Year: 1874

DISIURBANCES IN THE SOUTH.


Within the last month an epidemic
of dl-turbances between the whites
and lie blacks has broken out in the
southern states. From Tennessee,
from Mississippi, from Alabama, and
from south Carolina the same reports
come )f the whites and blacks being
arrayod against each other in bloody
contest. Since the elections in 1872
every thing has been quiet between
the tWo races. Why it is that so great
and 80 sudden change has taken
place just now it may he worth while
to inquire.


II Will hardly he denied, we suppose,
that 1T Somerville, Austin and Ridge
SpCin gs, the negroes were the aggres-
scrs that the disturbances at those
place; were inaugurated by the blacks,
and hat the whites acted selely in
selt-defense.


The fact of these troubles breaking
out about the same time, at points so
remote from each other, forces upon the
mind the conclusion that they are acts
in prearranged programme; that
theY are parts of a concocted system.


When we read the northern republic
can papers, and see the perverted ac-
count of these disturbances, and the
Representations that they take oc-
casIon to indulge in with regard to the
feelings and purposes of the southern
whites, the object of these troubles and
the source from which the negroes get
their cue become apparent to us. This
l. the year for the election of members
OF the house of representatives of the
narional congress. The republican
pnrty, through its financial policy, or
rather its want of n definite financial
policy, and its exposed corruption, is in
IA demOralized condition. Something
had to be resorted to to bring back the
wandering and steady the wavering.
The old stage machinery for blowing
into blaze the smOuldering embers of
sectional hate had to be brought out
again. Consequently, the word was
PASSED along the line to the faithful in
the south to get upa few first-class race
conflicts, so as to give the swash buck
lers of the northern press a. chance to
play upon the passions and prejudices
of their readers. This is the source
from which all these troubles spring.
They have this significance, and no
other


We do not suppose that there is man
Of any brains at all who supposes for
moment that there can ever be war
of races in the south, in the strict sense
of the word. War means armies, or
carnations, artillery, cavalry, supply
trains, ETC., etc. This can never be be-
tween the whites and the blacks of the
south, for the reason, in the first place,
that the federal government would
squelch both parties and put down
hostilities, and for the further reason
that the blacks have neither the
means nor the brains to conduct such
warfare. When we speak then of
war of races, and express the opinion
that il is one of the inevitable facts of
the future, we mean to convey the
idea that the two races will be in-
famed into such irreconcilable hOstil-
ity against each other that 1t will be
impossible for them to live and work
together; that in place of the peace
and harmony and cooperation that
should characterize the citizens of a
common country, jealousy and distrust
and strife would mark all their inter-
course; that while their might not and
probably would not be any general
conflict raging at any time over the
southern states, every day would be
marked by a conflict in some locality
in which more or less blood would he
shed. AS consequence thereof blight
and ruin would settle down upon the
country.


While we believe that the disturb
ances which have been the main fea-
ture of interest in the south during the
past month have the origin that we
have ascribed TO them, we think that
they should receive at the hands of the
southern people their most serious at
tention, and that every possible means
ought to be resorted to to prevent the
recurrence of any more such. Let us
be as blameless as we may be, there is
no doubt that the mass of the northern
people will be made to believe That we
are numbering the negroes ON account
of their political affiliations. They
feel that they are responsible for the
negro's enjoyment of his political
rights. To this they are pledged, and,
10y playing upon this string, the north
ern press can, as they are well aware,
rally them into a compact party against
the white people of the south.


We realize the difficulty of the situa-
ton. Conflicts are forced upon us, and
then when we defend ourselves and
protect our homes and our women and
the responsibility for all the :
trouble is thrown upon US, and the Oe-
,asion made use of to iBfame thenorth-
srn mind against Us This has been the
game that has been played upon the
IouthsFn people ever since the days Of