The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-03-26
A SERIOUS QUESTION FOR REPCBLI-
CANS TO CONSIDER.

From the Mississippi Republican.
Why do the leading Bourbon Democratic
statesmen OF the South want Gen. Grant noml-
mated for the Presidency by the Republicans at
Chicago? The thinking Republican, North and
South, should ask this question before precpl
tatinS himself into the boom which, just now,
many woud-be political prophets declare Will
sweep the Presidential channel clean IN Novem-
Der next We are well acquainted with many
Of the great Democratic ead-ghts in this part
of the vineyard. and are cognzan; OF their
ideas on the Presidential question. la the first
place. they believe (and they are rght) that the
Republican nominee for President next June at
Chicago VIII be elected beyond question. Be-
liaying this, theyare ANXIOUS to throw themselves
in line, so that when the election Is over they
Will be ready to march under liberal co!ors. be-
cause they see IN the future a fearfuly black
political cloud, which must envelope them aud
their section should they continue their terrible
policy of whipping, tor;urDg, shooting and
numbering men on account OF political opinions.
They say among themselves in private couu-
ellis I'VE have not yet tried any of those stall
warts for President, but we have had Grant
the Southern States, except one or two, were
Republican under his first term, we were allie.
during his second term, to stuff or steal ballot
boxes, night-rde, kill, and intlmidate Republi-
cans al our pleasure-in fact, we were enabled
TO throw perfect terror into their ranks through
out the South, completely demoralizing the
Republican party and breaking up its organl-
cations. If we could do that while Grant was
President, we do not think he would interfere
with our plans for local self-government il be
were reelected" Thus they settle the Presl-
dental problem. so far as the South is con-
cerned.
While every word of the above is as true as
that water runs and grass grows, we will not
say that Gen. Grant could have done better
than he did, nor could any other President
against the wishes OF the people and Congress.
Taking for granted that this was really the
situation when several State governments were
overturned by revoutlon-and revolution.
too, as terrible as that under Phillip III dur
ing the struggle OF the Dutch Republic for
liberty-we were put IN the political nIne-hole
under Mr.. Grants second term: and some OF
our wise mon think the only way to get out is
to elect Gen. Grant. il may be the part of
wisdom, but there are thousands OF honest.
earnest, hard-wcrkins Republicans VINO seri-
ousy doubt tue policy, and can't be made 10
see the necessity of such course. and our
opinion is, that they Will be heard from at the
proper time and place.
We heard 1t said, and read it IN print, that
Gen. Grant is the only man in the Republican
party that can carry any Southern State. In
answer 10 which allow us to say that no Re-
publican can have single Southern State fairly
counted for him, unless there should be a won
derful-and to US unlocked for-change in the
policy and practices or the Bourbon Democracy,
or obtains the consent OF the leaders thereof.
chinery.
We say this, because it is we'll known to every
citizen Of Mississippi that our State and county
elections under Democratic management have.
for the last five years. been the merest farce.
mockery and a disgrace 10 the civilization OF
the age in which we 1--we. Gen. Grant. then.
would be no stronger-have no better chance
than any other Republican. Can it be possible
that there IS any understanding between the I
leading Bourbon Democrats OF the South and
Gen. Grants friends? We hope not.
Every Republican in the South, white and
black. knows that what we have stated is per
fectly true in every particular. There are
few men in this section calling themselves Re
publicans, and claiming to represent the party.