The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-12-01
The Radical Defeat in Missouri.
The BrOwn-Shurz Organ ON the Situo-
tfOn-The Lesson OF the Hour.

The BrOwn-Shurz Organ on the Situ0.
tton-The Lesson OF the Hour
IFrom the St. Louis Democrat, Radical.1
| The magnificent victory achieved by the
Liberal Republican movement will challenge
attention in every State of the Union. 1t is
emphatically a victory of principle. The
| contest, from its earliest inception, has
turned upon the most important questions
of State and national policy, and the deci-
sion of the people, complete and overwhelm-
ing as it is, will be accepted everywhere as
an indication of the popular will in other
States as we'll as this That decision is,
first, for removal of all political disabilities
The people believe that the tCar has lasted
long enough that men who have surrender
ed, obeyed the laws and kept the peace for
years, aud who are now industrious and USE
ful citizens, ought not to he deprived any
/ longer of an equal share in the government.
In Missouri this decision enfraDchises proba-
bly, fifty thousand men who have been de-
prive6 of suffrage, until this year at least.
In other States, the same principles and
policy, if carried into effect, will remove dis
abilities from host of the ablest and most
influential citizens. who have been excluded
from office by national authority, and whose
places have been filled by class of men not
creditable, as a whole. either to the Repub-
lican party or to the State which they rep
resent or govern. Let political disabilities
be removed let the intellect and ability of
the South resume their natural influence, and
whether these States be Republican or Dem
ocratic, they will at least be more wisely
governed and more fairly represented in the
national councils. No party eau long afford
to exclude from suffrage from Office
large body of men, including many of the
ablest, wealthiest and most influential Of
the community; and the attempt to do so,
wherever made, only inl Tres the Republican
party and exposes it to the charge of disre
gard of public interest for tie sake of main
tanning itself in power 1t is time for the
party to relieve itself of this great burden.
The decision of the people is most emphatic
rebuke of the system of taxation maintained
for years with the aid Of Republican votes
in Congress. The protective system, taxing
the many for the benefit Of the few, has Eeen
tolerated only because the people were deep-
ly interested in other questions. and post
poned action in regard TO the tariff until a
more convenient season. Now the war issues
are settled. The country rests in the convic-
tion that the settlement made will not be
disturbed. Reconstruction is completed
Negro suffrage is established and fortified in
the Constitution itself. These matters settled,
the people are free to consider whether the
system of taxation under which they have
been living is wise or just one. Tho ver-
dict of Missouri indicates what the decision
of other States will be when that question
shall be presented. 1t will oe we'll for the
Republican party if it heeds this warning
and purges itself of responsibility for this
great wrong. No party can afford to defend
the tariff under which we live. No party,
however popular, can afford to be response
bic for a scheme of plumber by which .hree
hundred millions year are taken from the
pockets of consumers aud given to enrich
few favored capitalists. This policy, inju-
rious to the country, will surely be ruinous
to any party which attempts to defend it, |
and those are the truest friends of the Re- |
publican party who labor most earnestly to |
crush the power of the monopolies and ia
vored interests in its councils. The Mis- |
souri, election. fairly considered, is warning |
to the Republican party that it must drop |
the policy falsely called protection. or must |
prepare itself for Overwhelming defeat. Pre- I
suming upon the attachment of men to the /
party, Republican managers have disregard |
cd the wishes and interests of the Western |
people, and have suffered the party to be used
as tool by Eastern monopolists. IL IS time
for them to learn that the West ,ciN not tolerate
any longer such betrayal Of its interests.
President Grant has given to the election
in this State peculiar significance. The
people OF Missouri were engaged in deciding
important questions of State policy, and in
declaring their will upon questions of ma
ional Importance. They had no thought of
,he next Presidential election, and were not
Inclined either to advocate or to oppose the
reelection of General Grant at this time.
But he was influenced by men who cared
more for small Offices than for the success
md reputation of his administration. They
oursuaded him that the Liberal Republicans
# Missouri were hostile to his reelection.
The absence of any pledge to support him
or certain term, and the emphatic decla-
a tion for reform OF the civil service, were
egarded by the President as evidences of
hostility. In the most unf fortunate moment Of
as lfe. he consented to use the power of
ppointment and removal in a vain attempt
o crush this liberal Republican element in
dlsSourl. Thus he has converted victory
principles to which he was pledged, which i
re vital to the Republican party, and which =
either General Grant nor the party should
yer have permitted to be used against them, {
ato a most terrible reb,lte of his ddnainistra 6
Ca Missouri tells him that her people is S
OF for sale; that office and the hope of office /
annot seduce them from their convictions of t
uty and that his own forgetfulness of &
ledges. and disregard of vital Republican |
rinciples will not be initiated, but sternly a
'buked by freemen in every part of the t
md. The voters of Missouri only speak the 4
Ill OF freemen elsewhere. Presidential in v
.rference IN State elections is so odious. so o
fensive to every true Republican. that no (
rejident can hope for The confidence and O
IppOn Of the people acho so abuses his po,cer. s
he victory is complete and glorious. We 4
ust that its lessons will not be lost upon Il
re President and the Republican party of e
e nation. 7
ANOTHER DIABoLICAL OUTRAGE ny u
EGRO IN WEST W II