Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-04-20

fear in apolitcial way, however. from
the complaints Of its friends, II itshall
neglect to protect them, than from
the false accusations of its foes. The
Ku Klux Klans are but carrying out
the threats made by rebels during the
war, that if the confederacy failed, a
guerrillawarfare should for genera
ton, at least, keep alive the spirit of
treason at the South. They can only
be kept from their deeds Of rapine
and murder by military force.
Instead of seeking the things which
make for peace the Democratic party
Of the South have given license to
vindictive and bloody men to exer-
else their lust for violence with inn
punity. Where they have had ample
power they have not restrained this
lawlessness either by law or by pub.
lie sentiment. So far from it the men
whose hands are red with innocent
blood are to day the heroes Of the com.
munities in which they dwell.
Ours is not the first government
which has had to contend with ma.
lignant spirit of treason in once re.
volted, but subdued districts. The
policy of wise and resolute imperial
Governments in such cases is well
known and well defined. The i'm.
perative law Of self-preservation
leaves no alternative, but to meet
force. At all points where violence
is likely to occur in opposition to the
Government, or in persecution of its
friends, a force sufficient to suppress
its first uprisings must be maintained.
1t may be said that a despotic or mon.
archical Government may subsist by
means which Republic may not
venture to employ. We answer that
Republic is simplya Government
in which majority of the lawful
electors rule according to constitu.
ton established, and when the rule
of that majority, legally ascertained
and installed, is rebelled against, i,
must enforce its authority by force,
just as a Government underany other
form must do.
We have boasted that our flag pro.
tects our citizens in every nation and
every land Of the earth where civil
lied government exists. Shall i!
have less power to protect its true
and trustl slEisnds in our oga. States
Shall domestic traitors make us quail
when foreign foes can not? Docs the
peculiar form of our Government
compel us to allow treason an undis.
turbed opportunity to gain strength
and development in any State o,
community which may be weak or
wicked enough to give it shelter and
nurture? That James Buchanan
thought so is surely not precedent
which Republicans should feel bound
to regard.
We say to this Congress: Protect
our friends at the South, and they
will stand by you. Make it safe for
every friend of the Government 10
speak and vote as he plcases, but dc
not encourage men to do so and then
leave them helpless in the hands OF
their foes. Such n failure would be
quite as mischievous, and almost as
criminal, as the prosecutions Of their
foes. There are noble and true men,
both white and black, who love the
Union and regard the Government
with respect and devotion, and there
are enough of them to elect safe and
true men to Office in every State.
But if armed guerilla bands, repre-
senting a minority Of the people, are
permitted to range the State ut will,
they dare not speak and vote as they
desire. If we would have peace we
must compel traitors to submission.
--2oieolo Blade.