The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-02-04
FROM ONE WHO KNOWS.
Views of an Ex-Governor of South CAROLYN;
on the Southern Question.

Views OF an Ex-Governor OF Soutn Cacoitn8
the Southern Question
In the current number of the Ne,o
Englapder, Mr.. Daniel H. Chamber
lain-of whom, as Republican Gov
ernor OF South Carolina, the country
once heard a great deal-breaks long
silence to discuss the present and pros
pective aspects of the Southern gues-
ton. We are bound to say that his re-
marks, as a whole, are among the best
vet made on a very fruitful subject;
and coming from such eminent Repub-
lican authority, are especially deServ-
ing the thoughtful consideration OF all
honest members of that party. 1t will
be remembered that Senator Sherman
while unintentionally helping to electa
Democratic Governor in New York last
fall-recommended, as an infallibie
panacea for Southern ills, the reduction
of the basis of representation In those
Southern States where fewer Repu6-
lican votes are cast than theparty man
ayers think ought to be. Chamberlain
Gevotes more attention to this charac-
teristic proposition than its impudence
merits; declares that the alleged rem
edy would not, even if it could be tried,
reach the disease, and that the latter
must be left to cure itself. He says
and let Us not forget who it is that
saws it-that
The evil in question Is plainly the result Of
the want of intelligence. experience and good
judgment on the part OF the class who are de-
priVed of the right to vote. ana of the race
r1fraa NfsaTn
which inflictS the wrong, intensified and made
reckless. in respect 70 the right to vote by
tie insuppOrtable corruption aud malsdnin-
i>tration of most of the Southern State gov
esnments from lS5S to $50.
In other words, if in any Southern
State colored citizens are deprived of
any of their political rights, it is main
ly, if not entirely, the fault of the Re-
publican party. First. in comforting
citizenship upon class not even now
possessed OF sufficient Intelligence,
experience and good Judgment for
the proper recognition and ftllfillment
of its obligations; and second, by the
establishment and maintenance of
1.-The insupportable corruption and
maladministration of most Of the
Southern State governments from 1868
to 1876"
This is the whole Southern business
in nutshell. The freedmen-aS Presi-
dent Lincoln so we'll knew-were not
prepared for citizenship. and should
have been allowed to waic until some
degree of preparation had been at
tanned. But in spite of their unfftness.
the ballot was thrust into their hands
by an INSCRIPTIONS Republican policy;
and then. in order to conSummate that
policy. they were used to fasten upon
the Southern neck the meaneSt and
dirtiest OF despotiSms. The results Of
which Republicans complain are, says
Chamberlain. inevitable whenever in
anv community those VINO hold nearly
all its property. intelligence and eX-
perience in self-government are set
against those who are for the most part
without property, education or expert
ence of public affairs" We may add
that if Massachusetts or Maine had suf-
fered for eight months 1.-The inSuDpOTt-
able corruption and maladministratiOn"
which South Carolina and Louisiana
endured for eight years, they would
have risen in righteous wrath and
driven every negro and carpet-bagCer
into the sea The wonder is, not that
the Southern people. under such intense
prOvocation, did some things they ought
not to have done, but they were rot
utterly reckless in their resistance to
the ineifable iniquity. The greatest
wonder is that, in less than ten years
after the provocatiOn was removed by
the destruction of Republican rule in
hn No fyrn
together for n common prosperity in
peace and harmony; that there is so
little real trouble between them that
during the last Presidential campaign
Republican oflice-holders and travelling
newspaper CORRESPONDENTS could not
find a single Southern outrage worth
reporting.
ChamDerlin urges his political asso-
ciates TO abandon all efforts to pro-
long, through party proclamat;onS and
appeals, Il controversy which has re-
suited so diSastrouslv to those in whose
interests il has been carried on. and
20 leave whatever difficulties yet re-
main in the Southern situation to be
overcome by the National forces now
at work That is. let the South man
age its own affairs in its own way. I'M
veXed by Northern interference or in
structiOn. 1t is most devotedly to
be wished that Sherman, Logan and
their co-laborers in the making OF sec
tional mischief. may follow this sensi-
BILE and patriotic advice; but if they DO.
what will become of the bloody shirt?
and without the bloody shirt what
would become of ''the grand old
party?''-St. Louis Republican.