Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-06-01
THE HERALD.
The Importance of the Next Presf-
dental Election.

ties will shortly be tried. No Presi-
dental election has been more impor.
tant in its bearing on the welfare of
the country than that which will take
place next November. 1t is so easy
to say to the North forget and for
give while the Democratic South de-
nounces Northern men as thieves and
rascals. Even in South Carolina,
with large Republican majority, the
Democracy assail every white Repub-
lican with the utmost venom; hold to-
ward him as much of threatening
attitude as they dare; and think they
destroy his happiness because they os.
tracise him. Not so the Northern
man with Southern principles. He
falls naturally into the arms of the
Democrats, who receive him as the
noblest form of man.
1t now remains to be decided
whether the cost and suffering of the
war shall be made to yield the fruit of
national peace and prosperity; wheth-
er the Democratic States of the South
shall continue defiant in disloyalty
and add other Southern States to
them; whether, indeed, the safety of
the Union is assured. The presence
of so many ex-Confederates in the
House of Representatives caused
many evil forebodings. They are
there for no good. If the truth were
told of how many of them got there it
would not rebound to their credit.
The sanctity of the ballot-box has lit
tie respect in their eyes; and as to the
rights of citizen ship when the citizen
is not in accordance with their politi-
cal views, it is short shrift or swift
dispersion. 1t would be interesting
to know in many cases how many Re-
publican votes were cast by Republi.
cans in districts overwhelmingly Re-
publican, and yet Democrat claims
to represent them. But it never hap
pens the other way. No Democratic
district has Republican representa-
tive; so that it is quite one.sided af-
fair, in which Republicans arc made
to suffer by the cheating to exalt that
kind of Southern Democrat whom Re-
publicans despise, because of his dis
loyalty. The backbone of the Dem
ocratc party is made up of the old
Bourbon rebel element. The South
srn Democracy have got the North
ern Democrats nose to the grindstone
and mean to keep it there, AT no
time has the Democratic party been
weaker or stood in worse light be-
fore the best citizens of the country.
Under the lead of Southerners of tar
nished surroundings the Democratic
party has been guilty of uDutterable
meanness, and played into the hands
of disloyal men, who are plotting to
reverse the reconstruction measures
of Republicans and preventing the
education aud prosperity o! the col.
ored people.
Here great question arises which
ought to receive settlement that can
not be disturbed. AS one of the is
sues of the war the colored man not
only obtained his freedom but had
conferred on him the rights of citi-
zen. 1t will not do in great. repub-
lie like this for men, who by their re.
bellion sought to do it irreparably in
jury, to defy the National Govern
ment, which is the embodiment of the
popular will. Either the rights of
citizenship shall be enjoyed by the
colored man or the people must I'M
derstand that the Democratic party
does its best to deprive him Of those
rights and keep him in seryile con
didion. And this in the centennial
year ofnational freedom and indepen-
dence'
But the back bone OF the Repubi
can party is composed of the old
fashioned Free Soil element, which
has history of which the country
may be proud. Starting out with the
recognition of manhood, whatever
hue the skin might be, freedom and
the rights of citizenship were conferr-
ed, which must never be abandoned
until they are secured. 1t is all very
| well for the Democracy of the South
to say that slavery is dead, and that
the old shareholders would not have it
again if they could. This is not true,
startling as it may appear. Where
Republicans are in the ascendency
| colcred men have their rights, and
they are protected from the unscrupu-
lous design of the Bourbon Demo
Gratis. But in the States which haze
been seized by the Democracy tie
colored men have few rights they rec
ognize. His is condition of serf-
dom with az near an approach to slav-
cry as possible, He is willfully kept
ignorant, that be may be imposed up
on. Ifhe hires land it is at disad.
vantage. The fruit of his crops and
his labor is snatched away from him
and bis family. The Southern De-
mocracy seem to have combined to
enrich themselves at the expense of
the colored people, and to rely upon
their ignorance to do it effectively. If
the colored man complains be has no
redress. No Democratic lawyer will
take up his case. No Democratic
judge will do him justice; and Demo.
cratic juries always decide in favor of
their Democratic friends. Then
again, petty crimes, often brought
about by the poverty of colored men
who have been industrious, but whose
industry has brought them no profit,
are exaggerated, and they are pun
ished by long terms of imprisonment,
which break up homes and scatter
families. And altogether, Republi-
cans, white and black, arc exposed to
such bitter hostility that few state.
ments made by the press have over
drawn the dark picture.
Hostility against Republicans and
colored citizens on public grolnds in
Southern States is an evil which de.
mands remedy. 1t will not be pre-
vented by the cry of "the bloody
shirt" 1t will rather hide behind the
bloody shirt in order to continue
| The Democratie Marty has shown ii.