National Republican., 1883-09-07
Tho American DahOmeY.

AS IN A1flCa 80 III America tnero IS q la
honey. The African Dahomey formerly
carried on o large traffic in slaves, and
descriptive writer remarks that the fero.
cious habits engendered by that trade are
still characteristic of the people," In South
Carolina, which is our American Dahomey, it
may be said that the ferocious habits engen-
istic among that portion of the people which,
though numbering about one in seven of tho
legal voters Of the state, does still u5urp its
political power and refuse to count the votes
by which at every election it is rebuked by
the people. "lhe King" of the African
Dahomey says the same writer, is regarded
as as fetch or deity. Doubtless this belief
has much to do with the sanguinary customs
which prevail at his court, Even the highest
officers prostrate themselves in the dust when
they approach him. As he claims to bo SOW
ereign over life and death, his residence is
paved with human skulls. Every year he
holds festival in which human sacrifices are
offered, and persons are slain on the graves of
his ancestors in order that their spirits may
batho in the blood" And in our American
Dahomey does not KingBourbon command the
same homage and are not human sacrifces
offered On his altar at the yearly political
festival =? Again, "Since the suppression of
that traffic c"-i. e., the slave trade" Dahomey
has sunk in Importance. Wars with the ad-
joining states have been attended with vary
ing success Other resemblances there are,
but we have no room for more. We refer the
reader to the article on "Dahomey" in the
American Cyclopedia. The parallel is rather
striking. The adult males of the American
Dahomey number about 100000. OF these,
$4,000 are black and 10000 white. The
election machinery is in the hands of the 50.
called democratic organization. The gov
ernor appoints only the slaves Of the king to
receive and count votes. Thus voting has
nothing to do with elections, for the boxes
are made TO tell the tale desired by the mas
ters. The votaries of the black idol which
rules in our Dahomey, are said to number
about 40, O,OOO--nearly all white Against them
are 10000 whites, who werc democrats and
confederates, but are now independent.
These are rs powerlcss as the negroes, for
their votes are not counted by the
kings men. Tho complaint made OF this
tyranny by the white Independents is mot
with white-hot imprecations from the tyrants,
echoed by every contcnted lickspittle in the
north who can get bourbon applause for doing
bourbon work. The road out of this condi-
tion of affairs in South Carolina is through a
firm execution Of tho federal election laws al
the presidential and congressional election
next year. There can be no federal super
vision at the state election. At the election
for congressman there can. Thon lot the
10000 trhite opponents of the king of Da'
honey be invited to sustain tho President in
seeing that the laws are faithfully executed,
and under marshal fit to command such q
posse the twenty thousand democrats O.
South Carolina will be unable to count out
the men chosen to congress. If no negro
should vote in South Carolina the SO called
democrats are still in tho minority. Let the
willing friends of law and order have
chance to uphold the election laws and tina
democratic minority will not dare to break
the peace The state elections are a bur
lesque, Let the national elections be con
Quoted under rigid enforcement of nationa