The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-11-27

they have been given, to the Republican
party, while the Democracy. both in
Congress and out, opposed every step
taken to secure them in those rights,
civil or political. Under the
ciI cumstances 1t is but natural that they
should vote with the Republicans, and
in every election where they have been
allowed to vote, their ballots have al
most uniformity been cast with that
party. In Mississippi, Georgia. the Car
olinas, Florida and Louisiana, they out
numbered the whites, and in every free
election the Republican party has had
large majorities.
But when the Southern Democrats
found they could not rule by the ballot,
they had recourse to the shotgun meth
cd, since which Republican majorities
have been unknown; in fact the party
itself has been equslly unknown. 1t
cannot be said that the blacks had be-
come converts to the Democratic faith,
since their vote was no larger than in
former elections when the Republicans
oatnumbered them two to one. 1t was
not Democratic gain, and correspond
ing Republican loss, but practically an
annihilation Of the Republican party.
This was not done quietly and secretly,
but openly and avowedly, under the
claim that this is white mans govern
ment and with an expressed determine
ton to control the blacks or kill them.
They rode over the country in armed
bands, threatening, whipping, manning,
killing and creating such a reign of ter
ror that not only the blacks, but even the
whites, if Republicans, dare not present
themselves at the polls.
The South was very solid at the last
Presidential election, and mainly through
the methods just mentioned. Suppose
We concede that the vote as given was
Democratic, it cannot be denied that it
was made SO by the shotgun policy, and
in that case should that party be allowed
to profit by their own crimes Certainly
not.
The proof that the South was made
solid by violence is SO abundant and
clear, that the Democrats of the North
no longer attempt to deny it. The
South openly make their boast Of it, and
declare that they propose to keep it SO,
if it should become necessary to shoot
every Negro in the South to secure that
result But neither the Northern Dem
ocratic press. the party leaders, nor
scarcely private have never been heard
to utter one word in condemnation Of the
shotgun policy, and knowing it to have
been used, and that they secured their
majorities by its means are willing to
profit by their crimes against liberty and
justice and freedom of the ballot.
Knowing that they secured their ma
jority, il they had one, by fraud. they
set up the cry of fraud and with well
simulated adherence Of dishonesty and
corruption hold up holy hands in solemn
protest against the crime Of cheating
them out of the Presidency by rejecting
the vote Of some counties where intimi-
dation had been practiced to . degree
that ought to consign the party proating
BY it to political oblivion. And further,
In view of the number and magnitude OF
the frauds traced to taeir party mana
gers, and even to the home of their chief
candidate, 1t would seem that the De
mocracy would be ashamed to ever again
speak the word fraud. Ignorance Of the
facts makes it possible for a few to be
honest in raising this issue, but the
great majority, We are assured, can have
no other purpose than to divert attention
from their own guilt by fastening a sus
picion on the other fellow.