The Portland daily press., 1871-05-06
DAILY PRESS.
PORTLAND.
SATURDAY, MAY 9, 1871.



IF ANYTHING were needed to justify the proc
lsmation of Gen. Grant, announcing that he
will exhaust the powers vested in him by law,
whenever and wherever it may be necessary
to do so for the purpose of securing to all peo-
pls of the United States, the peaceful enjoy
ment of those rights guaranteed to them by
the Constitution and laws, il is the action of
the State democratic Convention, held at
Frankfort, KY, on the same day the preca-
nation was issued. The enforcement bill,
and of course all action on the part Of the ex.
ecutive to execute it, would be unnecessary if
the Democratic leaders would promptly put
ON record plain, sincere and emphatic ad-
mission Of the binding force of the constitu.
tional amendments and the laws passed in
pursuance of the same, and solemn de:lar-
alton that they intend to render to them I'M
questioning Obedience. But so long as this
question of questions ID evaded, IS in the ad-
dress Of the Democratic Congressman, and so
long Is resistance and violence are advised ny
implication, as in the resolutions aooped ny
the Kentucky Convention, the less lnteiligent
class Of the Southern people will naturally
give practical effect to the theories of their
leaders, and unlawful violence must be met
by legitimate force. -t...a l-
1t is due to the Democracy of Kentucky to
state that the party is divided, the faction call
ed the Bourbons being unfortunately tn e
strongest. 1t is this division of the party that
has had full control Of the State government
during the last year. They have refused to
legislate for the suppression of Ku-Klux out
RACES, nullified the laws of the general gov
4. ,ernment that require the admission of negro
testimony in the courts, maintained a consist
emit opposition to negro suffrage, and, in short
have stopped only short of attempting to re
store slavery itself. They are opposed by VIVA
are known as the "Progressives," composed
largely of ex-Coniederates who took an actua
part In the late conflict and who perceive the
necessity Of removing something OF the odiun
that rests on Democracy in Kentucky for the
sake Of the party at large. They are in favor
Of admitting negro testimony, suppressing thu
Ku-Klux and conceding the validity of tn.
constitutional amendments. Their candidat,
for Governor was Gen. Buel, but the Bonr
bons were strong enough to nominate Leslie
the present Lieut. Governor. But it is in tn
platform that we must look for an indication
of the spirit that is unhappily dominant il
Kentucky. The fifth resolution is CAREFUL!
guarded in its language, but its purport is a!
disloyd as if it were Kentucky declaration
of Independence. Here it is: sa..
Kentucky is unalterably opposed to every
form of lawlessness, whether committed un
der cover of unconstitutional enactments Of
organized bands, and we pledge ourselves, a
occasion may arise, to use every legal mean
to prevent one, and have enacted such law!
as experience may demonstrate to be necessa
~ to put down the other, and furnish protect
ion to life, liberty and property, under tn,
laws enacted by our own Legislature and ad
ninistered by our own courts. -8s.g
1t will be perceived that this resolution de
elares two highly Objectionable things.
the first place it puts on precisely the sam
footing the Ku-Klux outrages and the meas
ures of the government to suppress them
and in the second place there is direct refu
sal to obey the laws of the United States wit
reference to Rebel violence. 1t only remain
to be added that the State laws enacted 70
the same purpose, referred to in the resou
ton, are pure myth. This completes striI
ing picture Of the attitude of Democracy il
its chosen home. This is what Democracy i
when it is strong enough to act Itself and def
the consequences.