New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-02-15
New Democrattc Princtnles.

Ih0 New orleans flc0yuNS mas the credlt
of announcing q new article of creed to be
added to the Democratic faitE. Imagine
this outgoing of their organ appearing as a
plank in the next national Democratic plat
form, with resolved" to it:
"Resolred. That majority which can be
intimidated is essentially incompetent to
discharge the duty of suffrage"
This new Democratic title to the ballot is
simply brute force. No man shall vote if
he fears loaded gun pointed at his head.
A man must not only fight bis way to the
polls; he must be incapable of fear. 'If he
can be intlmidated" by crowd of bruisers
and professional shooters standing before
the polls, revolver in hand, willing and in
tending to shoot him if he advances, then
God never intended he should have the
same rights as the bullies, and he must re-
tire to be ruled by minority-in other
words, the worst OF all deepotlsm, a mob
ruling without form of law.
Such is the doctrine that Democracy finds
it convenient to lay down foe it's justification
in depriving the legal majority of the South
of its votes. They are incompetent to vote
if unwilling to inaugurate civil war at every
electiOn-Mexican aud South American
fashion. This is only the formal justifca-
ton of what has for hundred years Deen
the prevailing practice in the South-gov
ernment by minority by despotic force.
Suppose this rule were tried in Buffalo. On
next election day 5000 of the roughs and
criminals of the city organize and arm and
station q force Of men, revOlvers in hand, at
each polling place. These cast their bal
lots and then proclaim with leveled pistols,
He who can be intiMidated is not cOmpe-
tent to vote" The election would be unan-
imons, only the roughs having voted, unless
the citizens made bloody fight on the spot.
Suppose, as is the spirit here at the North
the citizens preferred to invoke law, instead
of riot. That means they have been intim
ask nOn-suit on the ground that plaintiffs
were inlimidated and therefore not rightful
voters. Having no business around the
polling places, they were disturbers of the
election. 1--WE demand their arrest as dis
turbers of the peace" say the rOughs. "We
are the only men in Buffalo competent to
discharge the duty Of suffrage, because we
are the only ones who can not be intimi-
dated. We are the people and the rulers
over this intimidated m jority." An at
tempt to declare the electlol thus held by
force void. would be met with the same
plea. The majority are barred from appeal
because, having been intimidated, they are
not voters. II is not alone q question of
every man ighting for every ballot he casts;
If he can be intimidated be is not a citizen.
Physical courage is thu only title to citizen
ship under this new Democratic rule.
This logic, absurd as it is. is acted on in
the South by Democrats. The peace-loving
negroes are actually excluded from voting
because they do not wish to kill to enjoy
the right. The declaration of the Demo
cratic Picayunc is no abstract principle in
vented by 1t; it only reduces to form of
words the rule of practice under which
Southern Democrats have for years carried
elections: the rule under which Mississippi
with % 900 more colored than white voters
was made to give 10000 majority for
White Liners; the rule by which South Car.
DINA and Louisiana are also to be revolu- |
tionized by the minority Erpress