National Republican., 1880-10-07

For months the most able and forcible
articles were printed by It, urging the wisdom
aud the necessity of this course, declaring
that it would be impossible for tho democrats
to elect governor If they tried The editor
did not then forcsee that the republicans
would elect n president who would place the
crown of victory upon tho brows OF such bour.
bon democrats rs would run tho Mississippi plan
in the state.
When the democratic state convention met
In tho summer of '76 10 sat with closed
doors for two days. A strong effort was
made by the reasonable men" of whom Gem
eral Grant speaks for tho better courso-the
course which would have divided the solid
south and ovcrthrown the bourbon democracy.
But the latter were aided by men outside of
the state, Georgia aud Mississippi took an
interest In the matter. One man, Ferguson,
detailed the Mississippi plants nattery and
fine words to be used by Hampton IN tho
southern countless Its terror aud massacre to
be mado available by men like Butler and
Gary In the northern, and lis success he proph.
esied so confidently from the way II had
worked in his own state that the convention
finally determined upon II by a vote of
So against 60 reasonable men. Now
mark the difference between n south.
ern and northern community; between
community under the rule of its bourbon
leaders, and n community not under the rule
VI any lCUNcTb. hlltt Inc convention all inc
papers that had struggled for the better way
fell into limo and marched with the rest. The
NeCs aud Courier obeycd the dictatiou of the
bourbon leaders as implicitly as If 1t had
never held II different opinion. One country
editor, to II republican in private, declared his
true sentiments, but SAID he: "All | own in
the world is my paper; IL is worth about
$1,000, and If should say tomorrow in print
what have said to you, in one week my pa.
per would not bo worth seven cents to me-"
Such is the bondage of that rule in the south,
which General Grant propheses will some
day break away suddenly. Until it is broken
let 10 republican, northern or southern, ex.
pect TO live in that land with self.rcspect and
peace. God in heaven can only measure the
wickedness OF which IL has been guilty, aud
the number Of its victims and the extent of
its martyrdoms-nOt all out-spoken, not all
perccptible TO tho public eye. Robbery, mur.
der exile, defamation, all these and more,
have the victims suffered that have
once dwelt within their borders, while
the nation at large aud republican
institutions have, in tissue.balots and false
counts, an injustice to which they should not
tamely submit.
If the coming election gives victory to the
| democracy the day when bourbon rule in tho
south will he broken will be put ar away.
Their strange power to dominate will continue
for Il generation. 1t was they who drove the
states into secession against the choice Of the
| majority, II that majority had dared to cx.
press its opinions; SO said Horace Greeley, and
i think all who have lived in the south aud oh.
served them aud read their papers will agree
with him. 1T is u pity" said the witty
Judge G on his southern circuit, that Abra-
ham Lincoln had not cmanCipated tho white
people here when he emuncipated the negroes. y
OCTOBER g. 1850. Ii. G. l.