The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-01-21

greediest and corruptest of the kind
began to look upon Congress and the
National Executive as their natural al.
lies and sworn protectors, bound to
sustain them in power, by whatever
means. Every vagabond in the South
calling himself Republican thought
himself entitled to aid from you, when
rushing on to Congress with an out
rage story. The cOlOred people began
to think that you were bound to pro-
tect them in whatever they might do,
instead of depen Ting upon the persist
ent and honest use of their own politi-
cal rights to establish their position.
The Federal oflice-holders in the
South became more than ever centers
of partisan intrigue and trickery. The
Caseys and PacSards carried off State
Senators on q United States revenue
cutter, and shut up Republican Gov
ernor in the Custom-house, guarded
by United States soldiers, to keep out
another Republican faction. Nay,
more than that, this same Packard,
during the last election campaign in
Louisiana, being at the same time Uni
ted States Marshal, and Chairman OF
the Campaign Committee of the Kel-
logg party-managed not only the po-
litical campaign. but also the move
ment of United States troops s'to en-
force the laws" to keep his political
opponents from intimidating his pO-
litical friends. We have several Leg
islatures much in the way of Mexican
pronunciamentos, and rival Govern
ments calculating upon the aid they
may get from the National Govern
ment, and the Attorney-General of the
United States called upon to make or
unmake State Governments with a
wave OF his hand. and the Department
of Justice at most appearing like a
central bureau for the regulation of
State elections; and still more than
that, a Federal Judge in Louisiana, by
midnight order, universally recogniz-
ed as gross and most iniustifiable
usurpatiOn, virtually making State
Governor and Legislature, the Nation
al Executive, with the army, sustain
ing that usurpation and Congress per-
mitting it to be done, and now culmi-
mating in the glory of Federal soldiers
with fixed bayonets marching into the
Hall of State, dragging
out by force, men universally recog-
nized as claimants for membership and
having been seated-soldiers decidihg g
IA contested election case, and organiz-
ing a Legislative body; Lieutenant
General suggesting to the President to
outlaw by proclamation numerous
body of the people by wholesale, that
he may try them by Military Com
and then a Secretary inform
ing the Lieutenant General by tele-
graph that the Government has full
in his wisdom. And upon
this the whites of the South, gradual
ly driven, look upon the National
as their implacable and
enemy, and the people
of the whole country are full o. alarm
and anxiety about the safety OF repub-
lican institutions and the rights of
every man in the land. He would
hail the day as most auspicious one
for the Lolored people of the South
when they threw off the scandalous
Of those adventures, who,
taking advantage of their ignorance,
made them tools for their rapacity.
Mr.. Schurz appealed to Senators to
turn back, for said he, consider that he
who, in place like ours, tails to stop
Or even justifies II blow at the fupda-
The accomplice of those who strike at
The life of the republican liberty of
the people. The people of the South
were not murderers and banditti;
there were bad elements among them.
but the National Governmen! itself
was giving to these bad elements
siren 9Th which they never would have
possessed otherwise. By its uncop-
stitutional proceedings it put every one
Of these bad men in the position of
being oppressed and pleading for
freedom. He argued that Virginia,
North Carolina and Georgia, where
was unobstructed,
were advancing in prosperity, while
in Louisiana and in other States where
was Obstructed there
was no prosperity. He thought the
awlessness of power was becoming
far more dangerous than a mob.
Mr.. Schurz continued: l shall be the
asst man OH earth to say word of ex-
;use for the Southern ruf1ian who
threatens a negro voter with violence.
know no language too severe to
him but can not forget
that the only act of terrorism aud
l ever happened to wit
ness with my own eyes was the cruel
and stoning of colored man
in North Carolina in 1872 by men of
his own race because he had declared
for the Conservatives; and, if the
whole story of the South were told, ii
would be discovered that such prac-
lice has not been unfrequent. l can
not forget that as to the discharge OF
laborers from employment for politi-
cal cause, a most seductive and de-
example is set by the high
est authority in the land, While we
have law on our statute-book impos-
ing a penalty for the intimidation of
voters by threatened or actual dis
charge from employment, it is the no.
torious practice of your Government
to discharge every one of its employees
who darcs to oppose the Administra-
ton party, have always condemned
every species of intimidation interfer-
ing with the freedom of political ac-
ton, and therefore am for a genuine
civil service reform. But while your
National Government is the champion
in the land, you must not be
ii partisans on all sides profit
from it's teachings.
II Will OC lOi ict IL
States and for the blacks of the South
W hen, according to their best judg-
ments, they divide their votes between
the different political parties. When
thus giving to each party chance to
obtain their votes, they make it the
interest and natural policy of each par
ty to protect their safety and respect
their rights i'm order to secure those
votes. l repeat what once said in
place, mot in union is there
safety, but in division"
The Senator advised the people of
not 20 allow any impulse Of
passion to carry away their judgment,
and said :''Be right; trust to the JUS
tice Of your cause, for shurely the
time can not be far distant when every
American who truly loves his liberty
will not fail to recognize his own
cause in the cause of Constitutional
in Louisiana, when that
spirit of a peaceful victory will bury
the usurpers under a crushing load of
nafrintic in1iunatiOn rlha nanpln