The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-04
THE FORCE BILL THE GREAT ISSUE
A Letter from . Southern Patr,o,-H..a II.
Ponder

years have como and Conc-now within few
days OF sixteen years since. impelled by an
almost irresistible impulse to aid In tho elec-
ton of Tilden and Hendricks by doing nway
so Tar MS | could with tho prejudice which
many good people In tho North still entertain
cd toward southern white men. and by depict
ing as truly and as fairly as | could the negro
character. vcnturcd to write some letters to
IHESuN. which you did mo the favor to pub
lish, under the signature now use. bclieyed
then MS believe now. that in the success OF
inc Democratic party lay the only hope OF COM
pieteIy healing the wounds made by our fratri-
ciuai STRIFE. and tho only hope that Southern
white mon might be able to join hands with
their brethren OF the North, for supremest
good to the human race IL we be true to our
blood and our manifest destiny, for untold
evil If wc are not.
All that was hoped for In that election was
not accomplished. because the man. then lv-
Ing. who was best fitted to heal those wounds.
and restore Democratic government, was at
tho last. by political trick, deprived OF tho
high Office to which he was elected not only,
ms believe. by the electoral college, but by
tho popular vote.
But thanks to The Sun and other Democratic
papers in the North and to the Democracy OF
me Northern states. and chiefly the great
state OF New York. empha,ic was tho re-
buko to carpct-baEsm in tho South, SO pro.
nouncod was public opinion in favor OF white
supremacy and against negro domination.
that Mr. Hayes himself could not shut his eyes
TO 1t. anu white supremacy in Mississippi
and other Southern States, already in
part accomplished. became assured; and
even he dared not attcmpt to put again
black heels upon white necks." but con-
tented himself with rewarding his friends and
followers in tho South with such Federal
Offices rs were at his disposal. leaving us to
manage our own affairs and regain our credit
as best We could. In that great contest no
| paper In that part OF tho Union, where the
South. then PROSTATE under the curse OF car
pet-bag rule. most needed strong friends, was
more outspoken or moro ably championed tho
cause OF the white people OF tho South and
homo rule for them. than did The SUN.
This was shown not only by the pu blication
OF my own letters. with words OF encomium,
| with others from different parts OF the South,
but especially by the ability with which cor
ruption in high places was attacked in tho
editorial columns Of The SUN. and the alarm
given to tho people OF tho North that in
tramplinG upon the rights Of the South their
own liberties would be endangered.
This alone entities THE Sun to the graft
tudo Of Southern white men. but. above all, it
ought to endear it to tho liberty loving people
OF tho North do not say whito people. be-
cause statistics in THE WEEKLY Sun Of July
- show that the negro population in tho
North comprises only LA of tho whole. and.
therefore. in speaking OF Northern people they
are not to be considcred-because the result
in tho South OF white control has brought
prosperity. peace. and happiness to both races.
n fact which every unbiased man convcrsant
with the situation then and now will not deny,
no matter what his political opinions between
the great parties may be-
II this Is denied. it will DO easy to prove it to
| the satisfaction OF all except those who are
| determined to be blind to every consideration
| which will not contribute tn a maudin senti-
mcnt about the negro and his rights. which
arc not now. and never have. since the Con-
| situation Of the United States. guaranteed him
his freedom and equal political rights with his
former masters. been in any danger.
Feeling as do. it is needless to say how
heartily approve the present position Of The
Sun in the pending contest. and how much I
wish it might be read in every house through
out the land. For. however it may be IN the
North. yet in tho South neither the tariff nor
free silver is an issue.
AS an old Whi-. when that glorious old party
lived incline to tho doctrine OF protection.
but since the war | have hardly given it a
thought. Wo Of the South have not yet had
time to discuss it and would freely vote. as
would a vast minority Of Southern white men.
| for the strongest advocate Of protection. AS
Or they will this timo for Mr.. Cleveland. IL ut
| the same time lie was opposed by an advocate
| Of the Force Till. and was as pronounced in
| favor Of homo rule. tho only hope Of any State
| town. county. village. or city. as IS THE Sun
have passed my threcscorc years. and have
| lived in Il negro state all my life, many years
as Shareholder. and know their character well
| They are now quiet. cont"ntel. and happy: but
cannot contemplate without horror tho effect
which Mr. Lodges Force bill. il it had passed.
| or if ono similar should pass. would have not
! only upon tho white people of this pros porous
! country. but upon the then unfortunate negro.
SO believe The sun is right in making this
| issue the Keynote to the campaign and in
sounding the alarm from day to day.
| A bad tariff ILL may he passed and do some
mischief n FREQ coinage bill may derange our
currency for while; but these can be speedily
amended or repealed. Blu: the con sequences
of the Force bill. which Mr.. Harrison and the
leaders OF his party are known to favor and are
sure to pass if that party ohtlns again full
power. will be felt for generation. Its disas-
trouS results will not be confined to the South
where. however. its chief evils will DO fct. but
will operate throughout the whole country.
Tho splendid commerce. all the free trade
We want at present between the North and
South. and which. while bcne.lting the South
cnrichcs tho North. will receive u blow as
deadly almost as the late civil war gave to It,
and from which it NAV not soon recover
This is strong language. but not too strong
] firmly believe.
The Sun therefore is entitled to the thanks
OF every patriot for its effective blows upon
this. tho last expiring effort OF that once great
and national but, now | fear. sectional party
to maintain its hold upon tho people and Gov
crnment
Far be it from me to deny that there arc many
patriotic men in the Republican party who do
not think as do. and VIII, yet believe. in spite
Of MI evidence to the contrary. that the negro
is oppressed.
But they do not 1.-Two in the South They DO
not know tho negro and tho dangers which
threaten us II ho once more should become
the tool OF designing whito men OF OF vicious
men Of his own race II they din, thor" would
hc no fear in the South no matter which party