Year: 1874

We commend the following excellent
suggestions from the New York Times to
the careful consideration Of two factions
in this State-to those who profess to be
Republicans without first remembering to
be entirely honest, and to those impracti-
cable last-ditchers who vainly hope they
will be asked to step forth and save the
State by accepting public Office. The
Times, it will be seen, is chiefly discussing
South Carolina, but the remarks fit Louis
lana very we'll:


THE SOUTH.


If it were possible for both the political
parties of the day to unite in the endeavOr
TO put right whatever may be wrong in the
condition of the Southern States, it weuld
be an excellent thing for the whole country.
But a combination of this kind on such a
question is out Of the range Of probability.
The Democrats may rejoice over the troubles 9
which arise in the Southern States, simply
because they hope those troubles will supply
them with that opportunity which neither
time nor the wisdom of their leaders appears
to create for them. They can never deal, as
a Will uuCeUOub 0I AcluS III VAO COuLAs
They are the cause of most OF the difficult
ties which prevail there, and If they were
allowed to pursue policy Of their own,
they would simply run the risk of pro-
ducing civil disturbances scarcely less for
midable than those which COZ i )nted us in
1861. Even State rights-wbich always
ought to be reverently observe ed within con-
stitutional Emits-they cODstrue to include
the right of secession. They are disquali-
fed from approaching this subject by the
insane course which they adopted for SO
many years, and which mlsled the South
into the fatal error Of attempting to over
throw the general government. The only
party which Can protect the States in the
exercise Of their proper functions, as it has
hitherto defended the existence of the fed
eral government itself, is the Republican
party. 1t can never be suspected of push
ing State rights to Q ruinOus point - to
that point at which the nation would per-
ish, and a medley OF independent govern
ments alone remain. 1t may be trusted to
preserve liberty, while it would also pre-
at the basis Of the constitution, namely: the
maintenance of a central power capable at
once of repelling enemies from without and
enemies from within.


For these reasons we have been anxious
to bring before the consideration of the
Republican party the evils which are
alleged to exist in the South. We have no
desire to see political capital made by the
Democrats out OF those evils. 1t is the
business of the Republican party to deal
with them, and that can be done without
calling upon Congress for any new legisla-
ton. Take South Carolina as an example.
If we can believe the evidence before us
in relation to that State-and it seems
impossible to reject 1.-THE negroes have
not been behaving well. Now, il they once
understand that the Republican party will
not stand by them through thick and thin
will not cOntenance any attempt to
establish organized corruption in South
Carolina or any other State-it can not be
doubted that the warning would have a
very salutary effect upon their minds.
Indeed, the remonstrances which we have
already uttered upon the subject have not
been thrown away. The Republican journals
in South Carolina have quoted our remarks,
and have plainly told the colored people
that the government of the State must
be reformed, or they will lose the support
of the great party which gave them their
freedom and their political rights. The
party will not and can not justify measures
which lead to the wholesale cOnfscation of
riIy suffered punishment during the war.
and it was a punishment which she had
proyoked, and which she had deserved,
and concerning which there was nothing
more to be said than that State in the
Union which wantOnly forces on a war
must take the consequences. But the pres
ent misrule in South Carolina is not to be
regarded as "war measure" 1t is an evil
to be redressed. and it can only be redress
ed by the party in power. The Republican
party is in favor of honest government, and
Z, IA o1x vpuef no O foe IN oOrrupfiOn
When the cOlored people in South Carolina
are made to understand that We shall hear
no more of wholesale coniscatiOn as a
means of carrying on a local government.
We need waste no words on the puerile
alarm of q few Republican journals when
questions like these are discussed. They
seem to think that it is very dangerous
thing to tell the truth. We believe, on the
contrary, that it is q very dangerous thing
to conceal it. There has been no public
question for fifteen years past with which
the Republican party has not shown itself
fully able to cope. But it has hitherto dealt
with such questions in spirit OF true patriot
ism and with perfect fearlessness. 1t will
deal with the turmOils in Arkansas and
other States in the same manner. 1t VIII
not try to hide them away in holes and
corners. If Republicans in the South wish
to receive support they must act az We
wish and expect Republicans in the North
TO act-that is, with good faith, and due
regard to the responsibility which every
party owes to the people who put it il
power. Here and there Republican pa
per may think this very dangerous doc
trine to pronounce. We can not help that
We have not labored to suppress Tweedisn
in this State merely that we may give eithel
an open or covert support to Jweedlsm
elsewhere. Nor can We see that corrup
tiop. when it is practised in the name Of
Repu ublicanism, is in any degree better thar
corruption when it is practiced in the name
of Democracy. 1t is our duty to condemn
it wherever we may happen to find it.