The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-01-25
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
Its Faithful Portrait Drawn by William
Lloyd Garrison.

Its Faithful Portrait Drawn by William
Lloyd Garrison.
In his letter, read at the late convention of
colored citizens of Rhode Island, Mr.. William
Llovd Garrison says:
This is another dark period in American his
tory. Fiery poftents are in the sky, and thun-
ders are uttering their voices. Masquerading
is in the service of loyalty and liberty par e.
Ceglence rampant sedition and bloody usurpa-
ton stalk unwhipped Of justice at the South,
oyerthrowing all constitutional safeguards,
perpetrating all manner of atrocities upon
those whose enfranchisement was intended as
their protecting shield, making malignant pro-
scription and murderous outlawry the methods
to hold absolute dominion, standing with the
deadly shotgun in hand at the crossroads to
prevent colored voters reaching the polls ex-
cept at the peril of their lives, stuffing the
ballot-boxes to any extent deemed necessary to
outnumber by actual count the votes legally
cast, and defantly proclaiming that the admin
istration of public affairs must be exclusively
In the hands of the whites. It is mocking
evasion to say that these scenes Of terrorism
are witnessed only in certain sections where
the relative political strength Of the whites
and blacks is nearly equal, and that "Order
prevails wherever the whites are strongly in
the ascendant numerically; for the methods OF
intimidation and repression vsry according to
IOCa1 COuulNOu, huO OSS0utAh4Ly III NASAuAds
Alabama and Georgia as in South Carolina,
Mississippi and Louisiana. "Order reigns in
Warsaw" but that means omnipresent and
omnipotent absolutism. And Freedom
shrieked when Kosciusko fell" Under q ra-
tional Democratic administration, at this hour,
there would be no recognition of any other
than "a solid South" of Tilden and Hen
bricks, and ut that call what jubilant yel]s would
resound throughout rebeldom! The colored
i1okiH oA irs limo fha
cratic party as their relentless enemy-at all
times, under all circumstances, in every issue,
and to the full extent OF It's supremacy. Ruled
by the slave power while slavery existed, ever
ready to make any concessions demanded ~
it. in sympathy with the rebellion from the
time Of the firing upon Fort Sumter until the
surrender of Lee, opposing every measure
necessary to the success OF the loyal cause,
condemning alike the proclamation of emanci-
patton and the constitutional amendments in
furtherance of the rights of all classes-it
still retains its base subserviency to the South
and, deaf as an adder, it will not hear blind
as a bat it will not see insensible as q
stone, it will not acknowledge anything
of wrong done to Southern freemen, but
treats with levity and contempt every state
ment made by them concerning the manifold
sufferings they are fated to endure. Ithas not
one drop of Democratic blood coursipg in its
veins, Out aS ronSlOuS -iiupOStuI0 Steals Ine
livery of the court of heaven to serve the devil
in, so this party, protesting to be animated by
the spirit of genuine Democracy, is as shame
less in it's recreancy as it is hypocrihcal in it,
claims. If the Republican party has not done
all that could be desired to secure fair treat
ment for the colored population at the South,
it certainly has been owing not to lacl
of intention or disposition so much az
the formidable difficulties that have
stood in the way, in consequence of the
divided state of popular sentiment. Politi-
cally speaking, it presents incomparably the
best record of any antecedent party in power
1t has carried all the great measures to eman
cipate the enslaved and establish freedom ani
equality throughout all the land; and, excep
trivial cases of seeming lack OF backbon.
among some Of it's professed members to tn,
contrary, it's face is still to the foe, and tn,
hope Of a change for the better at the sSortl
lies in it's continual administration of the ma
tional Government. Happily, nothing is 81
bad as was the old slave system. There is
bright as well as dark side to contemplate
God still reigns, and justice shall yet be done
Be not Respondent, but hopeful to the end.
Faithfully yours,
WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON.