National Republican., 1878-10-03

cIliiy that gave n snap judgment against
Mr., EELrORpin the last session, and PATTER-
SrN has held the seat, which the people had
cmphntiCally declared they intended for
his opponent, in open and brlzcn defiance
Of right and justice. However, the mills
of The gol- grind slowly" but in the long
run the right will triumph. At all events,
the People Of Colorado have pronounced
thcil verdict in this election with an em-
phnsis not 10 be misunderstood.
FREE tSD uSTRtMMELED sUTFRAGr.
II occurs to us, under the apparent
apathy In regard to the pending Congress
sional elections and the laws relating
thereto, that the Republican Congressional
Campaign Committee have duty to Tcr-
form which cannot much longer he delayed
with safety to the Republican interest. We
arc drifting rapidly toward the day OF
struggle ut tho hallot-hox, without any
known action on the pnr' Of the executors
OF the laws in the direction Of securing q
fair and flpc election, whore every citizen
".ll J." permitted TO exercise the right Of
suffrage without interference, molr.iatiOn,
or hindrance, either hy intimidation or
open violence. The laws, If executed by
'h" Federal authorities, are adequate TO Sc
cure thut end and We will not anticipate
any disposition on the part Of the Executive
or law officers Of the Government TO lclax the
enforcement of the statutes relating to the
election. But whatever is done. we wonld
suggest, to he of much avail, must he done
iaCipientiv at an early day. The attention
Of the Executive should he cited to this
question without delay, aul the Importance
uf action impressed upon his mind, ii it has
not already been awakened to it, so that
the prriminnrics for iull and perfect pro-
tc"tion Of the right of suffrage may he in-
,urcd.
The present indications from the South
are that free and fair election is not
yOuchsnied in any OF the late insurgent
states unless early and decided measures
are taken for the full enforcement of the
laws by the President and his law advisers,
and proclamation is made in decided and
emphatic terms of that intention With
out this preliminary action there will be nc
free anl unmOlested suffrage for Republi-
cans, hitc or black, in most of the South
crn States, while with II, in an earnest
and efficient form and spirit. that end can
be reached. The people of every State
/ North and South, should he Rdmonished by
! Executive proclamation that the laws relat'
| ing to the elections must be respected or tn,
| punishment of their violation will speedily
and cOudignly follow Then the district
attorneys and maTshals in the several dis
trirtr Ol the whole country must lie held "a
- strict accountability for any infractions OF
South, pending the approaching Congress
siouAl elections for the want of proper effort
! to prevent them or TO punish them altel
| they have occurred
Every american citizen ha5 an innlienablo
! right TO vote, and the law distinctly declare.
ihat he shall be amply protected in the
exercise Of that right. 1t is secured Il
every ritizen in every Northern State
irrespective of birth, color, or distinction
or what may be his political belief Tn,
same coalition of affairs should exist il
every other State in the Onion, othcrwis,
the Government is partial, unfair, and in
Competent as a conserver of the rights o.
the people. We do not insist that u whit,
OF u cq!ulud citizen shall vote the Republic
can ticket unless such action is in conson
ance with his political belief; but we dc
insist that every citizen shall be protected
in the free exercise Of his right of suffrage
And if the laws are fairly and honestly exc
cuted, there will be no abridgment of tina
right anywhere in the United States. Til
executors OF the laws cannot ncquit them
selves at the bar of public opinion, it, il
this crisis, the right of suffrage is abridge,
anywhere through indifference or inactioI