The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-01-26
THE SOUTHERN NEGROES.
4 Cutting Rebuke of Malignant Partlsans
and ONCE Sc ekers.

A Cutting Rebuke of Malignant Partisan,
and OGlce-Se ekers.
It seems strange to find the New
York Times taking prominent stand
in defense of the South against the
charge of suppression of the colored
vote, and yet this able journal. at one
time foremost among those whose
| abuse and denunciation of the election
methods of the South was character
lied by partisan hatred and sectional
malignity, contains in recent issue
the most striking protest which has
yet appeared in any Northern paper
against the bloody shirt policy OF the
Republicans for 1883
The Times is Republican paper,
but is generally very fair one. Its
criticisms are open and frank, and its
course is not controlled by the lash of
its party. 1t believed Mr.. Blaine to
be corrupt man AMI Mr. Cleveland
an honest one. and it supported the
latter for the Presidency. 1t did not
sever its party alliance, but has since
stood with the organization of which
it was for many years the chief organ.
In outlining its policy for the next
campaign, the Republican party has
clearly determined to make the al
legged suppression of the colored vote
in the South one of it's leading issues
On this the Times has column ed
itorial, which is an admirable produc-
ton, and should commend Itself 10
the fair-minded voters of all parties. 1t
says:
Those Republican politicians who still think
there is capital for the party in keeping up
sectional agitation and firing the Northern
heart with Southern outrages are trying des-
perately to make an issue OF the alleged sup
preston OF the Republican vote in Southern
States. The difficulty which confron.s them
lies in the fact that the Northern people want
no more sectional agitation. and are entirely
willing to leave the elections in Southern States
to the control Of the people Of those States.
Speaking of the outrages of the Re-
publican carpet-baggers who overran
the South after the war, and of the
causes which prompted the necessity
of counteracting the evils of their das-
tardly regime, in which they ran
rough shod over the people by their
control over the negro vote, the Times
SAYS:
Unprepared to exercise intelligently or con-
scientiousy their newly acquired rights, the
negroes fell under the leadership OF unscrupu-
lous men and were arrayed against the people
who had the largest interest in the good order
and good government OF the reconstructed
States. The result was incapacity, extrava-
gance and fraud IN public affairs aud a bur-
lesque on popular government. The native |
Southern people, who felt that they had the |
right to coutrol affairs in their States, SAW
70 salvation for their public or private inter-
ests except in overcoming the power which |
was thrust upon them. |
The North soon admitted that Federal inter- |
ference to sustain State Governments which |
rested on the ignorant negro vote and were |
mainly by greedy and INSCRIPTIONS |
adyenturers, could not be maintained. Public |
opinion withdrew all support, and nearly
iozen years ago the whole fabric went to
pieces.
As to the so-called suppression of
.he colored vote in the South at this
line, the Times dismisses the question,
Is being an appeal to sectional pas
lion, which can not deceive the intelli-
gent people of the North, saying:
Outrage, violence and election frauds dimin-
sh in proportion as the necessity for them
eased. For the last two years little has been
eard Of them, but election returns show that
many votes are withheld from the ballot box
or one reason or another. Colored voters may
ave become Indifferent after finding that the
lis which they were taught to expect from
Democratic ascendency did not befan them,
nd easily induced not to vote. More or less,
lso, they have begun to divide their votes be-
ween the parties. In not voting or in voting
or Democratic candidates, they are probably
nfluenc I'd bv no worse inducements than are
sed in Northern States to sway the action OF
oters whose intelligence and honesty are not
ufflcient to guide their political action.
Such words, from such source, can
lot fail to have effect with the people
# the North, who have already re-
uked the sectional animosity which
ew party bosses have sought to at
ribute to the Republican party as a
1hole. Mr.. Blaine went to pieces on
his rock, and if its present policy is
the Republican party will re-
Give its ultimate defeat in clinGing to
Constitution.