National Republican., 1880-10-04
RFAPING As THEY SOwED.


One excuse offered and too often ac-
ceptcd for the revolutionary over throw of
republican state governments in the south
and the subsequent continued suppression
of the majority was, that property and in
"telligencen should rule. The evils of ex-
travagant and dishonest government were
enlarged upon, and the outrage upon the
franchise was justified because it aimed to
prevent an outrage upon the pockets of the
taxpayers. The history of the south since
the advent of its boosted "home rule eX-
emplifies the truth ofthe proverb that "two
wrongs do not make right" The men
of property and intelligence" in order to
do the work of force and fraud deemed bv
them necessary to save the state, were
obliged 10 call in the aid of the ignorant,
rude and lawless "poor whites" The
expectation was that these would, after the
republicans were suppressed, retire TO the
obscurity from which they were brought
and leave the fruits of victory and the di-
rection of affairs, as of old, to the aforesaid
property and intelligence" This expecta-
ton has been rujely disappointed. The
poor whites, having obtained control, have
generally kept it. The red-shirt clubs after
insuring victory have named men of
their own to take the spoils. The ballot
box suffers have seen little fun in swelling
majorities for other people. The conse-
quences are seen even in the southern men
in congress, who are, with few exceptions,
vastly inferior morally and intellectually
to southern representatives of the olden
times and to those from other sections of
the country. 1t is more noticeable, how
ever, in the local affairs Of the various states
south
In Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ala
bama, Georgia, Kentucky and South Caro-
lima the local newspapers are full of COM
plant Of stupid legislation, incompetent ex-
ecutives and the dishonest handling of pub
| lie funds. Unchecked and irresponsible
power gained by unlawful practices has
brought with it evils worse than those in.
cdent to the early period of reconstruction
In such papers rs the Galveston Ne,rs, the
New Orleans Times and Picdyuae, the Vcks
/
Courier, careful us they are to keep the bes
side out, we catch glimpses Of foul sores in
the body polite of their respective states.
Not long ago the Galveston paper I'D
mtted that under the republican rule o
Governor DAVIS life was cOmparatively
safe, because there was a firm determine
ton to pursue and punish criminals, Will,
under the present government of Texai
murder has become almost a pastime. I'm
der the same kind of rule kentucky ha,
earned anew her title Of the dark ant
"bloody ground"
A recent letter in the Charleston Neics aHt
Courier thus describes the political rulers o
q county in South Carolina, who have sun
pressed republican majority of nearly
two to one:
Williamsburg is certainly represented BY
men who reflect no honor on their county
As TO Intelligence, they are not above ordinary
and il Is an indisputable fact that neither sen
atOr nor representatives are entirely sObe
men. As TO representing tho property of tn,
county, they are wholly incompetent from til,
itGt that not Que on the ticket IS prOperty
holder Of any extent. An examination of the
yond dispute. The whole amount of taxai
paid by senator and representatives is $4i. .82
ranging from 81 to $500. That shows thai
th51S is but one man on the ticket who owns
any property. aud his does not amount tC
much. The highest tax paid by q county com
missioner Is S653. or course such ofIicer
have the interests Of the PToperty-holder a
heart in tho discharge of their duties. Blu
how came tho county in this condition
Through the working Of corrupt rings al
Kmgs;ree aud Scranton. The rebound thi
fall will be terrible, aud perhaps destructive
to the democratic party, ii the same ticket il
nominated,
In New Orleans a mob of hoodlums ha
complete control Of the city the courts art
timid and iuesolute, while the police an,
sherin's officers are entirely subseryieut t,
the lawlcss element grand Jury re
Gently presented almost every department
Of the city government as corrupt or Grim
finally incompetent, The Picayoao ex
claims that;
Is1orant raaian5 have ia the dire oxigeucie
oftuc democratic vaty uaulpcI Tho places 0