The Beginning of the End of the Republican Governments at the South.--Southern Election Methods and Northern Sympathy.--Gen. Grant not Responsible for the Decline and Loss of the Republican State Governments at the South.--A Party without a Live Issue.--Southern War Claims.--The Campaign of 1876.--Republican Lethargy and Democratic Activity.--Doubtful Results.--The Electoral Count in Congress.--Gen. Garfield and Congressmen Foster and Hale to the Front as Leaders.--Peaceful Results.--President Hayes's Southern 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 516 CHAPTER XXVIII. THE EXODUS--CAUSE AND EFFECT. The Negroes of the South delight in their Home so Long as it is Possible for them to remain.--The Policy of abridging their Rights Destructive to their Usefulness as Members of Society.--Political Intimidation, Murder, and Outrage disturb the Negroes.--The Plantation Credit System the Crime of the Century.--The Exodus not inspired by Politicians, but the Natural Outcome of the Barbarous Treatment bestowed upon the Negroes by the Whites.--The Unprecedented Sufferings of 60,000 Negroes fleeing from Southern Democratic Oppression.--Their Patient Christian Endurance.--Their Industry, Morals, and Frugality.--The Correspondent of the "Chicago Inter-Ocean" sends Information to Senator Voorhees respecting the Refugees in Kansas.--The Position of Gov. St. John and the Faithful Labors of Mrs. Comstock.--The Results of the Exodus Beneficent.--The South must treat the Negro Better or lose his Labor 529 CHAPTER XXIX. RETROSPECTION AND PROSPECTION.