The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-02-06

r
a political extravaganza, which first ap.
pssrsa IN ! New York paper, purporsing
to be an account Of an imaginary coup a
etat il 1877, BY which constitutional gov
eminent Is overthrow BY the President,
who diuperses the Electoral College by the
military, on the plea Of fraudulent returns,
ossrthroHs Congress, and seizes, with
strong hand, upon imperial power The
aubject may be treated with levity, or serve
to excite an increduIous smile upon the
eounieuance If the thoughtless reader, but
there is . grim FEASIBILITY or probability
about ii which awakens a very different
feeling in the breast Of him who looks at
il in the light Of recent occurrences in
Louisiana, where the military power over
threw the Legislature Of a sovereign State
That act, although Of the very essence Of
despotism, is approved BY the President,
and BY leading Radicals in and out Of
Congress-. True, many prominent Repub-
cans, Of the better sort, protested most
earnestly against Il; but the great mass of
that party stand by the President and by
Sheridan and his cut-throat reeommenda-
tion to the President aud Congress to de-
clare the citizens Of the South banditti,
and then to leare TIE rest 10 him. These
are signs Of the times which cannot be lost
sight Of They are the indubitable proofs
Of the extent to which usurpation, lawless-
ness, and contempt for the Constitution
have gone, and are alarming to every we'll
wisher Of his country, and every friend of
law and order. Where is this thing 10
end? wiz 1t end with Louisiana? Let
Let Mississippi, Alabama, and South
Carolina answer.
In speech Of the Hon. B. H.
Hill, delivered in the Hall of the House
Of Representatives, at Atlanta, Georgia,
on the goth nl. that gentleman asked
this question Where Is this thing to
end Think yoa it viii cad In Louisi-
ana?" and then continuing said my eosn.
tFymen, you can't mistake the purpose Of
this conduct II has been manifest from
the beginning. Itwillinot stop with Louisi.
ana, unless the people now froun it down
with an indignation unparalleled IN this
eouatry- The great final struggle to set
tie the question whether constitutisnal lib
erty on this continent shall be continued
or not, is to be fought in 1876. Can ii
be successfully fought at the ballot? l
warn the country now, that radiealism will
nerer yield its grasp Of power at the bid
ding Of the votes of the people, save that
vote amount 10 a popular rsroiutioa. Don't
you imagine, that this monster against
every right is going to yield its morbid
appetite for power AZ the bidding Of bare
majority Of the people Never never
That is what it is now preparing for, and
Itellyou that the same power that throttled
Louisiana, viii Throttle the Electoral College
Of these States, and keep the Government
in their hands, Notwithstanding the ballot
and all under the color Of the law too r.
Is this prophecy, or j. it the voice of ap-
prehension, merelyf Weshalls see. What
means the proposition to suspend again
the writ Of habsas corpuss Already a
special committee has been appointed in
Congress to zee what further repressiye
Legislation is required for the Southern
States, and il is proposed to undo the work
q reconstruction, and reconstruct the
South again more eifectually. This Is but
part Of the plot of these conspiraton
against the principle Of free govern
meut and free and fair ballot. IN
less the people rise up in cir majesty
and give such majority against them
that they dare not attempt to carry out
their base purposes, popular government
by the ballot and constitutional liberty, are
at an end. AT least it is plain to all who
viii see, that such is the tendency of cur
rent political events.