Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-12-02
The Danger.


The Danger.
Sir. HRRIs0S promises much' but the
record OF his public lie tell' us taat he is no
/ better than bis party. Wbsieyer bills Con-
gross may pass Tor new recon'trucuon OF
the South will he signed by him. There Is
no reason whatever TO doubt that II Congress
/ shall pass bill to take the election OF con-
rressnen out Of the hands OF the state su'
thorItles and put it into the hands NJ Repuo'
licln partisans be will sign II. We couId
oil our paper with the declarations
OF southern papers and speakers
/ a. 10 the dangers which uow threaten the
! south; but we will quote only few. Rep
/ reseDtaliye OATS, OF Alabama, says that all
/ political questions are Of minor importance
/ compared 10 the vital one OF maintaining
I white supremacy. lie says no matter Wbst
Mr.. HaRRIsos's southern policy may be, as
long a, al the negroes IN the south march TO
I the polis and vote one way, their reputable
white neighbors who have any interest IN
their homes for seIipres'rgit,0n-thc
strongest Of all influence must be equally
/ solid.
The Atlanta Constitution takes the same
ground.
In the speech which Mr. GRADY made on
Thursday last at the Augusta Exposition he
/ said:
"Whst. then. IS The duty Of The SOUTH
Simply this: 10 mountain the poliUch As
well ~ the social integrity Of Der white race
and 70 aDpeaito the world for patience aud
/ Justice. Let Us snow ~ Is not sectional pre-
iuIice. but q social problem. that Keeps us
CONNECTED; that u is not hoic oi dominion
or power. bun a9idlug necc'sl,y; not pa
tronl.o. but plan seif-preseryaion, tuai
holds the white race iOecthcr IN me -pd' %.
Let iis make this so paln thai any compuni-
~ anyw here searching BE- OFn heart would
saw. Tire necessity that binds our brothers
FRI he Sonth would biud VS. closely were tAo
necessity here
After noting the sonih's gradual loss Of
comparative strength iu the electoral college
and 10 Congress, Mr. GRADY said:
"To rem9ln solid, therefore, is TO incur
the danger % being placed in perpetual ml.
nOr!ty and practically shut Oui from iia''lci-
/ patton in The Government INTO which Georgia
D
fsshioucd IN their common wisdom, defended
in their common blood, sud bought OF their
common treasure.
"But what Of The other danger? Can we
risk That 20 avoid the hrsty arm sure "e
cannot The very worst thing That could
happen 70 the south Is TO have her white
s0te divided into factions aud each faction
bidding for tbe negro VINO holds the balance
~ power. Wnat is tbs negro vote! In
every southern state % il considerable, ana
/ fear it Is increasing. 10 is alien, being
separated by rqriI differences that are deco
ard permanent. 10 IS ignorant easily dee
luded or betrayed IL IS impuIslYc- lashed
NV a word INTO violence. 70 is purrhasab'e,
having the }uceutive OF poverty and cupldlty,
and the RESTRAINT ~ neither pride ror con-
vlction. 10 can never Dee merged through
logical or ORDERLY currents into either of
two pprttes-if two suo1ld present them
selves. We cannot be rid OF re- IAcrci' is,
vast mass - impusiye, ignorant, aud pur-
chas4blc votes. with no factions hctwces
which TO swing il hss no play or di-lotation.
Buf thrown from one faction to another % ls
/ the lOOscd cannon Oh the st0ra tossed SHIP
/ There il DO community that would dell5"-
4 Isttly tempt ibis danger NO social or pc
/ nucal fabric that could stand its strain. The
F Tweed ring, backed by smaller sud less if-
responsible following than sbrevl clique
+ could rally and control in every southern
/ state, and daring loss 81 pIunder and uso-
/ ieucc than thai following would sanction or
support. hiotrl ont party lines IA
/ New York. and made IFS Intelligence
| end integrity q, solid rs The south
/ ever WIS. Party lines were promptly re-
| east because New York bad 90 deal with
I the vIcl.u~ aho once punished way be trust
1 81 to sglk in quiet while ;heir wounds heal
/ We deal with o." ignorant, That scourgcd
/ from power to-dav, may I've deluded io-mor-
row in n>-au'ttug The very position from
/ which they have been la,hed Never ala
/ robbers md followers more to their mind
/ Than the cmaucipuej slaves 81 r'cOnsuuc-
/ ton DAYS. Ignorant oud conhding, liey
/ could be committed TO any excess, Ted TO any
! outrage. Deep as Was the degradation 10
which these sovereign States were carried,
/ and heavy asIs the burden they ltii on THIS
/ Impoverished people, II was only when The
wnite race, raiiyirE from the graves OF ~,
dead aud tbe ashes Of ITS homes. closed IFS
I decinated racks AND. fronting Federal b1yo-
/ nets ana dciyiue Federal power, stood Ike
"A stone wall before the outerm0st temples oi
| its liberty, that the drama closed and tnc
miserable assault was checked.
shall those ranks bee broken while the
| danger suIl rhrestensy"
"l,t the whites divide. what happensi
| Here IL this dangerous and alien influence
/ that holds the balance Of power. 10 cannot
! be won by argument for It is without inioi-
nation, understanding, or tradiuons-seuce
without convictions. Il must be bought bY
race privileges granted as such, or by money
| paid outright. Let us follow tai, In IT'S two
/ told aspect. one faction gives he negro
| certain privileges and wins. The other
| offers more. The nr,t bids higher, aud
/ 50 The Sickenug work goes on until the
! barriers that now pro- Get the social integrity
| and peace Of bOth races are swept away.
| The negro gains nothing, for be secures
/ these sp0lls and privileges not 10y deserving
/ them. or qualifying himself for them, but as
! the plumber Of an irritating struggle IN
which he loses that largeness OF sympathy
/ and tolerance that IL NJ last essential 10 his
/ well.hcing and Advancement. The other
aspect is IS bad. one side puts up $4,000
/ for the purchase Of the negro vote and wins.
/ The other, declining at fast TO corrupt The
! suffrage, but realizing at last thatthe admins
/ ttation on which us life aud property de.
pends is az stake, doubles this. and 50 tue
! deOAuching deepens until at last such enOr-
nous sums are spcut that they must be re-
couped from The public treasures. Good
men, disguised. go to the rear. The shIeWd
/ and unscrupulOus are put 10 the 'front.' and
the negro, carrying with him the balance Of
power. fails at last INTO the grasp Of the fac
/ ton which is most cunning aud conscience
/ less. National parties, finding here their
| cheapest market and widest field. VIII pour
millions into the South, adding 70 the cor
mption funds Of municipal and state fac
! tions until the ballot-hoX will be hcpelessly
/ dcbauched, all the APPROACHES thereto cor
| rupt, and all the results thereirOm tainted
| Behold the picture! Is il not true oneY