The Portland daily press., 1879-04-26
Mr.. FrYe'S Speech.

Mr.. FrYe's Speech.
Mr.. Frye in his speech Wednesday put the
question Of the repeal of the Election Laws
in Its true light. From the first the Demo-
Gratis have endeavored to divert attention
from the merits of the question by Justify
shouting that the effect of the laws in dis
pute is to abridge the freedom of elections in
the South. 1t is notorious that such is not
the case. The freedom of elections has been
destroyed in the South, but in spite of, not
by, the Federal law, by the red-shirted riders
of South Carolina and the White League OF
Mississippi and Louisiana, not by United
States Marshals and Supervisors. In spite
of the protecting power of the Federal Gov
ernment the wishes of the majority of voters
in many of the Southern States have been
disregarded and the minority rule. The
election laws work no hardship in that Sec
ton of the country, for they are disregarded.
They have no influence upon the vote, they
are powerless against fraud and intimidation.
The Southern States are solidly Democratic,
and will remain so, for all the Election Laws
can do.
But in order to get full possession of the
Government the Democratic party needs
something more than the united support of
the South. 1t must carry some Northern
States. These it cannot carry on fair vote. 1t
can only secure them by resorting to false reg
istraton and ballot-box stuffing in the great
o.&; of% foro oil
the corrupt population OF these cities. Against
illegal voting and false registration in the
North the Laws are great protection.
Therefore, in order to make Democratic sue.
cess certain they must be repealed. That is
the reason why the Democrats are fighting
so fercely for repeal and threatening to
starve the Government into submission to
their will. They wish to give free rein to
Tammany they wish to secure the opportun-
ity for repetition of the notorious frauds that
resulted in the returning of the electoral vote
OF New York for Seymour in 1868; they wish
to overwhelm the legitimate Republican
majority in Ohio by Democratic repeaters
brought across the river from Kentucky.
These are the purposes that Mr.. Frye ex.
poses, and he brings forward great mass ol
incontestible proof in support of the exposi.
ton. He shows that fraudulent voting in
the city of New York has often determined
the contest in the State and decided the
choice of its rulers against the will of its
people, and that this fraudulent voting is
precisely what the Democrats are now fight.
ing for. The proof he brings forward is ire
fntable, and the fierce indignation with
which he comments upon the attempt
to swindle the people out Of the suffrage, te
overcome honest votes by the manipulatiors
of corrupt election judges in New York chos
en- to their office by degraded and crimina
population, is justified, indeed urgently called
for by the magnitude of the crime contem
plated against the purity of the ballot-box
The closing words of his speech are scath
ing rebuke to the allied forces of Tammany
and the South. The alliance now, as evel
before, is fraught with evil to the country
s'What spectacle do we behold to-day" b,
said, "a union between the Confederat.
Democracy of the South and this Tamman,
Democracy of the North. Have they forgot
ten history, and that it repeats itselfs The,
have worked together before; worked TO
slavery and against the rights of man ; worked
| for despotism and against Republic. Th,
one finally made mad attempt to destro,
the Government; the other cheered it on
The one fought for years to achieve its terri
BILE purpose, the other sympathized, bu
coward like, dared not help. The one sowe'
the wind and reaped the whirlwind; the 9th
er cringed and shivered before the blast
| The one mourned over blasted hopes, broker
| families, ruined fortunes, and a devastate
country; the other lamented only the loss Q
! political power. And now once more the
clasp hands. The Confederacy demands tha
all protection to the voter shall be Withdrawn
that no civil or military officer shall wit
| armed men secure to the trembling black Gil
zen his right to the ballot; that Kuklux ant
White Leaguers shall reorganize; that scoure
ings, beatings, and assassinations shall G
unwhApped of justice, and Tammany as bt
fore, shouts Amen and amen.' Tamman
demands that the thieves, vagabonds, gan
blers, and bad citizens shall again contr'
elections in the City Of New York; that CO.
rupt judges, false witnesses, and perjure
applicants shall again swell their majorites
that false registration, repeating, simulatin
voters, and manipulating votes shall oIt
more overcome the will of the people, an
the Confederate Democracy shout back the
amen. Together they demand that the
wicked will shall prevail or the army sha
be starved, and all the functions of Cover
ment shall perish" These words will fin
an echo in the heart of the loyal and Law
abiding North.