The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1879-12-01
TIRE rORTY..sIxTH CONGRESS.

Fort Sumpter, in 1861, the Democrats
have a majority in both Houses. In
the Senate, which few years ago was
Republican by two-thirds majority, the
Democrats have to-day majority of
eight, anil in the House they have
majority of three over Republicans and
Greenbackers combined. 1t is the first
time in the history of the country that
the majority in both Houses of Con-
gres, differed politically FROM the Al
ministration. 1t may be argued that
similar state of affairs existed duriag
the Administration of President John
son; but it should be remembered that
Johnson was elected on the same ticket
with Lincoln bv Republican votes.
The political differences between the
President and the majority in Congress-.
is one of the fruits of the Southern
Returning Boards and the Eight to,
Seven Commission. Had the President
been elected in the manner prescribed.
by the Constitution, the occupant of
the White House, would, as usual, be
in accord with the Congressional ma
jority.
The future success of the Democratic
party will depend to a great extent on
the action of the majority in the pres
eat Congress. 1t is alleged by Repub-
licans throughout the North that citi-
zens of the United States are deprived
of the rights and privileges. guaranteed
them by the amendments to the Con-
stitution in the Southern States, and
that South of Mason and Dixon's Line
men are prosecuted, and, in fact, muir
dered, because they are Republicans.
Whether these, allegations are well
founded or otherwise, they are gener-
ally believed in the North. They con-
stitute, in fact, the cardinal principles
of modern Republicanism. On the
SllSOI qVCoUlodf Obu6f IildjlSFS vi
general interest the Democratic party is
in accord with popular opinion; but the
fact that Hayes vetoed the Silver Bill,
and the bill restricting Chinese immigra-
tion-beth, Democratic and popular
measures-is lost sight of when the
bloody shirt is unfurled, and stump
speakers, the Associated Press and
newspapers emphatically declare that
American citizens are being shot down
like savages in eight or ten States of the
Union because, of their political opin-
ions. Congress, should endeavor. to
counterfeit these assertions by legisla-
ton that will insure the right of polit-
zeal opinion in every State III the Union,
even though it should infringe on So
called States rights in dong so. Ben
Butler is, authority for the assertion
that one hundred thousand citizens are
deprived of the right or privilege of
voting in. Massachusetts through edu-
cational ansl property qualifications;
but he does not allege that shotguns are
used in that State to intimidate voters,
as is said to. be the case in the South
The Southern shotgun may be an effect
i've electioneering argument in South
Carolina, Mississippi and Louisiana;
but it is certainly used to good advantage
in the North, and will continue to be
until it is shown beyond doubt that it
is not used in the South. 1t therefore
devolves upon the majority in Congress
to eliminate it from Southern cam
paigns-if it is used there as alleged
and if it is not, to prove to the satisfac-
ton of the Northern people that it is
not. II the Democrats hope to carry the
Presidential election in 1880, they must
devise some means to eounteract the
influence of the shotgun by showing the
country that there is nothing in it.
This must be done at this session. The
Democratic majority must, by their
acts, show that they do not counten-
ance bulldosing North or South, and
that they will protect the citizen in the
free exercise of the right of suffrage,
North, South, East and West, if they
wish to succeed in the next Presiden-
tial election.