The Evening critic., 1881-12-15
Thursday, Dec. IS, 1881.

temporary, the Post of yesterday morning.
we learn that great and powerful troupe
of political comedians will call at the White
House and entertain the distinguished oc-
cupant thereof with q display of their
science. The troupe consists of Michigan
colonel, who reports, on the hand bills
which accompany the show, that che
fought four years and three months to pre-
serve American liberty, and that he is will
ling to do it again"
Announcements of this kind, involving
the idea Of gore, naturally alarm, not to say
shock, the public, and the special occasion
for this warlike platform and all this rush
to arms will become the subject of fearful
inquiry. 1t seems that Col. Roberts, who
fought four years and three months to pre-
serve American liberty land we suppose
that American liberty will cheerfully ac-
knowledge the obligation), proposes to join
in a sort of humanitarian crusade against
the people of Mississippi. The idea is to
snatch the State government from the
hands of the present possessors. To quote
the language Of our esteemed contemporary,
"they will assert the election of their ticket
last fall by $4,000 majority. They propose
to swear in and inaugurate the Fusion
ticket, and to demand the State House at
jackson, which will be refused by the Dem
ocrats. The Colonel says the Democrats
will then refuse the militia, and an appeal
will be made to President Arthur, who, it is
expected, will inform Congress that dual
government exists in Mississippi, and an
investigation will be made which, the Col
onel claims, will result in the recognition
OF the Republican ticket"
This is beautiful theory, but it has not
been extensively practiced for the past ten
years. In the first place there is an innate
sign of weakness displayed in drafting q
man from Michigan to supply the heroism
for the scheme. AS rule, the denizens of
Mississippi, to the manor born, have a stock
ofpersonal courage large enough to warrant
them in doing their own fighting for them
selves. We therefore feel authorized to re.
mark that the above project is selfconvict
ed fraud. Whenever an alleged Mississippian
travels all the way to Michigan for the
courage required to maintain his rights
you can place him in the carpetbag col
umn.
There may be ways to break up this po-
litical anomaly known as the Solid South,
but it will not be by Federal bayonets, inn
ported pirates and financial devil-ish. In
this year of our Lord 1881 it is rather late
to expect the occupant of the White House
to resurrect the ghost of Grantism in all its
hideous deformities with the avowed or
covert purpose of politically disrupting the
South.
That particular class Of spook has had its
day. 1t is barely possible that these Rip
Van Wrinkle carpetbaggers, who have been
slumbering in their holes till the sun OF
Stalwartism has warmed them into life and
hope, imagine that old methods will be re-
vived under Mr.. Arthur-that the i'm.
ported thief will be again turned loose on
the treasures of the Southern States, and
the bayonet as pacifer will resume its
lost respectability.
But they are mistaken in the instru
ments needed to divide the South
against itself. Mr.. Arthur man of the
world as he is, can see that this whole
question Of the South is the fable Of the
wind and sun repeated. So long as thu
storms of Federal interference and op
preston blew over those regions, the voter
buckled the mantle oflocallpreiudice arount
them, and never ventured to unloosc it til
the sun of fair dealing and charity begar
to shine. Hence we say that the CORY gen
tlemen who announce themselves as having
fought four years and three months to pre-
serve American liberty can quietl,
stick that recommendation for courage il
their pockets. 1t is not needed. Some o
Mahone's brigade may manage to break tn
Southern lines by campaign of amity an,
indirection, but it will never be done b.
Federal muskets or fiery, untamed warrior
from Michigan.
lUr