Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1876-08-26
MANGUVERING FOR POSITION.

The republican and democratic parties
are lust now in most critical situations.
On what is done Ill the next thirty days
will. in a large measure, depend the
final result. Like two great armies
before the battle, they each seek advan-
tages of position. II the republican
party is allowed to select the field, we
are lost; but if the battle ison the ground
OF our choosing, a great and glorious
victory awaits us. The democratic
party is anxious that the contest shall
be over bona tide questions of national
interest. 1t wants 4 reduction of taxes,
economy. and an honest administration.
II these vital questions are kept prom
inently forward and the enemy IS forced
IL fight over them, we are safe. Inc
republican leaders know full wei that
with ali honest, fair fight over them. the
real important questions OF the day, they
stand not the ghost of a chance before
the honest yeomanry of the country.
Hence they seek to change the scene OF
action. They seek other battle grounds
more advantageous to their party. They
want to fight on the same fields that
have, campaign after campaign, witness
ell republican triumphs, and correspond
ing democratic disasters. In short, they
feel that, unless they can divert national
attention from their corruption by
Haunting once again the bloody shirt,
and again exciting a popular phrensy
throughout the north. their case is hope
less. They must conduct the campaign
by arraigning a sectional feeling against
the south. By this means only can they
divert popular indignation from their
own mal-administration and at the same
lruuo ellllsl, by ~exaggeration, mlsrepre-
sentation and outrigh t Justification, the
sympathies of Il too credulous, impulsivc
and confiding people. We have willy
enemies to deal with. They have long
since decided that the contest must be
over the negro question, and they will
willingly have it over no other. They
are now fortifying their position, they
are gathering up from newspapers and
correspondents every item that looks the
least like discrimination against the
negroes in q southern state; are jotting
them down, ready to be reproduced in
exaggerated forms and contorted shapes
in speeches before the people. Radical
politicians and newspapers covet no
campaign document so much as a well
authenticated 'outrage on the man and
brother" A very small foundation,
with such architects as Morton, Sherman,
Logan & Co.. is sufficient on which to
build a mighty structure. composed
mostly of talsehoods and ISLANDERS, and
gilded, to catch the popular eye, with
brazen mpudence and ingenious plausi.
bility.
But the people of the southern states
have learned their tactics, and are or
their guard. When Alabama, in the
recent election, gave a forty thou
sand democratic majority. radical
ism pricked up its ears. Its leader:
counted on Alabama to elect Hayes and
Wheeler, and forty thousand majority
on the other side looks ominous. Hence
it was that Spencer demanded a senate
committee of investigation. The com
mittee was granted, and will, no doubt
do its best to serve up the ''outrages'
for the popular appetite. But some
times the truth will out. Redpath, the
well known correspondent of the Cincin'
natl Commercial, was, fortunately fol
Alabama and democracy, sent by thai
paper to that state before the election
came off. We suppose no one will doubt
Redpath's radicallsm; but, after all, hi
has a streak of honesty, and he, despite
his partizan prejudices, admits that the
nearest thing to Il row was where 6
"negro tramped on Il white mans toes.
No doubt, if it had been the other way
Spencer's committee would find it on
and make the most of it But the peopl
OF Alabama knew the Importance of tn
event, and studiously avoided giving tn
shadow OF a pretext for the bloody shir
cry. All of the southern democrat
states understand that the great point i
to keep the negro question out altogether
and force our bribe-taking antagonist
to make the fight with US squarely OF
the issue of Reform. Redpath admit
that in Alabama everything was ''fair
open and h onest," and says, in substance
that the republican party itself, is re
sponsible for the loss to it CT Alabama
We quote:
"The democratic majority of forty thousan
cannot be accounted for upon the hypothesis
| fraud. violence and intimidation. That the car
: vass was quiet, also the election, and neith'
) disturbed by riots or outbreaks. is proof that "
} must look further to account for the large demo
cratic majority. Alabama Is democratic upo
. full fair vote, for the whites outnumbsr II
+ blacks forty-six thousand, and there are rs man
blacks who vote with the whites as there III
whites who vote with the blacks. :ace lines al
party lines, with such trinins exceptions as
be hardly worth enumeration. This has bee
true since the passage Of the civil rights bill
which lost the republicans from eight to lie
Thousand white votes i'll North Alabama, Oh
gave the state to the demo tracy"
Every es9th Cincinnatian commits suicide
sixiy-two per cent. Of those who kill ihemselv'
IRE Germans; the average age 1T death Is for
, years; five men to one woman is tile proEar:io
/. as 10 sex; and hanging is the favorite node
| taking or.