National Republican., 1879-12-06

anything else. The few exceptions to this
rule only serve to prove it's general appli-
cation, and past as well as coming events
win show how well these free lances in
| finances succeed in the broader and more
important field Of interstate politics
broader and more important, we say, be-
cause the ultimate success of any financial
policy depends absolutely and unqualifedly
upon the queting effects of good govern
ment and loyal administration of the
laws relating to the rights of citizenship
FREEDOM OF OPINION AND SPEECH.
| General WooDFoRD, as has been repeat
edly stated, went to Louisiana, talked plainly
TO the people on the rights of opinion and
citizenship in free country, and was gra-
ciously permitted to do so without being
hung or shot. The New Orleans Times
takes much credit to the Democrats of that
State on account of this remarkable for
bearance on their part. In commenting on
the efforts of General WooDFoRD in this
behalf it says:
General WooDFoRD may be considered as
the pioneer Of the Republican politicians who
|
speech is the first Republican gun fred in the
coming Presidential campaign. For these
| reasons, IL is not without interest to our peo-
pie. To say that General WooDFoRD is a
| forcible, effective aud sometimes eloquent
speaker would be to do him simple Justice.
To say that his views are decidedly radical,
and that he expresses them boldly, is to state
n simple truth and when he goes home lie
will be able to tell his Stalwart compatriots
| that whatever else they may have to accuse
the South of, it will not be that it has placed
any restraint the freedom Of speech. No
| Republican, however violent, could desire TO
| talk more plainly to Southern Democrats than
General WooDFoRD has been permitted in this
city, and elsewhere in this State, to do.
The visit of General WooDFoRD was just
anterior to the election which has since
transpired. The incidents of that contest
show how much indulgence is really granted
to the freedom of opinion and action
toward resident Republicans. While Gem
eral WooDFoRD was spared as q monument
of mercy, TO be held up as token of South
en liberation, the election itself tells quite
n different tale. That was mere sham and
farce. Republicans were intimidated and
prosecuted to degree that amounted to
prohibition of their exercise Of the right of
opinion and suffrage, and the result shows
that though they may have been permitted
in some instances to cast their ballots, they
amounted to nothing, for they were
studiously counted out. Then, again,
if General WooDFoRD was not murdered
outright for his opinions and efforts, the
wrath that he escaped was visited upon
resident Republicans who were promi-
nent in leading the people in the exercise
Of their rights. In Madison county two
Republican ex-sheriffs were hung and a
Republican magistrate was shot and subse-
quently beheaded. To these barbarous
crimes may be added outrage and driv-
ing into exile ex-Members of Congress and
twenty OF thirty prominent Republicans
who fed to Memphis to preserve their lives.
These citizens had been guilty of no oiiense
save that of sustaining and defending Re-
publican principles by an exercise Of the
Constitutional rights OF citizenship. The
reign of terror has been supreme in certain
sections of Louisiana, and citizenship, free
opinion and honest voting and counting are
n mere mockery
This condition of affairs leads to the ques-
tion-Do the guarantees of the Constitution
afford ample protection to the equal rights
of the American citizen, and has the Ma
tional Government any power to enforce its
requirements against the rebel spirit that
pervades the South at this time? This IL q
, question which the President, who is clothed
with the power TO enforce the laws, must
, answer to the country. If the Executive
who has solemnly sworn to enforce the
: Constitution and the laws, remains inert
under these evidences of Southern out
lawry, violence and butchery, and the Con-
stitution reposes on the pages of the statute
book, mere dead letter, then what is our
Government worth? 1t is mockery, and
the bond of our Union has no more holding
power than rope of sand. Our flag is Q
mere toy if it fails to carry protection tC
the rights and lives of the American citizen
in every State of this alleged Union. We
insist that we are Nation, while the ell.
tire South clings to the dogma that we are
a Confederation OF States, with a sovereignty
attached to each State, which justifes il in
disregurding and dcfying the requirements
of the National Constitution and the laws
enacted for its enforcement This is sub
stantally the attitude assumed by tn,
Democratic party in Louisiana and all tn,
other late insurgent States, and the air o
, defiance now put on in thai section a
typifed in their action, which virtually
denies that the National power can or shal
enforce the Constitution and laws over tha
section, is for the purpose of testing tn,
, power of the Government to protect anC
preserve its authority throughout tn,
National domain.
The National authority cannot afforc
TO meet this issue as presented with supine
ness, for rs it lets go its authority ii give
itself the Constitution and Union away
except in mere name. 1t surrenders it
Constitutional powers when it fails to asser
+ them with determination and vigor; and jus
q in proportion MS it relaxes its hold upon tn
full measure fits authority, itgiyes strengt
. TO those who set it at defiance, and in tina
, way the Government is weakened and ieopal