National Republican., 1878-12-13
SENATOR BLAISrs SPEECH.

support of his resolution relating to South
crn suffrage and representation to the |
readers of THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN |
yesterday morning. The resolution and its |
support by eloquent speech were both per-
emptorily called for by the history and re-
suits of the late elections in the Southern |
States. A class of the voters-in those
States, and in some instances and localities
that class constituting large majority of
all the citizens, have been effectively dis
franchiscd by the political tactics of the
Democr.:ic party, which fact presents the
anomaly of representation far exceeding
its rightful basis on the ratio Of population
represented. The ostensible object Of Sem
ator BLAINE's resolution and effort is to
call the attention of Congress and the
country to two glaring wrongs-frst, the
disfranchisement of y large class Of the citi-
zens Of those States and, secondly, the un-
equal rate Of representation now shared
under this successful policy of disfran-
chisement.
The public mind expected much from
this effort OF Senator BLAINE, and we
|
Stalwart political character and his ac-
knowledged ability and eloquence as
statesman justified the anticipation that
the subject would be grasped in all its mag
nitude and be handled with mastery skill
and effect, and for that reason his speech
has been read with earnest hope and judi
cous and even jealous care. The statistics
and the argument with which he has forth
fed his position for rendering battle are
unmpeachable and invinciblc. Indeed this
was made apparent in the fact that the ad-
vcrsary, though he threw out to the front
some of his most eminent gladiators for
combat, took especial care to skirmish with
generalties and sentimentalities instead Of
graphing with the main subject itself, with
a view to assailing or dislodging the posi-
ton assumed.
In this effort Senator BLAINE clearly es-
tablishes and illustrates the fact, almost be-
yond the reach even of controversy, that
under the developments Of the late election
the eleven States which formed the late
Conlederacy have seized seventy of the
seventy-three districts within its limits,
and by silencing the colored vote have Sc
cured majority In the next House Of Rep
resentativcs, which otherwise would not
have been possible. These States have an
aggregate population of 900, ,000 which, as
divided by the color line. stand 5,500,0O0
whites and 1000 900 colored, the former en-
titling representation OF forty-threc and
the latter of thirty. The disiranchisement
of the colored population by fraud, intimi-
, dation, and butchery, rs has been the case
in this and former elections, iorfeits these
thirty members, and reverscs the majority
in the House, and their future existence is
gross wrong upon the other States in the
, Union. These facts and results are clearly
: demonstrated in the Senator's statistics
: and arguments, and up to that point
: his position is rendered impregnable. lie
makes his case thus far in marked perfect
: ness, and there he abruptly abandons il
where it encounters the Southern taunts
: What do you propose to do about it p and
How do you propose to help yourselfE'
o Assuming the main position taken by the
Senator TO be well sustained by proof and
Argument, we pursue his effort to its pero-
ration in search of au answer to the rebel
= tnunts and are compelled to turn away in
= disappointment without realizing from the
, effort.
If these wrongs exist-and there can h.
no doubt of it, in view Of historic fact-they
must either continue or yield to- q remedy
: The Senator inserts n peg in his plea oil
# which the hope Of a remedy may he hun.
t in the remark that ~ remedy will assured
o " IL be found" but that remedy in charac
n ter and form is no where indicated, much t
e public disappointment for upon thai
o hinges this great question-that being thu
Il object most to be desired and sought. Th'
is wrong is glaring. The necessity for rep
aration and rcdIcss is apparent, and til,
country now turns TO its states
3 men for cure The remedy i
'e what is demanded-not that which i
e. concealed in the folds of rhetoric and burieC
p in theores-but a plain, practical, availabl
in remedy, which shall bring redress, repar
e. alton, and full and perfect health to tn
Of case This is what the wrong demands an
ie what the country expects, and he who lead
~ III lDNt ulleCtlOn 10 lut tOnSuihhh'ioh U
Il, this hope will challenge the admiration
lie love, and gratitude of the American people
The difficulty cannot be handled with elc
y, queuce of words or the conjuration of the
no orics that promise q remedy not vet ind
10 Gated, but must be grappled with stron
,e hands and held in the grasp of sound sem
ro and patriotic determination to remove ii
n wrong and restore the right, until the ren
10 edy is not only discovered but successful
- applied We assume that Senator BLAIN
~ has only fired the first gun in n fight TN
L. will he continued until the remedy is iour
.,t and applied to the case he has under trea
,ol ment. II is not the habit of the Senator
M leave a job half finished, and hence we a
ID. trpatc that he will be heard from again I
il this subject, inasmuch as he has drawn Il
he lirc OF the adversary
IN THE DEMOCRATIC SENATOR'S.
Suppose the Democrats III the Senate Ia
rc. Wednesday had quietly permitted N
la...WN