Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-04-20
"Rebel Yells."

! hate in order to effect the election
unfavorably to Democratic views =
whose nerves are very sensitive about
election time.
In what manner the Republicans
created those Yells and shrieks so ter
rifying to the timid Democracy, [ aln
not in formed, but presume in the most
affectionate way possible by freely dis
tributing Democratic speeches made in
Congress the present session, it would
appear that that alone, without note or
comment was sufficient to bring about
the desired result-a Republican vic
tory But let US seriously consider
wherein lies the truth of keeping up
sectional strife, that we place the blame
where it belongs that all may unite
in condemning it.
For years before the rebellion, the
South would not allow the free express
sion Of views hostile to slavery. No
man could vote the Republican ticket
the second time and live. The law of
Freedom was reserved by enacting that
colored persons were presumed to be
Slaves unless they had papers proving
their rights to freedom, thereby reserv-
inc the laws of God and Nations.
Men of eminence from the North were
not allowed to contest the constitutions
atty Of such barbarous enactments,
but were forcibly compelled to leave
the state Of South Carolina. And
now since the rebellion has been crush
ed out, instead of acknowledging the
errors Of their ways they became sulky
and have lately suppressed, by violence
and terrorism, all liberty Of thought
and action, so that no Republican dare
vote except at the peril Of his lie
Where then has sectionalism commend
ed, been upheld and is rampant to-day?
At the South most assuredlv, such a
barbarous suppression of the rights
and liberties Of the citizens, be he ma
tive or foreign born, never was and [
may say never will be tolerated at the
North. Who then is guilty Of engen-
dering sectional strife ? No intelligent
person can be misled on this point. 1t
will do for an electioneering hobby
amongst ignorant and debased. those
that never read. Now comes this same
people, who have so long tried to break
up this Republican government with
brazen face and bold assumptions and
asks the Northern people to join them
in an endeavor to restore them to rule
again and because we choose to refer
to their antecedents, as we'll as their
present attitude, we are accused of
stirring up strife, engendering sectional
hate. Was ever accusation more un-
founded and less worthy the notice Of
an intelligent people ? The Republi-
cans are perfectly willing their past
record should be spread broadcast all
over the land. But not so with the
Democrats, they seem terribly horri-
fed at their past record because they
want bye cones to be bye-gones. We
ask no better campaign documents than
the past, and even the present history,
bad as it looms up at this time, of the
Republican party. Where is the
prominent Democrat that is entirely
free from suspicion Of having his hands
more or less polluted with unclean
spoils and grabs.
Is it any wonder that the Democrats
are sensitive when reference is made to
their past record, for they cannot have
forgotten the fate OF the tories of the
Revolution, how they had to fee to
Canada and elsew here to escape the
indignation of the Patriots, although
the tories were loyal to their King,
and therefore had seeming justice on
their side, yet their name has been
handed down to posterity, covered with
obliquy and disgrace, disposed of all
peoples. Let traitors take warning
their punishment will be both sure and
swift. No wonder that s'Rebel Yell, =
is distasteful about election time. AL
so let them remember that the faint
echoes they heard in New Hampshire
are only a prelude to what they may
have to listen to let them make
ready. Sectional feelings are very
strong all through the South. 1t is