The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1883-11-24

40 ASes- ~~-3 4
A wear from now both parties vii! |
probably have made their Presidential
nominations, and the hot political hgnt
with which the country is afflicted every |
forty-eight months will have fairly be-
gun. In that fight the Republicans will
undoubtedly attempt to use the gun
which has been in constant service
since 1856 whenever the Presidency was
the price of victory. We mean: OF
course, the antiquated piece OF artillery
composed in equal parts OF African
rights and African wrongs, as repre-
scented by the relations OF the two races
in the South. At present it happens 70
be in the shop for repairs, and perhaps
alterations; and before it comes out
again brief inquiry in regard to us
capacity for future mischief will not be
inappropriate. In othej. words, as he
| publican organs and orators will Ger.
tainly try to ssfire the Northern heart
on the Southern question at the mp
preaching National election, let us see
how that question really stands to-day
when partisan lies have as yet had no
chance to operate upon it.
First and foremost, the South Is as
quiet and peaceful as the North. There
are as few violations of law, in proper
ton to population, I'M the Southern
States as in the Northern, probably fcw-
err; and these are entirely non-political
in character and purpose merely the
usual manifestations Of human deprav..
| ity. The extensive assortment OF
crimes which existed, or was said to
exist, when Southern Republicanism
was in the full bloom of its power, has
practically disappeared altogether since
the Southern people we're allowed to
manage their own affairs in their own
way-and chose the Democratic way.
In 1876 Republican authorities declared
that every year over a thousand persons
belonging to that party, were killed or
grievousiy maltreated on account OF
| their political opinions in Louisiana
| alone. Singularly enough, however, as
soon as the Electoral vote of that State
was stolen for Hayes, while at the same
time the Republican candidate for Gov
ernor-who had more votes than
Hayes-was told to consider himself de-
, feafed, political murders and NAL
|, treatment there came to an end; so that
) to-day white or black Republican is
as safe and serene Ia Louisiana as
q in Massachusetts. Tho occupation ol
! Eliza Pinkston & CO, was gone the
e moment the last Federal soldier left
n New Orleans, and that famous firm
: went into hopeless bankruptcy
Though the South, from thu
o Potomac to the Rio Grande, and from
a the Ohio to the Gulf is packed witt
r. Republican office-holders and agents
no Republican MunGhansen is sufi
v GENTLY impudent ami shameless Z
i, manufacture new supply OF the Oh
y falsehoods. The "Soathern outrage
mill has stopped grinding; bulldozers
,e bulldozing, Ku-Klux and rifle club
4 have returned to the land of fable wher
r they were born; and the most stupi
and prejudiced Republican in the Mort
N knows that the South is quite as orderl
10 and well-behaved in every respect q
,e his own section, and there is no rcaso
why she should not remain SO. H
Ie knows, too, or may know, If he ha
RI ewes to read or ears to hear, that III
~ exodus business has exploded, doin
ke no damage to anybody. except tn
ignorant negroes who invested in j
n and that the two races are living an
e. working together rs tremendously an
n. happily as the ordinary casualties, col
in fiicts and chances of life will pcrmi
lis 4 In short, the Southern question, in q
its political, social and indu trial phase
an is, If not actually settled, in process
nm final and satisfactory settlement. A
n. it requires to reach that desirable CO.
summation is to be let alone. III
I'm policy of interference was tried fro
al 1865 to 1877, and its. results make Il
In darkest chapter in the Nations histor
,r- The policy of non-interf srence has bet
tried from 1877 to 1883, and its resul
er. are before the world to speak for ther
&C. selves.
- Such being the plain and undeniah
facts in relation to the present cont
ton and prospects OF the Southe
m. question, it is difficult to see how Il
old Republican gun can be utilized
he the coming campaign; but that an effo
oil will be made to drag it into the field
support of the Republican ticket is 81
the ficiently certain. Tho simple truth of t
on. on, matter is that the Republicans can \
go get along without It To take fro
de. them the Southern question would
1sS. another case of the play of ''Hamle
the minus the melancholy Dane. III
ION must have their customary suit
:" solemn black;'' they must have the
lse- ways virtuous and oppressed negro, q
nee nee the always wild and wicked Southe
din, Democrat; they must have a Uni
ave eternally threatened with disunion, q
'e5' .sresults Of the war; eternally in dang
has of becoming no results at all; they mi
' on have Southern Vesuvius alws
ed. preparing to belck forth flame n