New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-06-27

10 enable them rightly 10 understand INC "''"'.'
facts Of Stnifbern life aud of the relations '"t
the two races there. IL Is knowle"9e VIM" "
needed: wide observation OF facts acoui''v' F"''
ora,,l,ic reporting and then snch comparison anu
dis,slo,, If the resuls-of The facts ot the H'nA-
-. 80, tbonphtfrl people Of our country are
nbupdantly capable Of conducting Wheh 'nVS "i0
possessed Of adequate information.
sorrrrrEy rGNORsNCE AND plSTRtsT
When have presented this view Of the ma't'r@o
Southern men they have usually lament'r '"rH
lack OF writers OF ability 10 present adeqnaVH ~"
fac.s Of the southern situation for the cons"'f"-
ton of the Northern people; hut surely o'"'"''n
mon can observe. can study existing couui'"n' '.N
o.iitiss in their own country. and can report the
facts accurately, without coloring' distoit nE "'
e,,nressipc them. If they cannot now 90 tl'
the mpst learn. for herein lies their salvation II
c,nnot he too innch insi.t,d upon that no sven
stply or presentation Of the facts OF southern He
aud pogticaI and social conditions has yet o'eh
made by Southern men. and that the people % 'H'
Sonth need such Information nearly or PI''o as
much as the people Of The North
Again. Southern men have often eXTr'S-e' I'D Hc
dStrrst regarding the disposition or wllhnsuc', "i
the Northern people to receive ana oil N"''",i"
pe,vsuor.rs 10 publish the real truth IA REGARD ID
The south. without partisan manipulation h't !
assure them that in this they are in error The poo
MD of III, Northern States WISH to know the oNart
trptb rcgarding the whole state Of things ~ the
Sou,h; and our leading Northern newspapers "I'
not only willing 20 publish the exact truth 'ut
they are most DESTROYS 70 obtain It, ms series Oh
Southern letters, in paper Of the character ana
circulation of TIE tribune is a proof " tEl'' Il
any proof were needed The people Of TIE S""'h
sboud learn to present their case, if they feel
that they have one. They may be sure that inns
work of the observation and reporting of the Iacl'
c...l.-,, ,,tifoI conditions and attiN lfICs VIII
be taken ND more aud more extensively, and per
forn,ed more and more thorouchly. by Northern
,oen and if would be an excellent thing for south
ern interests if Southern men would lead I'D 'ih7
field There is n desire throughout the North Tor
fuer knowledge of Southern Affairs. TINS desire Is
certain "a increase There Will soon he many
worker in this field and the educated ana lF'ri"uc
young men OF the South could not "c>''' "PPor'
tunty for service more worthy OF their best powers
or moro important for the welfare OF TIE coilllu-
, mites in which they live.
The South needs an independent press; not
merely two or three great newspapers IN the largest
cities hut journals every State for the thorough
fearless discussion Of political subjects in atruiy Na-
tonal and bipartisan spirit. II is also most necc'-
sarg that Southern men Of ability ana tho'e"'iu'-
pess sbould throw OF the feeling OF hcpcssness and
deprcss.on IN regard to the evils of The political con-
dition of the south which now characteriles Thorn
However Great may be the obstacles in the path az
the southern people. they can be removed. or
greatly diminished. by the means which have here
indicated There is to-day far too much of diNIo-
sition among Southern men to excuse themselves
from all effort for Improvement in political matters
or account Of the abuses and wrongs connected
with the "carpetbag goycrmmcntS' Bat tie TINE
for helpessucsS and for mere complaining Is past.
TIE SITUATION MUST BIZ ACCEPTED.
l., . .orftt.t fftUf. ma Non grs
may still. in some instances. result from Che unre-
strained use Of the ballot by the ignorant black
voters. 50 many If whom rs have pointed ont. are
entirely incapable of any real exercise Of the right
If suffrage Ii may De true that it was a most Ill
advised and mischicvous proceeding to give the
enancpated slaves the ballot hut that is not now
very practical or interesting question II has been
done: and there is not the slightest probability that
the ballot will ever be tak'u from them. i-rie
will be no permanent peace or prosperity IN th'
South until the mass of the Snnhern people or
their leaders accept equal political rights for tie
negro "a, something inevitable. They ne~I -ot sag
they like it if they do not or that they believe the
reconSrlrtion measures" vcro wise, or that
Northern politicians are all saints and ncorruptole
natrotS: but negro Suffrage is an accomplished
fact II will be part Of all that the South can do
or become in politics. Tho nero is IN tho SOUTH
and i in her political life. and he has come 10 stay
Iflead NJ Southern men will declare thcms'l Ives
in favor Of equal political rights for both races and
of the protection OF all classes Of voters IN the mn
abridged exercise OF tho right Of suffrage, and VIII
work for these ends, thcy viii then have the most
vital sympathy and assistance of the people Of the
North nnacr any evils abuses that may com"
upon the South or any portion Of It, as the result OF
negro suffrage But the best people IN the North
The real North--wiu never believe that fraud ana
intimidation are necessary permanent feature OF
the political life Of any community IN our country.
Northern men who are entirely free from passion
and prciudicc against the Southland there ara
many Of them-ard who wish 70 aid the South
ern people to- attain the highest possible prosperity
can do little for this end while the practice OF sup
pressing or neutrahzng the negro vote Is main
{ained. ANY political system which includes and
tolerates such practices hopeless quclisand upon
. which nothing can re made 20 stand; bottomless
Dit of corruption which must ultimately swallow mp
the civil institutions of people blind enough to
think that Injustice can be a means Of security.
Let Southern men everywhere % 20 work TO cN-
pose and expel from politics all dishonest and cor
rupt men. whether they are from the North o; the
South let them use all in their power n in
crease and diifuse intelligence among the people of
both races 10 educate and develop public sentiment
in accordance with the principles Of justice and
right aud especially let them incucatc and practice
obedience to law; they can then maintain self
respect under whatever temporary evils may still
afiet them.
SOUTHERN SALVATION POSSIBLE.
believe that the suggestions OF this letter en-
body practicable and sufficient remedy for the
stroublcs of the South" SO far rs thly are con-
nected with negro suffrage or are produced by ITS
results OF accomplishments. Thtse things would re-
ouire time and patience bur they can be done. The
day of the old order of things the time for suppress