The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-17
i Review OF Presidential Possibilities
by Hon. Richard Smith.
EX-S enstor Simon Cameron on the Political
Outlook-A RumOred Reconciliation
OF Grant and Blaine.
TEE SOLID SOUTH.
Shall the Rule of Bourb0nism BE Broken
The Bitter Feeling Toward the North.

-" auanolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 81 was talking with
Representative C. A. Boutelle, of Bangor,
Me- to-day, in reference to a solid South.
He was one OF the gentlemen present at the
recent meeting of members of the Union
League, an organization which, years ago,
was anti-slavery and which has now under
taken to overthrow Bourbonism in the South
ern States. In the course of the converse
ton L asked Mr.. Boutelle if this was the first
effort to make war on Bourbonism.
He said; "At a meeting Of the national
committee of the Republican party two years
ago, gentleman from North Carolina intro
duced a resolution to favor any movement
that would tend to break up Bourbon rule.
1t was freely discussed, and there was feel
ing to welcome any movement which had in
view the promotion of the fundamental prin-
ciples of the Republican party, I believe it
is the duty of that party to encourage eveTy-
body who will Join hands with us to break
down any attempt to prevent free ballot.
'In 1864, when an humble officer in the
navy, l used to go in the House and Senate
galleries and watch the proceedings in the
two houses, I had no idea then that it would
be my lot, in so brief a period, to be a men,
ber of one of those bodies and see a confed-
crate majority in control, Within a week
have seen a delegation of ten from Tennes-
see go forward and take the oath. Only two
of those swore that they had never sought
to destroy this government. 1 saw four out
of five subordinate officers including the
man selected to pray obliged to take the
modified oath, an oath that said they had
born arms against the Union. A few minutes
later saw young member take the modi-
fed oath. A young friend said to him after
adjournment:
"'Why did you take the modified oath?'
You were only ten years old when the war
closed
Our people are better pleasedif their rep
resentatiyes refuse to take the "ironcad
oath" he said, an oath which tells the pub
lie that he who takes it has never borne arms
against the government.
'Soon there will be bill from the Senate
to repeal the test oath. What is this for?
Why to make it easier for the confederates.
Something has got to be done, and that right
early"
I asked Mr.. A. E. Buck. prominent law
yer of Atlanta, Ga, who has been here sew
eral days, what was the condition of Bour-
bonism in his State?
He replied: The destruction of Bourbon
ism is the greatest question in American
politics to-day. There is toadysm in the
South which has existed from the admins
tration OF Hayes down to the present time,
and which has nearly wiped out the Repub-
licans in that section, The Democrats
in the South say they will not
permit any party to control the
State by negro votes They are determined
not to recognize the negro.
AN elder in the Presbyterian Church at
Atlanta, a personal friend to me- sits oppo-
site me in church. While travelling together
to our business in a horse-car just after the
Hamburg massacre, some one remarked that
the massacre was a terrible thing. The elder
replied:
The negro must learn to keep his place.
I'VE have slavery defended in Georgia, to-
day in the pulpis. Can we expect to over
throw Bourbonism there until we have some
aid? The elections are at night, and the farce
of voting in the day is q mere pleasantly.
There are men in the South who are with
us, but they don't act. When they find that
their business interests are protected and
their social status safe, they will como out
and be with rs.
"A judge of the Supreme Court of the
State was at my house one evening last year,
and politics were discussed lie made the
remark that fraud against the balot-box is
treason against the Scte. The time must
come when fraud at the ballot-box will be
punished as treason His statement shows
that men are beginning to think in the
South.
"RepubUcans have got to make a fight,
open and square, and show that they are a
party of principle, and discuss the question
of human liberty"
Mr. Bryant, from the same State as Mr.
Buck, tells me that there are 12 OO0O00 white
people in the South, one-sixrh of whom are
Bourbons lie says there are white men in
that section more degraded than the lowest
negroes, and that they are raising their chill
dren hardly above the brute. This condition
OF affairs he attributes to the degrading rule
of Bourbonism.
Mr. a. NJ Clapp formerly Public Printer,
and years ago an editor in New York, be-
means the result OF Bourbonsm He said,
in talking upon this subject: "Fourteen
years ago, l came here and found both
houses solidly Republican, and the nation
apparently on the high road to prosperity,