National Republican., 1880-08-14
Southern Census Rcturns.

To The Editor of The National Republican
SIR: Allow me n few words about the CEN
sus returns from the south. First wish to
thank you for your attention to to this matter.
If fraud is being perpetrated IL is ono which
should command the serious attention Of every
lover of his country. Tho facts ought TO be
studied and agitatcd. False census returns
are far more fatal, because more far.reaching
than bulldoZing or tissue ballots. The people
of the north seem incapable Of understanding
tho south. They can't understand. In the
north, business, tho courts, legislation, census
etc, arc all impartially conducted, regardless
of politics. So IL is even with civilization,
commerce and christianity. These are always
conservative Conciliatory, forgivng, slow to
suspect, They can't conceive how ii is that
whole communities can be so bad. Yet, stop
and think. The "bcsi" southern people sought
to destroy the government. 1t is the "high-
toned southern gentlemen" who have planned
the ku klux the night-riders, tissue ballots
and other modes of fraud aud violence. 1t Is
they who arc planning this monstrous scheme
of fraud upon the census, and it Is they who
will deny it and resist Investigation. This
being charged against the north or northern
state, leading citizens would promptly demand
scrutiny and denounce tho fraud If proven.
Not so with the chivalry. Regardless of the
mode, they will get all they eau and hold all
they get If tho north can bo fooled or coaxcd,
or prefer submission to contest.
Those who have lived south since the war
assert that there is no doubt whatever OF mon
strous frauds on the census, planned and to be
defended by tho best" citizens, These men
| say that while Thousands went south during
reconstruction yet they have all returned, and
thousands, white and black, with them, so
| that the south has lost rather than gained in
population. There is not tho slightest doubt
of this on the part of thOse VINO know the
south from actual residence. Those who have
observed the depots and railroads in the south
| for the last five years havo seen thousands
leaving and few going in.
| In your paper this morning you say: "rhC
southern leaders have long had two con
scences-one for personal transactions, the
other for all that relates TO politics." The
records of the courts, legislative journals aud
| the cases in the southern claims commission
will present an array Of iascalty perfectly
bowidering. 1t is the evidence of all who
have lived south that the talk Of "honor" il
bosh aud tho "high.toned gentleman" is a
myth. Ispeak Of the bulk of the politicians
and not OF tho honorable exception. As O
rule you are wrong. He who Is dishonest in
politics will be so in private transactions, 81
in morals. Tho criminal Intercourse Of white
men with tho coored women is attestea
not only by the whitening out Of tho blacks
but by thusc who havo lived south, This il
certified to be most shameful and universal
evil, shockinGly public, yet against which nC
pulpit in the south has ever protested.
viii the northern people never understand
that treason is q crime, and that those who
are guilty of this and Of bulldozing and tissue
ballots are capable Of any crime in the deca-
| loguo2
In 1861 southern representatives deserted
the national capital under circumstances oil
the grossest criminality Tho treasury was
found depleted and tho public money plum.
dered and the navy scattered to the foul
quarters Of the globe. Trace thor history from
that time to this and 1t will DO found that q
gigantic scheme of fraud is in keeping with
their history. Look ahoad aud 1t will be
easy TO imagine what is in store for tho coun
try should they succeed to power If, in the
face of these considerations, the northern
people will not arouse they deserve tho fate
that awaits them in tho event of democratic
| ascendancy UNION SOLDIER.