Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-10-31
naiIp Nmnrbst sourna!
AUG u STA.
Thursday Morning, Oct. 81, 1878.
Getting Ready for 1850.


and its operations in the elections this year
signify more than is generally understood.
They are a part of 1880. They have been
carefully studied with reference TO the
great contest which is then to take place
to determine whether this county is to be
ruled By the disloyal South or the loyal
North. 1t was necessary for the demo
Gratis of the South TO crush ont the repub-
lcans of that section this year in order to
make demoeratic success more certain in
1880 The election of the next President
of the United States may have to be de-
ciled bv the House of Representatives; in
view of this contingency the South has
brought its ruffianly brigades into action
with all its other machinery of violence
and intimidation, to make solid south in
the House for the democratic candidate
should the choice devolve upon that body.
South Carolina in fair vote has re-
publican majority of at least 20 600 votes,
yet the red-shirts boast that every county
in that State and every congressional dis,
trict will show democratic majority and
elect the democratic ticket next Tuesday.
Organized ruffianism has done the work
for the democracy. 10 every other South
ern State where the same shameful means
were found necessary to produce demo-
cratic success they have been resoried to.
A million republican voters are disfran-
chised in the South by the violent methods
Of the red shirts. They are as much
without power at the ballot boxes as
though slavery reigned as before the re-
bellion. The Confederate leaders ride
over the colored voters rough shod. and
white republicans who dare raise their
voices for justice and the exercise of the
rights which belong to them are thrust
into prison, shot down in cold blood. or
driven out of the country. All this is but
preparation for 1880. Next Tuesday the
Southern democracy strike for solid
South in the mex, House, and probably
will achieve it.
But as God lives the purposes of the
Confederate democracy will fail sooner or
later We see already the spirit of the
North arousing for the conflict. There
are evidences that even the leaders in the
policy OF Cancellation see the mistake
which they have made, and will join hand
In hand with those who demand that the
guarantees of the constitution shall be en-
forced with all the power of the govern
ment in every State of the Union.
In the present campaign, says the Bos.
ton Traveller. the Southern republicans
who are making a splendid but hopeless
stand against the red shirted chivalry
have had nothing better from their North
ern brethren than moral sympathy.
Speakers have gone from West to East
and from North to West and in
every other direction except South, where
az a Georgia correspondent points out.
they could have done a great service
The presence of few Norherr
speakers of eminence would prevent
Sumter outrages, or, if they happened
would make them costly enterprises for tn,
Bourbon intimidators. Iu 1880. unless tn,
solid South is to be perpetuated, and tn,
permanent disfranchisement of three
fourths OF a million of voters acquiescet
in, different course must be adopted
And we believe that long before that time
arrives, the awakened conscience OF the
North will demand it. 1t will not be ne.
cessary to demand total reversal of the
policy of reconciliation and direct fedora
Intervention. The federal election laws,
now on the national statute book. directed
against intimidation and violence are am
pie for all Purposes. All that we shall
need to insist upon is the appointment of
courageous and conscientious federal Off
GERS In all the districts where the colored
voters are now being terrorized. Then,
II those officers meet with violent resist
auce to the execution Of the United States
laws, laws too, which have the support of
every moral consideration and without
which universal suffrage is farce and the
ballot-box mockery we apprehend there
will be no serious objection offered, at any
rate in this section, to backing them with
all necessary force.