National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-05-15

AS far as constitutions, acts Of Congress,
and state laws can effect that object we
have only one kind Of citizens in the United
States, and, In general, II is better to dis.
cuss all public questions, II possible, with
out any reference to distinctions Of race,
color, condition, class, or section-accept-
ing it as fact, as well as law, that all our
citizens are equals in right, privilege, and
interest in all civil aud political things. 1t
is only when and where this legal equality
IS grossly violated that we are not only JUS
titled, but forced, to regard the distinction
which is at tho bottom OF it-for to ignore
II in such case is to partake Of the crim-
inality Of the violation. Hence It is that
we are so often constrained, against our
will, to consider the welfare Of large por-
ton Of our citizens as this is practically
affected by race and section. The southern
Bourbon, with his northern Wugwump and
doughface allies, compels us to this course
by his ceaselcss attacks on the southern
negro, his repeated breaches Of the eonstl-
tutions and laws, and his growing usurpa.
tions Of power thereby, which threaten
every state in the Union and already grasp
Mt absolute federal sway.
In considering our colored citizens aud
their treatment at the south by the Bour-
| bous, It is very narrow view indeed TO
confine our attention to the immediate vic
Tins and the local consequences. Whether
the colorcd citizen be outraged at Danville
or at Carrollton, whether he be counted
| out or shot out, the indirect and more i'm
| portant purpose is to terrorize the white
masses and subject them TO Bourbon
| dominccring, while the results reach their
| full fruition only in both branches of Con-
gress and in the electoral college, which
determines who shall be President and Vice
President Of the United States. II has
often been proclaimed in Virginia by the
wisest OF her Republicans land 1t is just as
true everywhere In the south) that but for
the unholy and unwarrantable use made OF
the negro to incite white prejudice and
fear--not fear of the negro, but fear
Of Bourboniem--the large majority Of the
white people of that state would be enthu-
sastic Republicans. In short, IL there
were not so many negroes in Virginia and
the south, the race prctcXt, Of which Bour-
bonism now SO cruelty and cuuningly ayails
itself in so many ways to cover its rascali-
ties, TO excuse its barbarites, and to secure
its insolent domination, would be lacking,
and the people, who are so decidedly in
favor of Republican principles and meas
urcs, would undoubtedly rally to the Re-
publican party.
Yet the underlying reason Of Bourbon
action against the negro is not his race, or
color, or his previous condition of seryl-
tude, hut bis politics. lie is a Republican,
in so far as lie has any free convictions and
independent will, Just as any other man
would be under like circumstances-his
very personal liberation from chnttel slavery
being due to the Republican party. Still It
is undeniable that If he were voluntarily to
re-euslave himself to his old masters, be.
coming their ready tool to maintain their
dospotic rule, he would at once be relieved
Of the discrimination on account Of his race
and color, now so ilercely enforced against
him by the Bourbons; and he would at least
lie recognized as one Of "the common peo-
ple,n even II he were not armed and
equipped TO intimiaGte and slay the
"poor white trash" and for these
services elevated to honor. 1t happens,
however, that this political freedom OF con-
yiction, will, and action is the chief aud
most important Of all the powers, rights,
priv IleGcs, and immunities guaranteed to
the American citizen. IT, lies at the root
Of all the burning questions now pressing
for solution. And even as the northern
people declined over quarter century
ago to escape secession and war by sur
rendering TO these Bourbons, so now the
colored people must signally assert their
real manhood and best attest their fitness
for citizenship by defying Bourbonism at
: every hazard,