Huntsville gazette., 1889-04-13
ON THE SITUATION.
Reflections on Republican
Policies. The Negro as
an Office Holder Hon.
est and Efficient.

decade of Democratic rule and its
bitter experiences, resulting directly
from the schisms and factions in the
Republican party in Alabama, that
our party leaders should have learned
to forgive and forget and to know
that Republican success in Alabama
can only be attained (and then only
in small measure) by unity and
harmony Of action in accord with
the well known and approved prin-
ciples of the Republican party. But
it would appear that like the Bour-
bons they have learned nothing and
forgotten only the best interest Of
their party and state.
The factional fight for the control
of the federal Offices in Alabama will
doubtlessly result disastrous'y to the
best interests of the party. Already
it is rumored that the Post Master
General has in view of the bitter
fight over the little Post office at this
place, requested the Democratic
Postmaster Grubbs to withdraw his
resignation for the present.
The proposition that some of tie
visiting statesmen at Washington ad
vance-that if their faction is allowed
! to control the offices that the Repuh>
lican party will sweep this or that
district, is simply absurd, and
we are mistaken in the sagacity of
the present admin stration If 1t does
not detect and resent the imposition
try ng thus to be practiced. The
fact is that outside Of the 6th Con-
gresstional District fair count in
| Alabama is impossible. And with
out a National election law which
shall provide for the supervision Of
the election of members of the Leg
islature who will vote for a United
States senator and authorize a voter
to cast his ballot for such member
any where in a county under certain
restrictions, there is no power II any
party or faction,-honorable, decent
or corrupt to change the political
condition in single district in Ala
bama. The 1st Article Of the -Const-
tuition of the U. S. authorizes such
legis alton and the Congress ought
to enact it.
If newspaper reports are true some
Of those political cormorants, who
have done most to make republican
ism in the respective counties in
which they are tenants by suffers
ance," the synonym of all that is
corrupt and disgraceful, are trying to
persuade the President and Heads of
Departments that if the federal Of
fees in Alabama are given to white
men only, that a complete revolution
of political sentiment will result
thereby, provided always that they
be allowed to name the white men.
Many of these fellows whose claims
imply that they are the custodlans OF
the honor and decency Of Alabama
could not negotiate loan of fifty
dollars te save their existence. They
get into conventions by appealing to
The prejudice and ignorance Of the
most corrupt element, by making
promiss they could not fulfill if they
would and would not if they could.
They exemplify that class Of whom
Geo. w. Cable speaks, who feel that
the brand of Cain is upon them and
whose conduct shows them capable of
being Gains. They think that to
denounce the Negro their own moral
turpitude will escape detection and
exposure.
The colored men in Alabama are
the greatest sufferers by the atfilia-
ton of this class of white men with
the Republican party. Armed with
monkey wrench or axe helve and
filled with mean whiskey, accompan-
led by congenial colored associate
they come to conventions and the
pandemonium they produce Is as
cribed to the "nigger," whereas,
themselves are the ones responsible
that the decent colored and white
men are becoming disgusted with
potics.
There is however another class of