National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-04-08
The Truro MnY to Rule.

tits natural for the intelligence, wealth,
and culture of community to rule, and
such rule should be conducive to good
order, moral progress and material pros
pcrity. Under normal conditions the
poor, the ignorant, and dependent look
up to and respect those who are above
them in the social scale. 1t is not more
natural for soldier to respect the colonel
of his regiment or the captain of his COM
pany than for the humble laborer on
farm or in factary to respect his en-
ployer, provided the latter mas not made
such q sentiment impossible.
OF all the people on the globe the col
ored population of the United States
are the most docile and tractablc, the
most easily inspired with confidence.
They have respect for wealth, intelli-
gcncc, and education, and they pay due
tribute to social influence. They cherish
no malice for ante-belum wrongs, but
with fcrvent gratitude for the blessings
that have come to them they ask only for
a chance TO enjoy their rights. They de-
mand no indemnity for the past, but
they do want security for the future.
Why is it, then, that in many parts of
the South the wealth and refinement
representing minorities of the voters in
numerous communities, are banded to-
gether for the purpose of ruling over the
majority by force or fraud? Why is forci-
bic suppression preferred to kindly
Cancellation? Why do intelligent white
men, leaders of their party and conspicu-
Gus in public affairs, prefer TO rob the
black majority of any voice in government
municipal, State, and National-rather
than lead that majority in the right direc-
| ton?
There are statesmen in the Senate and
the House who might have been here as
the chosen and honored representatives
of millions of blacks had they not decided
to accept the support of few thousand
white men banded for the purpose of sup
pressing the negro vote. Malignant hos.
tility to the negro as II voter is the domi.
nant sentiment of the Bourbon mind
No problem of craftsmanship, no meas
ure or measures of national policy, nc
interest of the country has so much
taxed the Bourbon intellect as the de-
vising of methods for putting down the
black majority and keeping the white
minority on top.
This is not the natural and wholesome
rule of intelligence and wealth. 1t il
the brutal sway of force and cunning. i
is such q rule as cannot be long tolerated
by any people. If the blacks had no
been submissive, patient, long-sullcrinl
they would have risen on their perse
cutor5 long ago in more than one or two
States, and would have enacted tragedie!
more horrible than were ever seen oil
this continent.
But for tho fatal blunder of the Haye
administration in making a sort Of leagu
with the Bourbons against both blacl
and white Republicans we should hav
much mo;e hopeful state of affairs il
the South then we find there at thi
time. That league prolonged the life q
Bourbonism, but nothing could give grea
length of years to such Il monstrosity
1t has lost it's old-time confidence. II
insolence of tone and bearing have bee
toned down. 1t has seen successGu
rebellion against its authority in on
State, and it is convinced that othC
States are ripe for the same experiment
In its brutality and its bold defiance {
the rights of greatmasses of lawful voters
in its stealing of districts that were il
tended by its own acts to be Republican
in the means employed to put down {
override majorities the Bourbon spir
has overshot the mark. There are thor
, sands of Democrats in the South wi
have no sympathy with rascality. The
have gone as faras they can go with the
old associates. They believe in the gran
: old maxim, "All rights for all men,"
: the elections of this year the Liber
+, party of the South will astonish IL
! Bourbons by the responsibility of i
/ personnel and the strength Of its vote.
/