The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-10-15
REPUBLICANS IN DIXIE.
Why Many VIII Vote for Hancock
HOW THE POLICY OF THE REPUBLICAN, PAR.
TY DROVE THE MOST DECENT OF IT'S
SOUTHERN MEMBERS FROM
ITS RANKS.


ing address, indicative of the feeling among
class of men who stood by the republican
party in the South as long AS they consid |
cred it entitled to support, and in the face of
popular opposition, was prepared and direct.
ed to be issued:
The undersigned, having earnestly sup
porte the republican party in carrying out
the principles Of the reconstruction meas
ures ot Congress in the Southern States,
feel constrained by the present situation in
pub ic affairs to state some of the grounds
upon which a change in the party charac-
ter of the national administration is de-
manded.
The reconstruction measures were precip-
ia ed upon the SDulh in a time of great
public exc tcmeut. Thev were to subvert
id go, bsbits ard conditions fixed by the
u.at, aud experience of generations Thi,
was to nc done at a tmo and under circum.
st.nc,s well calculated to produce most Sc.
ri1u. apprehcnsions. The di i,franrhisement
Of the principal property holders, coupled
by III culrauciseuent of the whole body of
former slaves, to be put into operation in
the midst ofa disrupted condition of gov
ernmeut alarmed the most thoughtful and
patri,t,c citiz'ns. Thoughtful men hal
hoped and expected gradual aud carefully
tested steps in the adjustment of matters SO
vital to tie lescc and equilibrium Of soci
ETY..
But the alarm and opposition were great
y increased by the di.gracclul and reckles,
col duct OF many OF tue persons intrus'cd
| with the execution of this new order OF
ihings Tnis conduct intlamed Ireiu1i. Is
anl provoked conflicts. Instead of discoun
tenuncirg the misconduct of these persons
by il restraining attention, the national al
ministratinn has continually extehdrd tn
them special cOuntenance and favor ami has
repressed the exertions of the more worthy
and jndicious supporters of reconstruction.
We deem it sufficient simply 10 state the
facts without indulging in any wrath of cX
preston or retr' ring III drail either to IT,,
| repeated acts or the general spirit and po,c,
Ivy which the present and preceding admin
| istrdtions have made tie manastm m # re
construction a curse to the c)lbrel race as
well as to the whit people Of the Sol
States
But the fir-t appr h lnson in lation T.,
The immediate execution If the prime pies
of the reconstructi, measures ta5 been
greatly relieved by time ard the test of ex-
perience The disiranchisement feature
having been removed, there is now gener.
al acquiescence in the principles involved, as
indeed nothing more than the fundamental
ideas of the American system of government.
But the recollection of unrcstrained abuses
still remains, and there is still "A deep
grounded apprehension that such abuses may
at any time he repeated in their worst form
AS long as the national administration con.
tinues in the hands Of the republican par
ty.
We are satisfied from personal knowledge
derived from observation and from partici-
patton in the reconstruction policy, that a
Change in the party character of the nation
| nj administration is now the surest and best
means of placing reconstruction upon a safe
and peaceful basis, and of at once uniting
the country in mutual confidence and kind
relationship. Aud, AS this should be the
first and leading purpose of the American
people in the pending presidential election,
we believe it ought to override all party at
tscbmenls and considerations
To elect republican president at thi.
time by a sectional vote would be public
calamity OF the gravcst character. 1t would
nnqnestionably set back the growing senti
ment of nationality and unity by which just
and enlightened policy in the management
of reconstruction would long since have been
permanently secured. While wishing to
avoid as far as possible any matter appealing
to feeling rather than sober reason, we can
not well Unit alluding to the fact that the
republican party has made its present CAM
pagn direct attack upon the south by
seeking to revive against it the distrusts and
hostile feelings engendered by the war. We
cannot be unmindtul that this is being done
for the purpose of securing party triumph
which Is to install such dis rust and hustil-
| ty in complete control of the national ad-
mnistrati0h. 1t is natural and reasonable
that the southern people, 50 threatened,
should unite in resisting, by their votes the
consummation of such a purpose and they
should appeal 10 thoughtful and just men
in the north for protection and support.
We are unable to see in any existing con-
ditions reason why such protection should
not be extended. Slavery no longer exists,
and there is absolutely no sentiment in the
south that would favor its restoration aud
scarcely any that regrets its destruction.
The Union has been reconstructed upon the
basis Of freedom and political equality, and
there is no element in the south that would
attempt to have it otherwise. The sent-
ment has become practically universal among
the southern people that the Union is the
best security to their liberties and the surest
guarantee of their future prosperity and
happiness. But they would not conceal
their dread of evil from the organ zation in
to a political party Of all who are unfriend-
ly to them, for the purpose Of controlling
he common government to their oppression
aud injury,
'N "a'S ''"cc'V'S iVsieNoH '"o ia''uie VI
he r,publican leaders to recognize the true
situation in the southern states. Their MIS-
takes and wrongful conduct, in the execu
lion of the reconstruction acts, have caused
us to despair Of their ability to establish
mutual confidence and harmony between
the sections. The sectional grounds upon
which they are seeking to carry the pending
election have forced to distrust their dispo-
sition to regard the southern people as equal
in the Union, or worthy to be trusted as par
country, They have year by year steadily
driven from the party in the south number
of its most considerate and earnest supper
ters, until they have practically destroyed it