Year: 1879




IS THERE NO REMEDY?


Southern Democratic papers begin to recog-
nize the fact which THE TRIBUNE has so often
pointed out, that Solid South implies Solid
North. Especially South made solid by fraud,
by systematic Ostracism or assassination, or by
coercion and massacre. For every drop OF
Republican blood shed at the South 10y Demo-
Gratis, more than one Republican vote has been
gained at the North. For every poor cOlored
man coeIced into self ACKNOWLEDGMENT or the
casting of Democratic ballots 10y mean en-
ploycrs or c0wardy mobs, more than one Re-
publican vote has leen gained in States where
every Republican vote counts. If the South
can stand that sort of thing. surely the North
can. and the Republican party can. The
chance Of clCcting j Democratic President has
been thrown away, not merely or mainly by
Democratic stupidity or disloyalty at the
North. bad as these have been, but mainly 10y
the conduct of Democratic voters and man
ayers at the South.


The Democratic papers which see the situa-
ton most clearly do not venture to suggest the
only remedy. In that fact lies the most con-
elusive proof that the Northern feeling is not
overstmined or mistaken. The ablest and bold
est Southern men do not dare to insist upon
absolute freedom of thought, speech and action.
They are held back 10y the temper of the peo
pe about them. They realize that it would do
no good whatever to ineiSt that no Republ-
can should be ostracized, beaten or shot for
his opinions. The reckless fellows whose viO-
lence makes Southern society what it is would
20 on killing and beating all the same. and the
frank and manly newspaper would have bank
ruptcy for its reward. Have we not seen that
the wild rawlings in The OkoloRa States gain
an immense subscription list at the South,
while journals of calm and patriotic tenn
per are crowded TO the wall1 No other
fact so clearly proves the decisive pre-
ponderance of the worst element at the
South Dsl0yal to the core, brutal, cruel.
and utterly incapable Of comprehending the
free institutions which the Constitution de-
signs TO maintain. the desperate men who are
feared and obeyed in Southern society have
not understanding enough to see that they
are surely defeating the very cause which
they wish to aid.


No other journal at the North has as much
right as The TRIBUNE to address to the peo-
pie of the South words of earnest and kindly
admonition. A concihatory course was advo-





cere hope that it would help to bring the bet
ter clements in the South to the front. 1t
was hoped that the solemn pledges made by
strong and representative Southern men would
be sacIedly kept. 1t was believed that there
was at the South a conservative and roasOna-
ble element, which had been held in check by
Tie course previously pursued by the Repub-
lican party, and by the popular feeling which
that course aroused. But what have we seen
The better men of the South are speechless
when men like Chisolm or Dixon are mur-
dered for then opinions. The Southern mob
has full sway. The kindly and cOnciiatory
course. whether wise or unwise, has demon
strated the fact that the Southern people
as whole are not willing to obey, to
enforce, nor to respect the Constitution
and laws of the United States, but mean to
trample out free speech, free thought and a
free ballot among them by methods which
would be called disgraceful in Mexico.


The South, behaving in this way. can never
hope TO be anything but helpless minority.
Ii can struggle, and scheme, and rave, as much
as ii pleases; the North will vote it down in
every serious contest, and with absolute GER
tainty. Nothing is gained by thin pretenccs.
so long as Southern men make the South
Solid, aud the representatives of the Solid
South in Congress vote against all that the
loyal North holds dear, 50 long the South VIII
sit down in the sackcloth and ashes OF defeat
after every struggle.


Why cannot new South arise, devoted to
the Constitution as it is. enforcing all the
laws with rigorous fidelity. and true to all OBJ
legations, local and natonal2 Why are there
not at the South men broad enough to see
that the loyal people OF the North are never
gong to surrender by their ballots all that
heroes of the North gave their lives 10 Sc
,ure