National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-04-16
THE PEACE AT THE POLLS.


which he should he found, aud yet that the
same theory is violated TO aoeration and alb
horrencc by the bare idea of stationing a civil
officer at the poll to protect the new y-enfran-
chisod slave in his right of citizenship "oh
consistency thou art indeed Jewell"
But sir, let us glance for moment at the
effects of amon1ing the section by striking out
the words rs proposed. To take away the sec.
ond exception authorizing the civil, military,
aud other officers of the Government to keep
the peace at the polls, would result in depriv-
ing the Government of those self-protecting
means, which | think | have fairly show II
every nation is fully justified in using under
the sweeping terms Of the amended law no
mob violence at the polls, no outrageous in
timidation .of law-ahiding citizens by armed
rutlians could be nterfered with by all officer
| under commission Of a Government, whose
life was trcmblingly awaiting the issue. No
United States marshal and no other civil Of
| ficcr could lawfully interpose his official
| authority against the widest violence aud
fraud which might sway an unscrupulous mob.
oh" say our Democratic friends, leave
that all to the State authorities. They will
provide against all that" But, sir, hold that
the matters affecting the national interests be-
long to tho national authorities, and, belong
| ing to them, no entire delegation Of trusts so
| important should be permitted for q moment.
| But in addition TO this consideration, there is
! the already demonstrated fact that the State
| authorities sometimes, being in the same inter-
| est ns the men who commit the violence, will
intcrpose no means to prevent 1t or to bring the
| culprits afterward to justice.
| / solomnly warn my Democratic friends
against the violent policy they are pursuing.
They are sowing the wind let them beware of
the harvest. Let them not again mistake the
temper Of the loyal people of this country.
| Open, generous, magnanmous, they have
! proven themselves, rs tho Southern Democracy
| have good cause to know and feel. But stand
har tn-1 m. uhn nxfiN
attempted the destruction of the Government
and arc tamperng with 1t again, that they
must not go too far.
Loyal men have not forgotten their brothers
| who found untimely graves at the hands of
| traitors; they have not forgotten their own
| wounds, privatiOns, aud sufferings; they have
not forgotten the price paid for tho blessings
Of freedom they enjoy. They are slow to
move, slow to believe that which they do not
wish TO believe; but | tell this Democratic
party of oppression and aggrandizement that if
it again forces tho issue oil this country and
cOmpels the people once more to rise in their
might and rescue their free institutions from
the torch which threatens their destruction
there will bo no halfway work of it. The
spirit of kindness heretofore actuating our peo-
pie toward men who insist upon showing they
do not deserve it is iast changing into another
feeling. Sir, make no threat and appeal to
no passion.
| tell these men in the plaInest Language
that they are going too far. They are tamper-
ing with the patience and forbearance of a
people who are beginning TO feel that patience
and lorbcarsnce are fast ceasing to be virtues.
Let Democrats of the South and their North
crn allies beware tho storm they are raising.
The spirit of retaliation once raised, sir, will
only be appeased by the most radical assur
ances of future quiet. Ii the disease upon our
body polite again requires the knife, they may
rest assured the surgeon will |Yt beyond tho
wound to make the cure complete"
Sir, in common with thousands Of others,
had sincerely hoped and expected that the
Democracy of both South and North would
! have rightly interpreted the general desire of
the country for peace and go0d-lellowshp be-
tween all sections. l have been mistaken, sir.
The spirit OF extreme conciliaton manifested
towardlthe Southlha not been met with sim.
| liar spirit, but has developed an aggressiveness
which issflling the people withlalarm and APP
prehension. Duty sdcmands that we should
speak plainly as to the crisis before us. l make
, the open charge. that the Democratic arty is
, tampering with the greatest interests of peo-
pie whoare vigilanty awake to designs against
the well-being of the Government.
charge the Democratic part with protesting
, desire for peecc and harmony while making
, bold innovations upon all the PRINCIPLES estab-
lished at the cost of the nations blood and
' treasure.
, charge that party with an insncere prat.
ing about the duty of protecting and preserving
our Constitution, while they, having been the
only ones TO attempt its destruction, furnish
no substantial guaranty against similar and
g perhaps more successful attempt, as opportu
nifty offers, though in different manner.
i make the charge that they eulogze the arch
traitor, Davis, patriot in the presence of the
n representatives of that Government which hC
did his utmost TO destroy.
0 / charge an iust villifcation of the Repub.
lican party because of the entailment of a debt
upon the country created because of the trea
. sOnable acts OF the Democratic party
70 charge them with selfshly arrogating thu
4 Government as having been left to them as
heritage by their fathers, and ignoring thu
e men who saved it from their assaults.
Now, Mr.. President, l arraign the Demo
cratic party as the party responsible to-day fol
whatever discord there may exist. The Re
70 publican party wants peace they have shown
it by every concession which honor and dig
u nifty would permit. They will still sacrifc,
much to obtain a permanent peace but thu
'' Democracy may as well learn now as later tina
= there are some things the Republicans will moi
/. do to reach peace, which can but be dishonor
able to them and to the country.
l. They will not abjectly beg upon their knee
l. for peace. They will not relinquish any o
those advanced principles which have Injured
=, TO the Government and the people through
~ the suflerings Of the war. They will never
p abandon the principles enunciated in the thir
" teenth, fourteenth, aud fifteenth amendment
" to the Constitution. They will never permi
1t q modification of the rights of the 100000
blacks Of the South. They, after having beel
= liberated from slavery and elevated to the full
- rights of citizenship, shall not be remanded Il
ni a condition Of serfdom or peonage. They will
t. never, nevor permit, sir, the elective franchise
upon the purity OF which rests our who 10 pOiti
ID cal structure, TO be dispensed at the hands o
OF hired ruilians aud paid assassns.
~ Now, sir, let me invite the Democracy to
DO peace which shall be coextensive with tn
le whole limits Of our country which shall b.
ie honorable to them and honorable to us whcl
shall be lasting as the American name whcl
shall elevate us in the estimation of all the na
tiOns, and stamp our Government AZ u mode
for all other peoples for thousand centuries
no peace which must be built upon genuine tic
a OF respect between citizens OF a common coun
~ try; which must rest upon the concession o
80 equal rights to all citizens Of the Republic, b
~ they W hite or black, foreign or native born
~ peace which must know no State lines, bu
-, ~, cluster around tho American flag as the EN-
~ blem Of u patriotic and virtuous people-peC
" pie united under government strong enougl
ie to defy the monarchs of tho world and proteC
~ its citizens in all their constitutional rights
n on land and ut sea- at home and abroad.