The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-09-14

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Republican State could anything
like opposition to freedom of speech,
freedom of the press, free discussions
be tolerated, nor would any one for
moment be allowed to be deferred
from voting as he pleased, while in
some of the Democratic States in the
South, such a thing as free speech
and free press and reasonable toIera-
ton of opinion is scarcely recognize
ed, The dominant press would de-
nounce as crime what we here in
the North regard as the right of eY-
cry citizen-tO speak and vote as he
chooses.
In the face of these facts the fol-
lowing statement by Judge Thur
man seems to me the charricature Of
truth and justice;
"It is not enough that the South
has frankly and manfully accepted
the results of the war ; that, WaiYing
all questions as to the mode Of their
adoption, no voice is raised against
the binding force of the constitutions
al amendments that every law
passed by a Radical Congress, how
ever doubtful its cOnStitutiOhality or
manifest its injustice or impalicy, is
nevertheless obeyed."
pass over, as matter of taste,
the inference he raises against the
mode of adoption of the cOnstitu-
tional amendments and the doubt he
expresses as to the c0nstitutionality
of the laws to enforce them, to say
that the Democratic party has not
frankly and manfully accepted the
results Of the war; that they do not
accept, observe or enforce the cOnsti-
tutiOnal amendments or the laws
passed in aid of them. 1t is precise
ly Of this that the Republican party
complains; that it will try to enforce
and, though temporarily divided and
| defeated, will continue to demand,
and will certainly in time secure. 1t
was the organized deprivation of the
Republicans in Louisiana of the
light to vote that OccasiOned the con-
troversy there, and 50 in Mississippi
and South Carolina. have no doubt
that many Of the planters, business
men and propertyho1ders of the
South, now acting with the Demo-
cratic party, are anxious to, and in
tkrIl No al fn n
blacks in their rights, but they are
not the dominating influence in the
South. 1t is not they who, like Judge
Thurman, demOunce President Hayes
as usurper and fraud, but thOus-
and5 Of them acknowledge that the
policy adopted by the Republican
| party to the people of the South at
the close of the war was without eX-
ample in generosity in the history of
the world, and they gratefully ac-
knowledge that the policy of Presi-
dent Hayes would secure to the
South peace, order and prosperity.
But | who supported this policy,
and shared in it, feel rs do Rapubli
cans generally, that the South has
never frankly or manfuIIy responded
to this policy. They do not enforce
the amendments. phey do not give
equal civil and political rights to
either white or black Republicans.
They do not permit or tolerate the
free expression Of opinion and dis
cu94i0n and action essential to Il re-
publican government, bat by their
adherence to the very elements in
the North that encouraged them in
to rebellion, that brought upon them
the very waste and desolation of
which they Complain, they repei all
efforts to break down the section
alism Of the past, and make it Virtu-
ally necessary again to concentrate
the people of the North in order to
secure peace, order and liberty.
In conclusion he said:
'In the general management of
your affairs the Republican party has
done all that it could do to develope
the national resources and maintain
the national honor, to protect all men
in equal rights, to secure all men
equal privileges and an equal chance
IN life, and that it is ready to adopt
any proper and Constitutional mode
of relieving distress and advancing
the interests of any portion of the
people. l can safely appeal to all of
you who have shared in the honors
and labors of this party to still stand
by its flag, now that the difficulties
of the recent past are passing AWAY,
with the full hope that our country,
always advancing and prosperous
since liberty was first proclaimed by
our Revolutionary fathers, is still
designed to advance under the guild
ance of the Republican party to
higher honor and greater prosper
ity."