Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-10-02

corporatcd in their platform plank
complaining of the action Of the Re
publican party in regard to civil
rights-in the same way as they used
to complain ut the time Of the passage
OF the Constitutional Amendments
They sa.', if the Civil Rights bill is
passed, then We are compelled to
have mixed schools-whitc and col
orcd children on the same benches,
studying the same books; and col
orcd men will be placed, pcrlorcc,
in all our hotels, railway cars, thea
tres, etc. Nothing of the kind. Wh=:
We do propose to do is just this: we
propose to carry out in good faith the
spirit and meaning Of the Constitu-
tional Amendments; that no man
shall be denied the opportunity to
obtain an education, the privilege Of
attending the public schools, the
right to ride i'll the cars or othcr.pub-
lie convcyanccs, or to be fed and
lodged at hotels, because of his race,
color, or previous condition. That
this should be done is important in
many respects. This done, and the
question of color is removed from
politics to large extent Until it is
done, these men Of the South will
make the condition of the colorcd
man an element of content in pol
ltics. We propose to remove this
bone OF contention out of politics. |
repeat that in connection with the
question of Civil Rights the Rcpubli-
can party has done well.
The Republican party has done
well upon another subjcct-anL one
to which, perhaps, more than any
other, does the Anti-Monopoly party
OF Iowa owe its origin. | refer of
course to the subject of chesp trans
portation. | suppose there are those
before me who believed that the Re
publican party could not be trusted
in regard to this matter. l SAY 'sbc-
licvcd, for no man in his senses can
mo" believe it, in view of the history
OF the action Of the two parties upon
this subject. If you have in Iowa \
law upon this subject, believed to be
a good one at the time OF i. "a. ,"a
u are indebted to the Rc2u.. .ican
party for its enactment, a:.d to Re
publican officials for its enforcement.
So in the federal councils. In Jan
uary, 1873, Mr.. Hawley, of Illinois,
introduced into Congress Il bill pro-
viding for the appointment of y com
mission to investigate and report up
on the subject of interstate commerce.
Subsequently, on the l4th of Feb
ruary, 1878, the bill WAS called up
and brought to Il vote; and wish to
direct your attention particularly to
al analysis of that vote. Out of IS
votes given in favor of that bill, rs
were given by Republicans, and by
Democrats and Liberals. While
against it the votes were II Rcpubli-
cans and 81 Democrats. Note tt,at
on the question of appointing Il Com
mittec to investigate the matter of
interstate commerce, with view to
= reduction of the expense Of trans
portation, 81 Democrats opposed it,
while only .fce favored it. These
arc the men, my Anti-Monopoly
friends, whom you are helping into
Office in Iowa, and expecting to help
you to control railroad tariffs and re-
ducc the expense Of interstate COM
mcrce!
You have all heard Of the McCrary
bill. That bill provided for the ap-
polntment of u commission to have
control, within certain limitations, of
the entire interstate commerce OF the
country. Well, this bill came to u
vote, and again the Democrats in
Congress put themselves upon record
as to their disposition to legislatc in
favor of the restriction of railroads.
In favor Of that proposition l2l votes
were given; of these llG were given
by Republicans, and by Democrats.
Against it ll5 votes were cast, of
which II were by Republicans, and
90 by Democrats! And yet, my
Anti-Monopoly friend, you are acting
with the Democratic party, in the
hope that twill help you bring about
a reform upon this great subject of
railway transportation!
10 come nearer home-from the
national councils to the uttcranccs
and actions Of the two parties in
your own State. You will recollect
the Autobiography party has been in
existence in Iowa for only two years,
and therefore has only twice given
in State Convention, to its
principles and policy. The Anti
Monopoly platform for 1873, we find,
acknowledges the right of the State
to limit freight and passenger tariffs,
but has not 4 word to say in regarl
to the right of the general govern
ment. The fact is, the Anti-Mono-
poly platform was made, as the Con-
vention was controlled, by old-linc,
State-rght Democrats who did not
believe in the power of the general
government to restrict railway legis-
lation, or to do anything else of any
accounts But the last State Convc!l-
ton determined to be boldcr; deter
mined to throw overheard these State
rights men, these halting conservative
men and to be nutspoken rs to their
and they passed a rcsolu-
ton on this subject OF the restriction
of railway tariffs, which l will read
to you, in order that you may see its
exact language and meaning:
Resolred, That railroads and all other
corporations for pccuniary profits, should
be rendered subscryient to the public good;
that VIC demand such Constitutional and
necessary legislation upon this subject,
both State and National, as will etfcctually
secure the industrial and producing inter
csts OF the country against all forms of
monopoly and cxtortion; aad
that the existing railroad legislation Of the
State should be faithfully enforced until
may have demonstrated the
propricty and Justice of its modification.
Now, my friends, that is outspokcn,
that is definite, that is clear-or at
least think it will be clear, if we ex-
anime into it Il little. We will sup
pose that you elect to Congress an
State-rights Democrat-one
Of the kind they are nominating for
Congress throughout Iowa, in all Dis