The Portland daily press., 1877-12-11
Misrepresented Constituencies.

Democratic newspapers give as justification
of the admission to the Senate OF Butler, the
hero of the Hamburg massacre, that the Leg
islature of South Carolina is now Democratic,
and that Corbin would misrepresent his con-
stituency. Were this the fact it could have
no weight as plea from Democratic lips so
long as the Democratic Senators Barnum and
Eaton misrepresent their Connecticut con-
stituency and hold seats from a State the
Legislature of which is Republican. When
they resign the sincerity of the Democratic
plea in the case Of Butler may be acknowl-
edged.
But the truth is the newly admitted Sena-
tor from South Carolina is the representa-
tive of minority. On free ballot the Stats
is Republican by large majority. That ma
jority has been overcome by the argument of
the shotgun. In South Carolina as in some
other Southern States the numerical ma
jority is virtually distranchised. 1t can only
vote on condition it votes in accordance with
the wishes of the ruling minority. 1t may
be said that the minority is capable and hon.
est, the majority incapable and dishonest.
That is simply plea for an oligarchy. In a
republican government constituted like ours
the numerical majority is the ruling power,
and we recognize the right of no minority
however worthy and intelligent, to seize
power in defiance Of that majority. II wealth
and intelligence only are entitled to represen-
tation the city of New York should be to-day
in the hands OF the Republicans. The truth
is republican government has ceased to exist,
except in name, in the Southern States. A
small class, the old planter class, is in exclu-
sive possession of administration. The ma
duced to condition little better than peon-
age. The causes which brought about this
destruction Of republican government are too
well understood to need recapitulation here.
The North finds itself once more confronted
by solid South, and this condition bids fair
to be permanent. The old question is as far
from settlement as ever, and, as in the days
before the civil war, North and South are
struggling for the control of the national gov
ernm MT.
We may not be able to prevent the disfran-
chisement Of the majority in the South, but
we can take good care that no such thing
shall happen in the North.s There are to-day
Republican States of the North represented
by Democratic Senators, and Congressional
districts with Republican majorltes which
have sent Democrats to the House. It is
time to put stop to this sort of thing. As
long as the Republican party held both
branches of the national legislature by
large majorities occasional Misrepresentation
worked no great harm. But we can no lon
ger afford this kind of amusement. A single
vote in Congress is of incalculable value.
The continued prosperity of the country and
the maintenance of its honor depend upon
the supremacy of the Republican party. A
restoration of Southern control will bring un-
told disaster. The solid South must be met
by solid North. No true Republican in these
times can waste or withhold his vote with
out treaehery to his party and his principles.
Not Congressional district in the North
which has Republican majority should be
suffered through indifference or careless secu-
rity to fall under Democratic control. The
Senate will soon pass into the hands OF our
opponents. 1t is vitally necessary that we
should wrest the House from their control.