The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-11-02
Rife Club Intimidation,

MR.. sCHURz DECLARES MILITARY FORCE THE
ONLY REMEDY FOR THE SHOTGUN POLICY.
There is still one other thing I would call
your attention to, and that is the question of
national peace | do not mean TO repeat what
| said of my action with regard to the Southern
people, and the impulse of generosity which
have always followed. Of course | did that
with the expectation that satisfactory response
would be elected from tine other side We gave
them back their rights with lavish hand we
gave them back their rights so shortly after the
rebellion that l can only reDeat what have said
before, that the generosity Of the American
people has never been equalled by any other
nation in the world in that respect. We did it
with the just expectation, or at least the reason
able expectation, that the Southern people, re-
ceiving their rights at our hand, might be
counted upon to respect also the rights of
Others. L am sorry to say that that
expectation has been in great measure disap-
pointed. When you look at the State of South
Carolina you will not deny that the situa-
ton of things is exceedingly serious. l am the
very last man i'll the country who would approve
OF the presence OF troops in the neiThbOrhood
of the ballot-boX, and would stand by TO the
last in the endeavor to secure to every man the
right to vote uninfiucnced by force of any kind
But, as things now stand, if the United States
troops are Withdrawn we are pretty sure to have
another armed force in its place, and that is the
rifle clubs of the South Carolina Reform Dcmoc-
racy. believe in reform, gentlemen, but do
not believe in the reform OF the rifle and the re-
Volvcr in the hands OF terrorist. Now, then,
they may succeed possibly in subjueatiug Re
publican maiorties, but one thing | look upon
as perfectly sure-we have come to the settle
ment Of the questions growing ont OF the war
by debating certain Constitutional provisions
These Constitutional provisions NAV, for the
time being, be o7erridden in this or that State,
but if the attempt is Inade--which ] look for
almost inevitable in the event of Demo-
cratic victory-if the attempt Is made to nullify
them in the whole extent of the Southern
couiitry, / am sure that the loyal people of the
United States of America will not submit to it,
[Applause.
If the attempt be made upon such an issue
between the North and the South, the solid
South on one side win find solid North on the
other side; and liberal and generous ss l may
be when the question is between solid North
all the time. LApplause.l am on the sid, of
but because | believe that the North contains
the intellectual rs well as the moral vitality of
the American Republic as it is now constituted
Now, gentlemen, looking at the attempts that
are being made in the South, can anybody doubt
that they would be greatly encouraged by a
victory of the Democratic party! | am sorry
am obliged to say it. but still that party stands
in the politics OF the country as a continual
threat Of ofTeaction against the results of the war
and it is my conviction at the present moment
that the candidates Of the Republican party are
not only the best, but they are the ouly instru-
mcnts by which the true interests of the Ameri-
can people can be promoted. [Applause.l