The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1872-09-12

past cluster about US. There was a
day, and happy even the thought that
upon our national escutcheon it is
recorded, when virtue guided by wis
dom produccda correct order of affairs.
There was day when noblenesS was
the ruling passion which steered the
nation clear of evils, and to-day the
educated and liberal American heart
yearns for a re establishment of the
same purity which once clothed the
nation in honor, glory and success.
For long, weary years we have been
the victims of ignorance and vice, the
latter supported by the former and
forming a combination terrible in It's
consequences. Under the baleful in
fuences of this combination the South
has suffered until it's woes have become
by-word in every land. The basest
ignorance has been powerful, and vice
in every conceivable form has prosti.-
tuted our fair and sunny land to the
most ignoble ends and purposes. Seated
upon an ebOn throne, the darkest edicts
have been promulgated and enforced,
and truth and justice suppressed, to
give way to corruption and iniquiGy.
The great safeguards to liberty have
been ignored, the right of free and
untr ammeled expression of the public
voice denied, the ballot-box made a
farce. This miserable power having
its head at ashington, in the person
of an ignorant and base President,
permeates even every part of the
Union, spreading its baleful influences
to-day cunningly into communities
where but yesterday it dared not make
its demonstrations. South Carolina,
Arkansas, Texas, North Carolina and
the sister States have Deen compelled
to forfeit their rights, the most sacred,
and today We hear that the great and
powerful State of Pennsylvania is to
be subjected TO an ordeal, which here.
tofore it Was only deemed prudent to
practice against the crippled aud weak
ened States of the South. This power,
as is always the case with base ones,
is continually aggressive, its hostility
to the guaranteed rights of the people
has no point at which to check itself,
and its onward course is directed posi-
lively against the very fundamental
principles and doctrines Of republican
ism.
What will be the result Of this evil
influence if it lasts? The plans are
already prepared, and miles; the peo-
pie rise in their magnitude and strength,
and oppose it as they should, our
decline is imminent. The course of
republics is precariou,, and all their
errors, corruptious and failures spring
from the very causes which now
threaten ours. Military despotism,
with q leveragn rl'?PIifd- -iAss- -tLe-bry9vvt
passion and ignorance, was the enters
ing wedge to our liberties, and the
blow which will rend them assunder
would be the election of Grant in
November. His defeat is the labor 20
be performed, and upon it depends the
welfare of the people. Let them com.
prehend we'll the dangers to be overs
come. The official power, backed by
the military, is in the hands of Grant;
he holds it in the palm Of his hand,
and bis wish is the law. Plans for the
corruption of the ballot-box are pre-
pared in every State of the Union. Il
is not alone in the South where these
diabolical measures were first instituted
that the attack is to be made, but in
the metropolitan States of the NortE
the base game is TO be played. Art
the prospects for better order o.
affairs gone? Do the American people
agree to submit to be led into the very
jaws of ruin, or will they in bold masse!
say to the aggreSsor, Thou canst go NJ
further? The crisis is fearful to con
template; it is to be the turning poin
towards a better order of things or f.;
| plunge into the darkest abyss 0
anarchy. SHARES are laid to entrap us
those who should be orr friends in tn
: struggle for reform have been induce
to put stumbling blocks in our way, an
our only hope is a return TO reason
and yigiIant, uncompromising canvass
Gpvarnn, navjS hos iSSund his ,roo