New-York tribune., 1884-02-26
uIpn MT TO CR4CK.

Those Northern Republican journals which
have committed themselves to the theory that
every reference to the abuse of colored voters
at the South is claptrap and waving OF the
bloody shirt" are just now compelled TO cschew
all allusion tothe testimony being taken con-
cerning the Danyille and COpiah County out
RACES, because that testimony furnishes the
most abundant and conclusive proof that there
are still many parts of the South in which the
political mainstay of the white Democrats is
terrorism, kept at a white heat during every
campaign by murders and whppingS and all
manner Of Outmges. 1t is further demonstrated
by these investigations that the Southern
Democrats have not the least intention OF
changing their political habits. Their tcstl-
mony on this head is as frank as it is brutal.
One leading citizen" mhcstatingly declared
that he and his friends prcfcned bulldozing to
letting the col0red vote count. Another witness
owned to having voted for Wheeler, the mur-
derer of Matthews, for alderman. after he COM
mitted that crime, but intmated that he did not
regard the killing as murder, and would only
admit that Wheeler might perhaps have been
guilty of an indiscretiOn.n This Is what the
cowardly. deliberate assassination of man by
date of secret organization is called i'll Copah
County, and that this is n common sentiment
there is proved by the fact that another witness,
who was bold enough to characterize the deed
as "cowardly murder" was threatened with
death, and driven ont of the town.
The general tone of the witnesses, when they
are white men, is in fact one of cool indiiicr-
ence to what is thought of their peculiar politi-
cal methods, joined with as cool determina-
ton to persevere in them. Now whoever pre-
tends that these facts and admissions are not
both legitimate and necessary factors in North
ern political discussion must ignore the rela-
lion of such facts to National politics The
question of the Presidential election is a qucs-
tion of the votes of the States. If any number
Of States are made to return Electors not chosen
bv the voters of the district concerned. the
whole result of the election i, liable to be vita
ted, and the popular choica for President over
borne by force and fraud. Ii is of record that
this has been already attempted twice by the
Southern Democrats. The prctence that Til
den had larger popular vote than Hayes could
only be supported by ignoring { lac suppression ot
the col0rcd Southern vote i'm half dozen
States: and so Tonga, terrorism and outrage
are permitted TO dominate Southern politics,
there can be no security for aa orderly, lawful
and honest Presidential election Just 50 long
the INorthcml voters viii. be fplaying against
antagonists who have stocked" the cards.
This consideration is wholly apart from that OF
the couuty's duty to protect the colored citizen
in the enjoyment Of his political rights, which
must be recognized.
But the too-fastidiou, contcmnncrs OF the
"bioody shirt" in politics must sacrifice the
verv essence of all political action in order to
obtain stauding-gromd for their eccentric doc
trinc Those on the other hand, who realize
the duty of protecting the colorcd voter, and OF
securing to the North tie just pofentiai'y Of It's
suffrage VII accord the proper weight TO the
evidence of Southern hwlc,,ucse and political
uSulDaiiOn