The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-12-25

tcttCt vi tue law, WHICH kiiltlU,
but the spirit of justice cries alou
I against the evasiye and atrociou
conclusion that deals out oppressio
to the innocent aud shields the guilt
from the legitimate consequences G
willIul trsnsgression.
TUE FRANCHISE A MocKERY.
The colored citizen is thus mos
unhaPp;ly situated his right of suI
frage is but a hollow mockery:
holds to bis ear the word OF promise
bat breaks it always to his hope, eat
De ends only in being made tie un
willing instrument Of increasing th,
political strength of that party from
which he received ever-tighteninl
letters wbea be was a slave, and con
temptuous refusal of civil rights sine,
be was made free. He resembles
Indeed, those unhappy captives of th,
East, who, deprived Of their birth
right, are compelled to yield thei
strength TO the upbuilding Of th,
monarch from whose tyrannies they
nave most to fear, and to fgh
against the power from which alone
delivefance might be expected The
franchise intended for the shield and
defense of the negro hss been turned
against him and against his friends,
and has Vastly increased the power
of those from whom be has nothing
to hope and every thing to dread.
The political power thus appropri
a,ed by Southern Democrats by reas
on of the negro population amounts
to thirty five Representatives in Con
gress IL is massed almost solidly
aud Offsets the great State of New
York; or Pennsylvania snd New
Jersey together; or the whole oi
New England or Ohio and Indiana
united ; or tie combined strength Of
Illinois, Minnesota, Kansas, CalIfor-
Dis. Nevada, Nebraska, Colorado and
Oregon. The seizure of this power
Is wa8ton usurpation; it is fragrant
outrage il is violent perversion of
the hole theory of Republican Gov
ernmtnt. 1t inures solely TO the
presen' advantage and yet, ! believe,
to the permanent dishonor Of the
Democratic party. 1t is by reason
Of this trampling Of human rights,
this ru HESS seizure of unlawful pow
er that the Democratic party holds
the popular branch Of Congress to-
day and will in less than ninety day
have control Of this body also, thus
grssping the entire Legislative depart
ment OF the Government through the
unlawful capture of the Southern
States. II the prescribed vote Of The
South were cast as It's lawful owaers
desire, the Democratic party could
net gain power Nay, if it ere not
counted on the other side ageinst the
instincts and the interests. against
the principles and the prejadices OF
its lawful Owners, Democratic sue.
cess would be hopeless. 1t is not
enough, then. for modern Democratic
tactics that the negro vote shall be
sileneed the demand goes farther
and insists that it shall be counted
on their side, tha. all the Represent
atives in Congress and all the Presi-
dental electors appointed by reason
Of the negro vote shall be cast and so
governed as to insure Democratic
success-regardless Of justice, in de-
iiance Of law
uNPRoY0KED INJUSTICE
| doubt if it be in the power of the
most searching investigation to show
that any Southern State during the
period of Republican control any le-
gal veter was ever debarred from the
freest exercise of his suffrage. Even
the reveDges which would have leap
ed into life with many who despised
the negro were buried cut CT sight
with msgnanimity which the "supe-
rior race" fail to follow aud seem re.
iuctant to recognize ! know it is
said in retort Of such charges agains,
the Southern elections as | am now
reviewing that unfairness of equal
gravity prevails in Northern elec-
tions. bear it in many quarters
and read it 10 the papers that in the
late exciting election in Massachas-
etts Intimidation and bull doing, il
not so rough and rsncorous as in the
South, were yet as widespread aud
effective.
have read and ye; refuse to be.
lieve that the distinguished gentle
man, who made "a energetic but un-
successful canvass fer the Governor
snip Of thar State. has endorsed and
approved these charges, and | have
accordingly made my resolution
broad enough to include their thor
ough investigation. l am no, de-
maodiDg fair elections in the South
without demanding fair elections 10
the North also. Bat veD;uring to
speak for the New England States,
OF whose laws and customs | know
something, dare assert that in TIE
late election in Massachusetts, or snv
Of ner neighbOriDg CommoHwealIb-,
il will be impossible to fnd even one
case where voter was driven from
the polls, where q voter did not have
the fullest, fsirest, freest opportunity
TO cast the ballot Of his choice and
have it honestly and faithfully count
ed in the returns. Suffrage on this
continent was 6rst made universal
in New England, and in the admins
tration Of their affairs her people
have found No other appeal necesss-
ry than that which is addressed to
their honesty of conviction and to
their intelligent self-inlerest. lftbere
be anything different to disclose /
pray you show it 10 us that we may
amend our ways
WHAT WILL BE DONE ABOUT 1T.
But whenever a feeble protest is
made against sueh injustice as | have
described in the South the response
we get comes TO as in the form of q
taunt, What are you going to do
about it?n and How do VOC propose
to help yourselves ?n This is the
stereoiyped answer of defiance which
intrencbed wrong always gives 20 to-
quirlue justice; and those who imagine
it to be conclusive do not know the
temper of the American people For
let me assure you that against The
complicated outrage upon the right
of representation lately triumphant