the best
state and federal offices. Later, after the scalawags had for the most
part left the radicals, there were contests among the carpetbaggers
themselves for the control of the Negro vote and the distribution of
spoils. The defeated faction usually joined the Democrats. In Arkansas
a split started in 1869 which by 1872 resulted in two state governments.
Alabama in 1872 and Louisiana in 1874-75 each had two rival governments.
This factionalism contributed largely to the overthrow of the radicals.

The radical structure, however, was still powerfully supported from
without. Relations between the Federal Government and the state
governments in the South were close, and the policy at Washington was
frequently determined by conditions in the South. President Grant,
though at first considerate, was usually consistently radical in his
Southern policy. This attitude is difficult to explain except by saying
that Grant fell under the control of radical advisers after his break
with Johnson, that his military instincts were offended by opposition
in the South which his advisers told him was rebellious, and that he was
impressed by the need of holding the Southern radical vote against
the inroads of the Democrats. After about 1869, Grant never really
understood the conditions in the South. He was content to control by
means of Federal troops and thousands of deputy marshals. For this
policy the Ku Klux activities gave sufficient excuse for a time, and the
continued story of "rebel outrages" was always available to justify
a call for soldiers or deputies. The enforcement legislation gave the
color of law to any interference which was deemed necessary.

Federal troops served other ends than the mere preservation of order and
the support of the radical state governments. They were used on occasion
to decide between opposing factions and to oust conservatives who had
forced their way into office. The army officers purged the Legislature
of Georgia in 1870, that of Alabama in 1872, and that of Louisiana in
1875. In 1875 the city government of Vicksburg and the state government
of Louisiana were overturned by the whites, but General Sheridan at once
intervened to put back the Negroes and carpetbaggers. He suggested to
President Grant that the conservatives be declared "banditti" and he
would make himself responsible for the rest. As soon as a State showed
signs of going over to the Democrats or an important election was lost
by th