equality. If the South NAV legtimately
make herself solid,' for the protection of fraud
violence and murder. and to trample whole race
under her feet, who shall say II is either unwse or
unpatri0tIc for the North to become " solid for
the defence Of outraged and helpless citzcns7 The
issue, however it may depend upon the action OF
parties yet above all party considerations 1t Is
a question of pure justice, morality and common
honesty a question between Civilization and Bar
barism. between Christ and Beelzcbub
We hear IL said on every hand that this question
ought to he taken out Of politics and lett to the
healing influences of Time Well, line Is power
full healer and do not distrust its efficacy IN this
case. But | INSIST that Time may be either helped
or numbered in its work To put this Government
under the control of men dcbased by slavery would
b. TO throw the mighticst obstacles in the way of
that reform toward which Time is 50 benehcently
working II would make the process ncedles>ly
painful and slow. On the other hand, TO keep that
Government steadily under the control of men who
are seeking to redress the wrongs of the oppressed
to protect every citizen in his rights, and who VIII
exercise all its powers in this behalf is to
make the work of Time moro rapid and sure. As
for taking the question ont of politics. il is an i'm
possibility We could not do it if we would, aud
We ought not If We could Ii is there by the act Of
the South herself, and there il will stay until it is
settled and settled rightly. Moreover our politics
are elevated debased, according TO our treatment
of such questions. To entertain them avowedly
and squarely, and keep them in tho head Is inds-
pensable to our moral health. TO ignore Them or
set them aside for other lower issues is to foster
the very debasement which. originating in slavery,
has survived its overthrow.
"Then you would" hear some one say, make
our politics sectional and Aeep alive ali the passions
of the late war" In answer to this | affirm that
questions pertaining to human rights are not, aud,
under republican government. never can be
tional They are 10y their very nature in the high
est sense national. The question Is not made sec
tional by the fact that the Outrages complained of
prevail in section Of the country and not in an
other. A cancer on one part of the body, If it inn
perils life cannot safely be treated local dis
ease On whatever spot it fastcu. itself, the whole
body is concerned in its expulsion at the earliest
possible moment and a diseased limb cannot COM
plain ii the head insists upon its right to have a
voice in determining what remedy shall be applied.
Moreover we are not 10 be put in the position of
enemies of the South-not even the whitc South.
On the contrary. we are her best friends. In pro-
tecting the life of the Nation would save her
from herself. The outrages which she toerates are
not only blot upon her character, but detrimental
to all her interests. We should indeed deserve to
be called her enemies if did not seek TO deter her
from committing such crimes. If there are no re-
strain,s Of law which apply then it is all the
more important that we should throw around her
the restraints of public opinion and the moral in
nuencc of the Government. She must be made to
see and feel that until she redresscs such wrongs,
the intelligent people of the North Will take good
care that the Government shall not come under her
control. Al her nights under the Constitution she
shall have: even her riQht TO make herself "solid"
for the defence Of crime shall be respected All the
votes she honestly casts shall he honestly counted;
or if they are not, il shall not he fault But if
the Sohd North proves mightIer than the Solid
South what ground of complaint will she hayei If
she NAV make herself solid in tine cause of oppreS-
SION why may not the North make herself solid in
behalf of civilization and Justice
After such manifestations of the spirit and designs
of the south rs have been exhibited since she and
her allies gained control III congress, are the
people of the North, who made such sacrifices OF
blood and treasure to save the Union and DESTROY
slavery, willing to give the same party control of
the Executive and Judicial Departments of the
Government 1t is appalling to think what calam-
ties would probably befall the country il the bench
OF tie Supreme Court were once filled with Judges
saturated with that hercsy of state Rights in
which the Rebellion had ITS root, and bent upon re-
storing To the South, by judicial decision rs much
as possible of all that She lost in thewar Vacancies
in that court are constantly occurring; is il safe, is