The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-10-18
African Rights and African Wrongs.

I
probably have made their Presidentia
nominations, and the hot political figh
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 wa:
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 to
be in the shop for repairs, and perhaps
alterations; and before it comes out
again a brief inquiry in regard to it:
capacity for future mischief will not be
inappropriate. In other words, as Re-
publican organs and orators will GER
tainly try to ''fire the Northern heart
on the Southern question at the APP
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, in the Southern
States as in the Northern, probably few
er; 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 sad to
exist, when Southern Republicanism
was in the full bloom of its power, has
practically disappeared altogether since
the Southern people were allowed to
manage their own affairs in their own
way-and chose the Democratic way.
In 1876 Republican authorities declared
that every year over thousand persons
belonging to that party were killed or
grievously 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 70 consider himself de-
feated, political murders and NAL
treatment there came to an end; so that
to-day white or black Republican is
as safe and serene in Louisiana as
in Massachusetts The occupation of
Eliza Pinkston & Co, was gone the
moment the last Federal soldier left
New Orleans, and that famous firm
went into hopeless bankruptcy.
Though the South, from the
Potomac to the Rio Grande, and from
the Ohio to the Gulf, is packed with
Republican office-holders and agents,
no Republican Munchausen is suffi-
ciently impudent and shameless to
manufacture new supply of the old
falsehoods. The Southern outrage
mill has stopped grinding; bulldozers,
bulldozing, ku-Klux and rifle clubs
have returned to the land of fable where
they were born; and the most stupid
and preiudiced Republican in the North
knows that the South is quite as orderly
and Well-behaved in every respect as
his own section. and there is no reason
why she should not remain so. He
knows, too, or may know, if he has
eyes to read or ears to hear, that the
exodus business has exploded, doing
no damage to anybody, except the
ignorant negroes who invested in it;
and that the two races are living and
together as tremendously and
happily as the ordinary casualties, con-
tiictS and chances of life will permit.
In short, the Southern question, in all
its political, social and indus trial phases,
is, if not actually settled, in process of
final and satisfactory settlement. All
it requires to reach chat desirable con-
summation is to be let alone. The
policy of interference was tried from
1865 to 1877, and its results make the
darkest chapter in the Nations history.
The policy of nOn-interference has been
tried from 1877 to 1888. and its results
are before the world to speak for them
selves.
Such being the plain and undeniable
facts in relation to the present condi-
ton and prospects of the Southern
question, it is difficult to see how this
old Republican gun can be utilized in
the coming campaign; but that an effort
will be made to drag it into the field in
support of the Republican ticket is suf-
certain. The simple truth of the
matter is that the Republicans can not
get along without it. To take from
them the Southern question would be
another case of the play of Hamlet
minus the melancholy Dane. They
must have their customary suit of
solemn black" they must have the al
ways virtuous and oppressed negro, and
the always wild and wicked Southern
Democrat; they must have a Union
eternally threatened with disunion, and
''results of the war" eternally in danger
of becoming no results at all; they must
have a Southern Vesuvius always
to belch forth flame and
blood. and crying for Republican water
to put it out; they must play the same
old tune on the same old fiddle, hoping
the people will dance to it in the same
old fashion. We think the people will
decline to flourish ''the light, fantastic
toe" any more on any such provocation.
We think that the people, seeing how
peaceful and prosperous the South is in
1888, can not in 1884 be made to be-
lieve that it is hell upon earth. The
old Republican gun may, and doubtless
will, be brought to the front as usual;
but the unmistakable indications are
that the poets rhyme will receive bril-
liant and vigorous illustration thereby:
But as some musSets so contrive it
As oft to miss the mark they drive at
And though well aimed at duck or plover,
Bear wide and kick their owners over"
-Erchanqe.