Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-10-06

speeches In New Jersey and Delaware, to
Attorney General Taft's circular, but does
not say that 1t is not liz ..ccc dance with
law. Indeed, Mr.. Bayard processes the
utmost respect for law, and rests his OBJ
lection upon the ground that the law is not
constitutional His object is 10 make ii
appear that the white population in the
southern States is ruthlessly oppressed by
the action of the administration in taking
care that the equal political rights of all
citizens shall be protected. Mr.. bayard
is careful not to mention who it is that
threatens those rights. lie knows, as
everybody knows, that if the wholesome
fear of the National authority were wholly
withdrawn from the southern States, his
democratic friends would practically ami
hilate the political rights of the negroes.
That is the truth, which no one who takes
care to inform himself of the situation
would venture to deny. If the National
administration were now controlled by
Mr.. Bayard and his democratic friends,
there can be little doubt that even South
Carolina, where the republican majority
is known to be great, would give its vote
for Mr.. Tilden. The result would be ac-
complsbed by overawng the colored vote.
The democratic Derringer and not the law
of the United States, would keep order at
the polls. 1t is the universal conviction
of this which has thoroughly aroused the
public mind; and every speech of Mr..
Bayard's to the refrain of Jefferson Davis
"Leave us alone" and with its significant
illusions TO the "confederacy" of States,
only confirms that conviction.
Mr. Bayard, in his New York speech,
declared with emphasis that one of the
things most to be desired is that we hold
out our hands in brotherly love to the
south. Mr. S. s. Cox also, and Mr.. Fer
nando Wood. cannot contain their admi-
ration for the golden rule as the true poll
cy and the only sure bond of union. When
their democratic brethren of the south sold
women and children on the auction block,
we do not remember that these statesmen
were so profuse In praises of brotherly
love. And when Lovejoy was shot dead
for merely asserting the right of free
speech. the party friends of these gentle
men thought that he was served right.
When the democrats were in power and
fugitive slaves were to be hunted and alb
oitionists tarred and feathered, the golden
rule was suspended. When southern dem
ocrats now wish 10 preside at the polls
with the Derringer, brotherly love, it
seems, requires that we acquesce. 1t
would be interesting to know whether
these gentlemen think that the absence of
| brohery love is more conspicuous in the
treatment of the south as whole by the
re publican administration, or in the treat
ment of the negroes by the southern de-
mocracy.
1t is sorry business to be compelled to
say such things ten years after the war.
But it is not a necessity of our making.
The democratic party is as much an OBJ
s.ructon now as ever. Senator Bayard is
gentleman the sincerity Of whose views
we do not question, more than we doubt
their total unsoundness and the fatal peril
to the peace and progress of the country
with which they are fraught. But so long
as he and others honestly hold such views
and maintain party organization to eL-
force them. he will find the republican line
absolutely solid and unshrinking. and his
cry of "reform" regarded as the mere
call of decoy.