National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-12-10
TAKING THE CENSUS.


The pending census, to be of any value as
history Of the numerical force Of our popu-
lation and the state Of our advancement or
retrograde action, as the case may be, in in
telligence, product and wealth, must be
truthfully and faithfully taken by the SUI
pervisors and enumerators appointed under
the law for that purpose. 1t is now init
mated that the Democrats are claiming
share Of the nppointme nts az census super
visors. This is not strange, for rs the
Utica Herald very justly asks Was there
ever n smell of patronage floating around
" that the Democrats did not sniff of it2 1t
" seems one hundred and fifty of the super
" yisors are TO receive salary Of $500! The
examination as to qualifications will be
made by General WALKER, and as he
says political considerations will not
move HIM, the eager Democrats will
doubtless get their share"
1t is not so much matter of importance
that supervisors of the census shall be Re-
publicans or Democrats as that they shall be
honest men, who will make true enumera-
tion of our population. The Southern por-
tion of the country should not be repre-
sented among the supervisors by those who
could be tempted TO swell the enumeration
for the purpose of political advantage, and
there is scarcely Democrat south of MA
son aud DIXoN's line who has not favored
iniquitous methods for the purpose ofsecur-
ing unjust advantage to that section regard
less of law and right. Thisstatement is veri-
fed by the history of the last ten years
relating to the political manipulation of
the South by the Democrats, and there is
no guarantee that the representatives of
party which has resorted to methods that
outrage civilization to gain political advau-
tage will not apply dishonest methods to
the enumeration of a population upon which
is based the ratio of their representation in
Congress. The superintendent of the CEN
sus may rely upon the provisions and
penalties of the law for an honest emu
meration, but experience shows that
with the Bourbon South the Constitution
and laws are held in no respect when party
advantage is to be gained by their disregard
The supervisors appoint the enumerators,
and they perform the work of enumeration,
hence the political character of the super
visors will control that of their appointees,
| and no matter what the law may direct,
! party ends and aims will rise superior to
any Congressional enactment for offenders
in the South are surrounded by apublic
sentiment which disarms all law.
With power reposed in such hands, no
matter what the law may direct, or what
its bristling penalties may be, or how good
may be the intentions of the superintend.
ent who has been placed in charge of this
important trust, the integrity of the emu
merationin the South will not be worth O
rush. II, as is intimated, the appointment
of Democrats in the South has been deter
mined upon, then the superintendent will
have a grieyous experience in carrying
out the work of securing faithful
and honest enumeration of the population
of that section. If the law is violated and
n false census ensues, there is no power tC
enforce the penalties in the South for il:
infraction. That man who disregi ards the
law under the behests of the Democratic
party anywhere in the South, whether it bt
in the commission ofmurder, the corruption o
the ballot, the disfranchisement ofcitizens, O.
in stuihng ballot-boxes, or making false re
turns, has chance of escape, for all sucl
oflenses are screened from punishment-ant
why not he who makes false enumeration
of the population to increase the politica
power in that section? The experiment i,
fraught with danger TO the National future
and bodies no good to the common country
II is to be hoped, therefore, that the super
intendent of the census will make hast
slowly in awarding supervisors to tn
Democrats of the South.
SOUTHERN CIVILIZATION.
Verify, at YazOo, murder has its reward