New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-07-23
The Civil Rights Issue.

The Democratic party of Indiana boldly
antagonzes the recognition Of the right of
every American to The full and equal pro-
lection of the laws without discrimination as
to race ., .coIor. In this amt, calsni g..
party Letrays its duplicity. its false ,.ctcnses,
and fully confirms the charges against it Of
hypocrisy. In 1872 the Democracy accepted
a platform, the first plank of which recog-
nized equality before the law without distinc
ton as TO race or color. The New York
Tribune, and other Democratic organs, be-
came much excited when the charge of false
pretcnses was made against the party that
accepted Horace Greeley as a candidate for
President. The CHARGE was, nevertheless
true. The civil rights bill has been made an
issue i'm Indiana, and the Democratic party
leaders are marsbaling their forces II defeat
the party that stands by the very principle
promulgated as the first in Importance in the
Democratic platform of 1872. In Democratic
antagonism to equality before the law the
party of 1874 con!esses the attempt 10 de
ceive the people in 1872. Can such party
be trusted? Is it not evident to the voting
population that the Democratic party has no
firm policy other than to get Office ~ resort
t, any, and all kinds of, strategy and dvcri-
ton that give promise of Success: The
brazen etrontery and cool reliance Oh The
supposed stupidity of the people with which
the Democratic party totally ignores lis pro-
fesslGns of two years ago can only he cX-
planned by the fact that Democratic leaders
have never recovered from the stunning
blows of defeat that their treason aud SYM
patty with rebellion brought upon their po-
ltical heads. And to-day the Democratic
party, if its platforms were placed in line,
would exhibit the most rcpulsive drformlty.
and crookedness of purpose imaginable.
There would be unity of purpose exhibited
i'm but one direction, viz, TO yet control of
the offices.
The people cap obtain no idea as to the
real purposes of the party that favors equal
lty before the law one year, and the next year
denounces equal and exact justice to all men,
and attempts to hold up TO public CONTEMPT
leading statesmen who would have no invil-
ious determinations among citizens under the
law. The party Of tIickery cannot be sue
cessful. The fact that it is deceptive, I'M
principled organization is enough to con-
denim it.
In Louisiana Democracy means to eXter-
inmate the negro. The negro is Il citizen of
the United States. The Democratic party
seeks to array one class of citizens against
another. In Louisiana White Leagues are
formed for the unconccalcd purpose Of driv-
ing the negroes from the State by the use of
q ~ means likely 10 produce the result. In
Indiana tie Democracy proposes Ia make it
impossible for the negro TO secure the equal
protection of the laws with white citizens. !!
In the one Stale white leagues are organized |
TO shoot down negroes, in the other colOred
citizens are TO have 10 redress at law for
Outrages perpetrated against them. This
policy is beng pursued solely to make the
road TO Office easy for the Democratic party.
Its aim is office. If Office can he obtained
by protesting favor for equality before the
law the Democracy makes the profession.
If their professions are not believed, they
attempt to capture the public by facing about
and going to the opposite extreme. Two
years ago Democracy would accord civil
rights TO the negro; this year they band
themselves in secret societies to murder him.
For next year it is impossible to predict any
Thing for the Democracy save inconsistency
With any of it's former professions. II