The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-12-20
BIGtHe's Bid.

Oa "Wednesday of last week Mr.. Blaine
made his bid for the Republican nomina-
tion for the Presidency in 1880, by deliver
ing 10 a crowded Senate his carefully pre-
pared speech on the resolution, previous
ly Offered by him, for the appointment OF
committee to investigate alleged frauds
and intimidation in the November Cong res
siUnal elections. The resolution, although
general i'll its terms, was meant by him to
apply to the Southern States collectively,
and to South Carolina and Louisiana spe-
cially. The effect expected to be created
allied, and the leading Repub biican papers
of the country regard it as the greatest
mistake of Blaiue's political life. The
people are sick ard weary IF these South
ern Investigations, and have long since
become wei! satisfied that no substantial
benefit to the country can result from
them. When frauds and intimidation, or
bulldozing, as it is now called, are notori-
ously committed to a greater or lesser ex-
tent at every election in some portions Of
the same thing would not occur at cleo
tiOns in some portions of the South. But
that they have been of a general or sweep
ing nature in either section, is not to be
presumed. If what Ben Butler says is
true, there was more intimidation practiced
by the manufacturers of Massachusetts, in
order To prevent their operations from Vo-
ting fo= him Buler) for Governor, than
was used against the negroes at the No
vember election in all of the Southern
it's origin in ''solid South" and is con
fession by one of the prominent authors of
the reconstruction measures that negro
suffrage has signally failed to accomplish
the purpose its originators bad in view
when they forced it on an unwilling peo-
pie. Blaine and the other leaders Of the
reconstruction period, were warned at the
time, not ouly by Democrats, but by far
seeing and sagacious member of their own
party, that the instrument they were in
venting with whieh to torture the white
people of The South would one day be urn
ed with fatal effect against themselves. =
That time has now come, and hence this
cry by Blaine and his friends about the
colored yotcrs at the South being intimi-
dated by the whites, either into not voting
at all or voting against their convictions.
The existence of a solid Democratic South
is the easiest thing to be accounted for of
all political mutations. After the negroes
had seen and felt the blighting effects OF
carpet bag rule, both on the peace and
prosperity of the South, how perfectly
natural it was for them TO commence grad
ually TO affiliate politically with their old
masters, who owned the soil and with whom
they had grown from their Infancy. They
were both interested in eXpelliDg their
common enemy, the corrupt and rapaciOus
adventurer from the North, who had fas-
tened upon them only for the purpose oi
plunderng them, and by slow but sure
ADVANCES they became strong enough to ac-
complish their purpose. 1t is said tha
Blaine, in view of THIS alleged negro in
t:midation, will attempt, under the four
teenth amendment of the constitution, L
reduce the representation of the Southern
States il Congress. That cannot succeed
however, no matter by whom or by wba
party attempted. The South will stant
/ by negro suffrage from motives OF politica
interest, and will defy Blaine and his al
. lies to take it away. The Republican lead
/ ers demanded it-they got it--aud if it ba
: now uume back to plague them, they mus
be aud will be made to endure the torture