Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1879-09-24

Union flag. Equality of rights for the
colored people, from that time, thus
became one of the essential issues of
the war. Gen. Sherman said, When
the fight is over, the hand that drops
the musket cannot be denied the bal
lot" Jefferson said long before, 1.-The
man who fights for the country is en-
titled to vote" When, with the help
of the colored men, the victory was
gained, the Fifteenth Amendment fol-
lowed naturally as one of its legiti-
mate results. No man can truthfully
claim that he faithfully accepts the
true settlements of the war, who sees
with indifference the Fifteenth Amend
ment practically nullified. Cheers.
VIOLENT DENIAL OF RIGHTS.
No one can overstate the evils which
the country must suffer if lawless and
violent opposition to the enjoyment of
constitutional rights is sallowed to beper-
manently successful. The lawlessness
which to-day assails the rights of the
colored people will find other victims
tomorrow. This question belongs to
no race, to no party, and to no section.
1t is question in which the whole
country is deeply interested. Patriot
ism, justice, humanity, aud material
interests, all plead on the right side of
this question. The colored people are
the laborers who produce the cotton
which. going abroad to the markets of
the world, gives us that favorable bal
ance of trade which is now doing so
much for the revival ofall business. The
whole fabric of society rests upon
labor. If free laborers suffer from
oppression and injustice, they will
either become discontented and turbu-
lent, destroyers of property, and not
producers of property, or they will
abandon the communities which de-
prive them of their inalienable rights.
In either case, social order and the
peaceful industries are imperiled, 1t
will not do to say that this is an
affair which belongs solely to the dis
tant States of the South. The whole
country must suffer if this question is
not speedily settled, and settled rightly.
| Where the two races are numerous,
prosperity can only exist by the united
and harmonious efforts Of both the
white people and the colored people.
The only solid foundation for peace
| and progress in such communities are
equal and exact justice to both races.
Consider the present situation What
ever complaints may have been heard
during the progress of reconstruction,
candid men must admit that all sec
tions and all States are now equally
regarded. and share alike the rights,
the privileges, and the benefits of the
common Government. All that is
needed for the permanent pacification
of the country is, the cordial co-opera-
ton of all well-disposed citizens to
secure faithful observance of the equal
rights amendments of the Constitu-
tuition. Cheers and cries of you're
right"
Happily, in the very communities
where lawlessnss has been most gem
eral and most successful, there are
editors of newspapers and other influ-
entail citizens who speak out and de-
nounce these crimes against free gov
eminent. 1t is plain that a sound
public opinion is forming where it is
most needed No community can
afford to allow any of its citizens TO be
oppressed-to lose their rights. One
of two things will happen if they are
oppressed. Either they will become
turbulent and destroy, or they will
leave. TCheers To be Indifferent on
the subject is to disregard interest and
duty. The Union citizens and soldiers
can do much to remove the evils we
are considering. Let it be understood
that no public man in any party will
be sustained unless he will undertake
to carry out in good faith the pledges
made in ali our platforms in regard to
the rights of colored citizens; unless
he will support laws providing the
means required to punish crimes against
them; and unless he will oppose the
admission of any man to either House
of Congress whose seat has been OBJ
tanned by the violation of the Fifteenth
Amendment The right of suffrage is
the right of selfprotection. Its free
exercise is the vital air of republican
institutions.
This is The law and Constitution
and The Executive Department must
enforce it, The man who will vote
money to keep up the mails, to collect
the revenue, and to keep up the other
departments of the Government, and
will not vote money for this purpose
to protect all citizens in the right of
suifrage-that man is not the patriot
he preteAd4 to ha, or one whom you
should trust Cries of Good" and
great cheering.
To establish now the State-rights
doctrine of the supremacy of the
States, and an oligarchy of race, is
deliberately to throw away an essen
tial part of the fruits of the Union
victory. The settlements of the war
in favor Of equal rights and the sq-
prcmacy of the laws of the nation are
Just and wise and necessary. Let
them not be surrendered Let them
be faithfully accepted and firmly en-
forced. Let them stand, and, with the
advancing tide of business prosperity,
we may confidently hope, by the bless
ing Of Divine Providence, that we
shall soon enter upon an era of har-
mony and progress such as has been
rarely enjoyed by any people. Great
applause.
Remaining Elections this Fall.
Ohio, October l4.-State officers and
members of Legislature.
Iowa, October li,-State officers
members of the Legislature, and one
Congressman to fill vacancy.
Maryland, November 4.-State off
Gers and members of the Legislature.
Massachusetts, November 4.-Statc
officers and members Of Legislature.