Year: 1874

The letter of THE TRIBUNE's special corre-
spondent from Richmond, Va, published here
with, contains a very graphic and interesting
statement as to the effect of the recent eiec-
tions upon public sentiment in the States OF
Louisiana. Alabama, Georgia, and North ana
South Carolina. The conviction which mas
been 30 gradual in its growth at the North,
that the people of the Southern States had
been unfairly treated by the Administration
and dsirusted without reason by the people,
found in the late elections very general ana
positive expression. The Southern people are
ouick to discern the meaning Of the vote ana
TO interpret it as indicating in very large
measure the return of confidence and rcstora-
tion of genuine fraternal feeling. The sense OF
grateful appreciation with which they regard IL
and the expressions of affection for the UNION
and regard for the general welfare winch our
correspondent speaks of as being so common
throughout the South since the elections are
n sufficient justification of the public senti-
ment which administered such n scathlng re-
buke to the abuses of power in the first week
of the present month.


In these signs of better feeling between
the two sections the distressed States OF the
South can already see moro hopeful future
for themselves. while the whole country De-
holds the beginning of new era or real
peace and substantial prosperity. 1t would DC
unreasonable to expect that the sentiment
should be absolutely unanimous, and that
there should be in the whole South not
single grumbler, not one who holds
on and feeds fat old grudges. There are
doubtless many who harbor still the enmities
and hatreds engerdered by the war. There
will be so long as the generation lasts which
took part in the struggle and suffered in per-
son or property or feeling during its progress.
But they are not opponents OF public sentl-
ment by any means, and it will be idle TO
undertake hereafter to so represent them.
The real feeling of the South finds expression
in the utterances of the representative men
quoted by our correspondent, the intelligent,
thoughtful men who have put the past be-
hind them, and are willing and anxious to CO.
operate with all patriotic citizens in whatever
measures shall seem to be for the common
good.


The Infamous attempt TO influence the cleo
tions Sy false and manufactured stories of
Outrages was a miserable failure. The South
ern people, who were so scandalOusly mlsrep-
resented by those reports, are not insensible
to the spirit of justice and fairness which all
through the North led honest Republicans to
come out from their party and protest against
this plan for carrying elections upon the gos-
pel of hate with the machinery Of slanders
and fabrications. They have been made too
by this very method of campaigning more
sensible than ever of their obligations to cul-
tiyate peace and good order in their own
communities and administer justice to all
classes. Not only does their own well-being
as communities depend npon the preservation
of relations of mutual good will between
the whites and blacks, but also the cOntinu-
ance of the confidence of the people who
have lust shown their willingness to trust
them. They have every inducement now to
put down lawlessness, to educate and elevate
tho freedmen instead of depressing or abusing
them, and to take up the responsibilities OF
citizens with something moro OF heart and
hope for the future than they have had since
the war. 1t is not strange that their cheer
fulness in the changed situation amounts to
enthusiasm. 1t is source of great gratifica-
tion to those at the North who have contrib
uted to the result they rejoice over that they
bear themselves in such a manly way and ac-
cept it with such great good sense.