New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-08

centre OF lie Is INC DCoO pi"N''
THE ONLY HOPE FOR THE SOUTH.
Every close student of political developments
in the South must have been able to discern
many indications during the past few months
of q hopeful Improvement in Southern public
opnion. The Bourbons still have control III
nearly every Southern State, but thclr own
declarations are sufficient evidence that they
are able to maintain their power only D! inc
most desperate means. They complain oll'eily
that the masses of the white population do not
give them that cordial support which they hau
a few years ago, aud attempt to alarm them
into fresh zeal by saying that if they are not
sustained the South will he given over again TO
negro rule. In States like South Carolina and
Mississippi, where the crimes against the
ballot-box have been most atrocious, the
Bourbon alarm is peculiarly marked. The
confession is made openly that the people are
uneasy about the constant repetition OF fraud,
and it is urged that some new process OF de-
stroving negro votes must be invented or there
will be a revolt.
We believe the revelations made by the klec-
lions Committee of Congress have had a good
deal to do with increasing this Southern dlscon-
tent. Ii could not well be otherwise. Every
self-respecting man in the South who has a
spark of pride in his section, must be pro-
foundly Inundated by the disclosures made
concerning the Bourbon methods OF carrying
elections 1t is doubtful it, outside the COM
paratively small circle of working politicians
the white people of the South had anything
like an adequate conception of the enormty OF
the frauds committed in their name. Ihey
knew in vague way that there were some
irrerularities, but they could not have sus-
pected that there was such perfect riot OF
dishonesty as has been revealed. They are
American citizens with the rest of MS, and like
Ms must feel the suicidal folly of permitting
snch crimes to be continued without check from
public sentiment. OF the truth OF the reveal
tions made they could have no doubt 1t is
fact to be dwelt upon as encouraging, that no
| Democratic newspaper either North or SOutl
| has attempted to defend or to explain the
frauds exposed. Many of the Democratic
| journals have assaulted the partisanshlp oil Con
| gress in deciding the Southern contested cases,
| but even these have refrained from attempting
| 70 refnte the evidence produced. In one notable
case. that of Chalmers in Mississippi the
| leading Democratic newspaper OF the State
pronounced the verdict just. Even the Demo
cratic Congressman who tried in vain to delay
action on these cases did not venture upon a
| defence of the frauds These are unmisakablc
| indications that fraud of this kind is becoming
unpopular.
| II is only a few weeks since we witnessed the
| painful exhibition in South Carolina, wherein
it was made manifest that no jury could bC
collected which would dare to bring in verdict
against a Democrat for political crime. Ye
these very TRIALS showed that the first jury EN-
panelled would have done their duty faith
! fully if they had not been frightened into the
opposite course by the threats Of the Bourbon
| leaders Their inclinatiOns were right, bu
their courage was weak. They may be more
trave year hence, for even III South Caroline
the public conscience shows signs OF awaken
Ing The BourbOns have had hard work tt
| carry their points about the registration law
and about redistricting the State so as to de
prive the colOred voters of all their rights
They Will probably be successful, but the
energy they are obliged to put forth shows how
suspicious the people have become. We very
| much wish they were more suspicious, NOR,
brave about needing the prOmptngs Of thei
| consciences They are slowly realizing that
serious mistake is being persisted in. That il
about all that can be said of them now, but it il
more than could be said year ago.
This is the beginning of the end, for sOun(
public opinion is the only hope of the South
| 1t is folly for any State or section to suppOs,
| that it can prosper by systematic dishonesty
| The South has tried this policy, and is begin
ming to discover the blunder Just so soon IA
| Son thern Dublic opinion saws that DOitiCa
crime shall be punished as relentessly as any
other crime, fraud will. cease in the South, anC
that section will begin to share the marvellous
prosperity of the rest of the country. Blu
until public opinion does thus assert itself, the
South will remain where she is now, in the real
| of the procession.