The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-06-18
Southern Testimony.

Few adults can have forgotten
the many cases of outrage and op'
preston reported from the Gull
States at the last Presidential eiec-
tior. They were classed under the
general head of ~bulldozing, and
graded down from murder. They
were all ascribed to one class and
party, end all uniformly visited upon
another. They were fatty denied,
and Republican journals in the north
publishing the tales were condemned
for inciteing sectional feeling by falls
hood. Bat truth is mighty, aud the
correctness Of the reports made then
is proved now by the outspoken anx-
iety of local journals at the south TO
stop a wrong that has continued for
such a length Of time This anxiety
does not flow from any quickened
philanthropy or love OF justice, bat
from a desire to stay the exodus
which concerns industry and its
confessions and ~entreaties are good
evidence, at least, against itself.
And because the reign of wisdom
and justice there is paramount to any
partisanship, as well as because the
testimony confirms early Republican
assertions, a few of the southern ez-
pressions deserve perusal here.
Limiting the case to Louisiana
in which the Coushatte wrong was
perpetrated four years ago-to Mis-
sissippi and Tennessee, we fad the
New Orleans Times q Democratic
paper, asserting that "the stern and
ugly demands Of self-preservstion
force substantial citizen 10 face
the alternative Of acknowledging
and s~uppressing the Infamous rulliau-
ism in their midst, or allowing their
neighborhood to be depopulated and
their property obliterated. They
have bora it iong-too long, as they
now realize; but they al bear it no
longer, and thus the issue between
civilization and barbarity is made.
The men who own the property
should take up arms against the cut
throats and rufians who are running
them and disgraciBg civilization
This is ~pursuading testimony, its
origin considered. But even tAis
does not exhaust the store. The
Brookhaven (Miss) Ledger, report
ing a citizen meeting in Lincoln
county says: "Tbe sentiment against
such lawlessness as has been carried
on in this county for the past few
years was very bitter, and militia
companies to pat down bulldozing
should be. formed, end every man
opposed to the Gevilment should join.
Citizens are determined to break
up balldozing OF all hazard
they intend calling o the Gov
ernor for arms, bu. il be refuses
to furnish them, they viii arm them
selves and carry the war TO the bit
ter end. BulldoziBg is no longer a
myth, but q sad, stern reality, that
demands prompt and earnest action"
The Ledger is also e democratic pa.
per. These extracts might be al
most indefinitely increased from the
Memphis Avalahch, the Vicksburg
Herald, and other papers that are
equal representatives of southern
feeling and witnesses of conduct and
its result.
1t is to be hoped, perhaps expected,
that such avowals and condemuations
from such a source viii mitigate the
evils and reduce the ontrages visited
upon the colored race at the south.
1t is la the interest Of both races, the
section, both political parties. the ia
dustries of the country, and the
try itself, by whoever ruled, that this
should be the case. Bat the tsstimo-
ny shows ihe power that should rule
everywhere for soEe unsnished years.
All of this long term OF wrong and
outrage has been MADE bloody and
turbulent By one class aad n party
for one end. The cad has been to
gain political and industrial coatrol
by terrorism. The Democracy alone
were interested 70 achiess this.
Having poohpoohed the accounts Of
Ku-Kluxista aad bulldezing for so
long, and encouraged tneis porthern
allies to itera,e the denial. they nov
confirm the original and all later
statements BIZ their own interested
endeayors 10 prevent the alleged
wrongs. They confess in their az
tempts to avoid The Legitimate con.
sequences CT their ogp deeds. BE-
this confession they justify us sad III
Republicans who, anxious for south
err edifcation snd national welfare,
see thss usither is attainable unless
the pesiileut sPiris Which lcads to
such acts is rigidly eafbed and Ike
acts themselves are punished Ike
any other outrages. Such g curb
and such punishment a be secured
only BY continuous Republican ascend
eney. i IS therefore ell important,
under southern Democratic evidence,
and for industrial as well as for poiit-
zeal good, that the great party which
brought . race cut of Egypt, and has