New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-12-06
LNTLlLLDATLON At lnN EORrR.

II is not wise for Southern Democrats to
chatter about intimidation in Massachusetts,
as an Offset to ballOt-bOx stutiing in South
Carolina That sort Of talk may impress
somebody at the South, but it is known at the
North TO be supcrlatively silly, and 1t is at
the North that the Democratic party is in a far
way to be crushed. In every town in
these Northern States woTEmen know just
how little employers can control their votes,
and how few of the employers either desire
or dare to try it. There never has been any
serious effort, on the part of any considerable
number Of employers in any Northern State,
to control the votes of the men they en-
ployrd, since the struggle of men who were
interested in Southern trade in 1850. At
that time Southern prescription In business
had scared the manhood out OF many North
eTn merchants and manufacturers, and they,
in turn, tried to scare their wOrkmen. A
great many men OF conservative habits, too,
were profoundly convinced that the sue
cess of an anti-slavery party would bring
civil war and destruction of Southern trade,
and they made very earnest efforts to prevent
the threatened calamites. 1t is entirely safe
to say that there never was III any preceding
election, and never has been SINCE One-half as
much real effort in any Northern State
on the part of employers to control the
votes Of the unemployed, as was made in
the campaign of 1860, in the States Of New
York, Connecticut, New-Jcrsey, and in other
commercial and manufacturing regions. And
what was the result The " Northern mud
"slls" walked right over their employers,
wherever dictatIon was attempted, as Il strong
4 npflsY al,
ANY Southern man who fancles that the
votes OF workIngmen at the North can
be swaycd by intimidation would better
look at the Republican maioTlties III 1850.
Since that time, the poorest "mudsill" in all
the free States has known with pride that
Northern employers cannot bully or scare
Northern wOrkmen. Anywhere at the North,
the story that Butler was beaten by intimi-
datiOn of wOrkngmen is received with a
smile of contempt. 1t is fit to be believed
only by such persons at the South as have
never learned what free wOrlimen are, either
in an election or III battle.
At the North, therefore, where the Demo-
cratic party must gain votes or die this mis-
cradle reply will only hurt those who make it,.
II Southern men have no sounder defence
tilcy NOulu DtlOGI uldht hDilt' lObl 10 blItltu
that the m jority of voters in the entire State
of South Carolina was systematically swndlcd
ont of its rights-swinded in Il manner which
casts disgrace upon every Democrat in the State
who makes no protest, and which brands with
dishonor every candidate who thus steals
Office. Would it be an answer, If 1t were true,
to say that wrong had been done elsewhere
But the South knows right well why
Northern opinion Is sensitive on this
subject. 1t is because the little con-
spIacy OF bullies and bulldozcrs who con
troll Louisiana, and the scOundrcls who
planned and executed the fraud IN South Car
DINA, are thus enabled to east as many votes
IN Congress and two more votes for President
and twice as many votes in the Senate as
can be cast by nil the freemen of MaSsachu-
sets, or any other body of independent, in
telhgrnt and aw-lbiding voters representing
100000 inhabitants in any Northern State
The people of the Northern States have con-
0uered rebellion at the Sou IL, and have
spared the lives and restored the franchises
OF traitors. But they are not ready to permit
City thousand Democratic law-breakers, who
defy the UhIon and tramplc upon its Constl-
tuition, TO nave as much power in the control
of the Government as one hundred thousand
loyal and lhw-abiding Northern men. That
sort of thing, the South may as well under