Jasper Republican, Volume 1, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 September 1874 — "DISREPUTABLE ELECTIONEERING.” [ARTICLE]

"DISREPUTABLE ELECTIONEERING.”

In an article under the above caption, the Rensselaer LWo», last week, gave Vent to its feelings over the discovery of what it evidently regarded as a “mare’s nest.” The Chairman of the Republican | State Central Committee, not having been advised of the recreancy of that paper to Republican principles, sent it a letter containing the following: "I desire to call your attention to the horrible scenes of violence and bloodshed transpiring throughout the South, and suggest thatvou gi*e them as great prominence as possible in your paper, from this time fill the election.’,* * t The Chairman may have been sojpe-* what blamable for not having infoKneJ . himself of the Union's apostacy, and thereby have saved himself the trouble of “eastrag his pearls” &c. It is not I considered as being in good taste to give * publicity to a letter that falls into one’s hands through accident or mistake ; but * no harm being done by the publication, we will not animadvert upon the want of delicacy that prompted it. The Union pretends not believe in the existence of the violence and blood-shed referred to in the above letter. The Northern Democrats professed not to believe in the Border Ruffianism that prevailed in Kansas in 1856. They assumed, before the war, not to believe that Northern men sojourning in the South, were tarred and feathered, and hung, on suspicion of being Abolitionists. During the * war, Union soldiers taken as prisoners of war were mal-treated and starved to death in Libby prison and at Andersonville.— But Northern Democrats said this was ■ not so, and that the accounts of those outrages were published in the Republican papers just before an election, for poI litical effect. And they have been equalI ly as incredulous as to the outrages and I crimes committed in the South, since the war, by the Ku-Klux and White Men’s I League. The Union now acting, indirectly, if not directly with that party, I must be expected to share its pretended i unbelief. Within the last few weeks, I outrages and murders have been perpetra- | ted in the South, which are a disgrace to I civilization, are too well authenticated to admit of doubt. Even the Union | cannot wholly shut its eyes totheir existI ence. It admits “that crimes are committed in the Southern States” but attempts to belittle them by placing them on a level with these occurring in North- ■ cities. No doubt, in the Southern States, fights and affrays occur the same as elsewherp. But there is a class of . offenses happening there, of a political character, and these ape the ones referred ■jto by by the Chairman of the State Committee. Negros and white men sre often : .shot or hung simply because they vote £he Republican ticket. And the peppeJpators o£ j&jse outrages are invariably jEx.-Bdbels. Only a few days ago, members of the “White League” armed and (equipped and carrying the confederate flag, overthrew the State government of Louisiana, and it required the proclama:tion of the President, with an intimation that federal troops would be sent there, to quell the insurrection and re-instate the ; lawful authorities of the State. The | truth is, the spirit of the Rebellion still : exists. It is only the power of the Re- | publican Administration, at Washington,

that keeps it in subjection. The recent outrages in the South have been encouraged by a few local Democratic victories. The late Rebels understand now as well at they ever did, that they can rdy on the sympathy and encouragement of that party. The friends of union, of equal rights and of justice, in the South, look to the Republican party for encouragement They expect, through the party, to keep down, as far as can be done, the disturbances which threaten their lives and property. This, the Republican party has labored faithfully to do; but it is not at all strange that it has not wholly succeeded, as it has been opposed by a considerable portion of those engaged in the Rebellion who have been greatly encouraged by their friends in the North. A Republican victory in the State elections next month, will have a decided effect in quelling the lawless spirit that now prevails to such an alarming extent throughout the South. It will be a manifestation of the determination of the people of the North to stand by the reconstruction measures tof Congress and the rights of the people without regard to race, color or previous condition of servitude. It will show that the President is sustained in suppressing armed insurrections, even if he has to do so at the point of the bayonet. The Republican party is pledged to the maintenance of good government and equal rights. The enemies of these will be encouraged by its defeat. It was, thcre- . fore, eminently proper that the Chairman of the Republican State Central Committee should desire all Republican papers of the State to “give as great prominence as possible to the horrible scenes of violence and bloodshed transpiring throughout the South.” It is right that the people should have the truth, and just before an election they should have such truths as will enable them to vote intelligently. The Republican party has no desire to keep alive the sad memories of the late civil war. But these cannot be forgotten as long as Ex-Rebels persecute and murder citizens for belonging to the party which suppressed their Rebellion,libera ted and enfranchised their slaves and established for all an equality before the law. If they would obliterate the recollections of the late “unpleasantness,” let them conform to the new order of things, not infringe upon the rights of their fellowmen and behave themselves as gotffi* api loyal citizens. J*