The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-03-08
Une starA Qomry empuaG Canton ha Gmsdsg gatfh g. 1917

present state of the law Is sadly against
us. The friends of honest elections anc
honest government are in deep despair
We once thought that the verifying pow
or of the two houses of Congress ought tc
be brought always into reqnisition for the
purpose of seeing whether the thing that
is brought here is forgery and a irauo
on the one hand, or whether 1t IL
a genuine and true certificate on the
other.
This great nation still struggles for JUS
tice million majority of white people
send up their cry, and a majority OF more
than quarter ofa million of all colors
demand it. But we cannot complain, |
want you to understand we do not com
plain. Usually it is said that the fowler
setteth not forth his net in sight OF the
bird" but this fowler set the net in sight
of the birds that went into it. 1t is
largely our own fault that we were
caught.
We are promised-and l hope the
promise will be kept-that we shall have
good government, fraudulent though it
be that the rights of the States shall be
respected and individual liberty be pro-
tected We are promised the same refor-
nation which the Turkish government is
now proposing to its people. The Sultan
promises that if he is sustained in his
present contest he will establish and act
upon certain principles. =, =,
First, the work of decentralization shall
commence Immediately and the autono'
my of the provinces shall be carefully
looked after.
Secondly, the people shall be governed
by their natural judges; they will not send
Mohammedans nor Christian renegades
from Constantinople down on them, but
they shall be governed by people of their
own faith.
Thirdly, no subordinate officer, when
he commits an illegal act, shall be per-
mitted to plead in justification the orders
of his superior. How much we need
exactly that kind of reform in this Coun'
try; and how glad we oughtto be thatour
Government is going to be as good here
after as the Turks.
They offer us everything now. They
denounce negro supremacy and carpet
bag thieves. Their pet policy for the
South is to be abandoned. They offer us
everything but one; but on that subject
their lips are closely sealed. They refuse
to say that they will not cheat us here
after in the elections. laughter If
they would only agree to that; if they
would only repent of their election frauds
and make restitution of the votes they
have stolen, the circle of our felicities
would be full
If this thing stands accepted, and the
law you have made for this occasion shall
be the law for all occasions, we can never
expect such q thing as an honest election
again. If you want to know who will be
President by future election, do not in
uuire how the people of the States are
going to vote. You only need to know
what kind of scoundrels constitute the
Returning Boards, and how much 1t will
take to buy them.
But l think that even that will end
some day. At present you have us down
and under your feet. Never had you a
better time to rejoice. Well may you
say, ave have made a covenant with
death, and with hell are we at agreement;
when the overhowing scourge shall pass
through, it shall not come unto us; for we
have made lies our refuge, and under
falsehood have hid ourselves" l." Butnev-
ertheless, wait little while. The waters
of truth will rise gradually, and slowly
but surely, and then look out for the
overfowing scourge. 1.-THE refuge OF lies
shall be swept away, and the hiding
place of falsehood shall be uncovered"
This mighty and puissant nation will yet
raise herself up like a strong man after
sleep. and shake her invincibe locks in
a fashion you little think of now. Wait;
retribution will come in due time. JUS
tice travels with leaden heel, but strikes
with an iron hand. Gods mill grinds
slow, but dreadfully fine. Wait till the
flood gate is lifted, and full head OF
water comes rushing on. Wait, and you
will see fine grinding then.