New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-21

the majority; in the concrete they Kick
mt it. They recognize, or think they
recognize, the two great facts OF eman-
cIpation and enfranchisement they are
not unwilling that some of the blacks
should vote, under certain conditions, and
if it is certain that they are in minority-that
their votes should be counted. SO much they
concede TO the public sentiment that ELECTED
the freedom of the former slaves. Ihey are
generous enough-and they consider 1t pure
generosity-to permit the lately eniranchlsed
blacks to amuse themselves to this extent with
their new privilege. But when 1T comes to
permitting them all to vote and nave theT
votes counted, when the result would show
that they are in the majority and fairly en-
titled to political power and control, our
Democratic friends are shocked.
And they have right to be. 1t IS always
shocking to be in minority, particularly so
when that minority contains what Mr.. 1lllman
calls the virtue, intelligence and wealth OF
community, and the tendency OF the majority
Is-as the South Carolina Democrats assert
to raise ignorance, inexperience and ir-
responsibility to power. Suli' as mas
often been said and cannot be too often re-
peated, that is one of the risks assumed ny
people who undertake seli-goyernment'
Must we then submit 10 majority rule Wheh
ignorance and ncapacity and possibly worse are
in the numerical ascendant? UnquestionaDiy
II is the inexorable logic of free institutions
and popular self-government. Here our South
Carolina friends take issue with US. They say
that sooner than submit to such control they
Will violate the first principle OF republican
government; they will cut the throat OF de-
mocracy. 1t is short way out OF the DIM
Guilty, to be sure, but there is little in 1t OF
statesmanship and less of wisdom or PM
losophy. They have problem on their hands
that must be worked out laboriOusly and
patiently; Impotence, haste and passion only
retard its solution. There must be better
way for the virtue, intelligence and wealth
of community to secure their prop
er influence and put down bad gov
ernment than by the commission OF crime.
No misgovernment can DO so bad In Its
general effect as the systematic suppression
by criminal methods OF rIghtful majority
There may be some mitigation of the former,
but for the latter there is no healing. 1t
should he borne in m.hd rs specially peril
nent fact that the ignorance and unw0rthlness
of the blacks of which South Carolina Demo
Gratis complain are legitimate fruits OF the
seed of slavery they sowed so long. There Is
high authority for saying that they who SOW
the wind must reap the whrlwind, but our
South Carolina sewers of the wind seem un-
ready for the most trihing adverse flaw.
The farewell speech and confession OF Mr.
Tillman only add another to the many proofs
and illustrations of the purpose of the South
Carolina Democrats to override the legal ma
jority of voters in that State, and to do 1t
openly and boldly, upon tho plea that in hat
way only can the "Caucasians main nm
their rights as the ruling class over TIE
"Barbarians," and the native intelligence and
wealth of the State retain control. And that
raises a question not for South Carolina alone,
but for the country. There must be some way
for South Carolina TO obtain good government
and honest administration other than by
cheating at the polls. And If South Carolina
| Democrats cannot find it, they must give way
| to those who can.