Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-07
The Immedicable Disease.


The Unavoidable Disease.
Mr.. HARRISON does not appreciate the con-
di,ion Of things in the southern states.
When he tells us tina. those who resort 10
pernicious expedients must themselves suffer
from their exercise, he tells us nothing more
than we knew before. When he advises us
90 get rid Of our troubles As soon as possible
he acts the part Of the man who tied weights
70 his companion and cast him into the mid
die of deep river. and then told him 10 swim
ont. What Mr.. HARRISON advises us TO DO Is
Just what he and his party have rendered us
incapable OF doing. II Is enough to cause
the southern people 10 lose heait when they
find that though their northern brethren
have learned much during the last twenty
years, and are now more liberal or charitable
IN thinking and speaking Of us than they
were soon after the war between the States
ended, yet men as intelligent as Mr.. HARRI-
SON should be totally incapable OF under
standing that the patent medicines they pre-
scribe win never cure body-politic suffer
ing from the disease OF 4 numerical prepon-
derance OF negroes. The southern people
have tried education, kindness. persuasion,
aud whatever else would influence white
mems conduct and votes; but they have
tried these expedients in vain.
Mr.. HARRlsON's inaugural Is full OF "sin-
lister suggestions" as the Lynchburg News
has happily said. II he makes these sug-
gestions under the delusion that he Is cspl-
de Of doing justice 20 the southern people,
so much the worse for us. so much the worse
for The whole country, so much the worse
for him. A distinguished statesman has said
OF Mr.. HARRISON that he would 60 to the
stake for bis opinions, and would send other
persons TO II for theirs. lie has theory as
10 negroes which has led him 10 erroneous
conclusions; but he will maintain the truth
Of that theory let what will result.
Mr.. HARRISON has deceived himself aud
has deceived others. some Of our Demo-
cratic exchanges fail 10 read between the
lines of his inaugural address. they accept
bis suggestions, not as sinister, but as worthy
Of consideration. our contemporary the
Charleston News and Courier is not one OF
the papers which have been deceived by an.
biguous phrases. II says:
"There l. no comparison between the eff
fects OF ignorant voting IN the North and
West and ignorant voting IN the South. IL
Is not q question Of selhshncss or cOnve-
nience. What ls at stake Is the aciual liberty
of the people The southern states would
not enjoy, in fact, "a republican form OF
government il they wee IemandeG To the
condition which they occupied before the
political movements which placed their
governments under the control OF the white
people. The cOloied voters. in the exercise
OF the suffrage, are but little more trust
worthy than thev wereiwenty years ago. IL
the doors were thrown open to them accord.
Ing TO President iiarrison's ideal there would
be misrue AS terrible and as uncnduraoie az
that which prostrated the South in former
times. This IS ineXpuguable ana incontro-
vertihle fact"
To the northern people il is n matter OF
no great importance whether the Democratic
Isrty or the Republican party is IN control
OF their state governments. TO the south.
ern people il Is question OF the preserya-
ton, not simply of their liberties but OF
their civilization. II is for this reason that
we seek 10 open the ewes OF our northern
brethren. SO long as they deceive them
selves into the belief tbat the negro, edu-
Gated or upeducated, is governed by the
same motives and moved by the same in-
fluences as the white man 50 long will they
be totslly incapable OF rendering righteous
verdict In the case OF the southern whites
against the southern negroes.
We quote our Charleston contemporary
sgsiu:
owe know that those who resort to what
the President terms "a pernciOus eXpe-
dent must themselves suffer from its eXer-
else. They who live by peivelsion OF the
law will suffer from the laws peryersiOu.
Nor i it denied for moment that it is de-
sirable that all elections shall be free aHd
pure in every part OF the country; or that
the freedom OF the ballOt-in . nOrIBA state
OF things is the condition of national life.
But the Republican party thrust upon the
South milhops Of voters who were unfit 10
exercise the privilege when II was conferred
upon them, and who are, with compare
lively few exceptions, unfit TO exercise
to-day the highest right Of the free
msn. 1t Is not wise or statesman
like. therefore. TO expect the people
Of the southern States, upon whom the ter
their own Interests or 80 surrender tamely
In obedience to ilt-cOusidcfed and ill-ad-
yised legislation the right which the De-
CiaratiOn OF Independence proeiaims 10 be
their owa-the right TO life, liberty. and the
pursuit Of happiness. There are every
where IN tie southern states. and especially
in South Carolina. thoughtful and liberal
men who feet that there is stain upon the
SOuth's reputation, aud who desire 10 re.
move n. They who earnestly wish that
elections shall be iucontestsbly pure are not
few In number or small ia influence. But
they ave helpless when any policy Is pro-
posed whieb would subject the white PEG.
pie OF Toe state TO negro rule, and this would
be the result OF the impartial execution OF
such an election law as President Harrison
seems TO consider wise and proper"
Can northern white men be deaf to such
M appeal a. that! Is II not time that they
had di.carded the preindices Of war times
and become once more In fact as well as in
name eompstriots OF the southern whites :
The negro was set free 10 violation OF the
Federal Constitution. He was made voter
by unconstitutional methods; that Is to sag,
the southern States were compelled to ratiiy
the fifteenth amendment. They were given
the alternative OF ralliying It OF being de-
prived Of representation In Congress. The
northern people thus trampled upon our con-
s,Itutionsl rights, and yet they have the face
70 reproscb US becsuse we follow the exam.
pie set for US by themselves.
Exciting Times
In the House Of Representatives last Mon.