THERN POLICY.--ITS FAILURE.--THE
IDEAS OF THE HON. CHARLES FOSTER ON THE TREATMENT OF THE SOUTHERN
PROBLEM.--"NOTHING BUT LEAVES" FROM CONCILIATION.--A NEW POLICY
DEMANDED BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.--A REMARKABLE SPEECH BY THE
HON. CHARLES FOSTER AT UPPER SANDUSKY, OHIO.--HE CALLS FOR A
SOLID NORTH AGAINST A SOLID SOUTH.--HE SOUNDS THE KEY-NOTE FOR
THE NORTH AND THE NATION RESPONDS.--THE DECAY AND DEATH OF THE
NEGRO GOVERNMENTS AT THE SOUTH INEVITABLE.--THE NEGRO MUST TURN
HIS ATTENTION TO EDUCATION, THE ACCUMULATION OF PROPERTY AND
EXPERIENCE.--HE WILL RETURN TO POLITICS WHEN HE SHALL BE EQUAL TO
THE DIFFICULT DUTIES OF CITIZENSHIP.

From 1868 to 1872 the Southern States had been held by the Republican
party, with but a few exceptions, without much effort. The friends of
the Negro began to congratulate themselves that the Southern problem
had been solved. Every Legislature in the South had among its members
quite a fair representation of Colored men. Among the State officers
there was a good sprinkling of them; and in some of the States there
were Negroes as Lieut.-Governors. Congress had opened its doors to a
dozen Negroes; and the consular and diplomatic service had employed a
number of them in foreign parts. And so with such evidences of
political prosperity before their eyes the friends of the Negro at the
North regarded his "calling and election sure."

In 1873 a great financial panic came to the business and monetary
affairs of the country. It was the logic of an inflated currency, wild
and visionary enterprises, bad investments, and prodigal living. Banks
tottered and fell, large business houses suspended, and financial ruin
ran riot. Northern attention was diverted from Southern politics to
the "destruction that seemed to waste at noon-day." Taking advantage
of this the South seized the shot-gun and wrote on her banners: "_We
must carry these States, peaceably if we can; forcibly if we must._"
An organized, deliberate policy of political intimidation assumed the
task of ridding the South of Negro government. The first step was in
the direction of intimidating the white leaders of the Republican
organizations; and the next was to deny employment to all intelligent
and influential Colored Republicans. Thus from time to time the
leaders of the Republican party were reduced to a very small number.
Without leaders the rank and file of the party were harmless and
he