National Republican., 1879-03-07
N.fNIFEST DUTY.
A Solid Front Against the Democracy.

Solid Front Against the Democracy.
To TIC Editor Of the National Republican
SIR: / am one of those Republicans whom
it is the fashion to call Stalwart As such l
have not been able to approve certain policies
in the past. But recognize as | hope all
honest men do, the common necessity of pre-
scnting solid front against the existing con-
spiracy Of the Democratic party to destroy the
freedom of the ballot. This danger is too
near, too pressing, too pregnant with unim-
imagined evil. In face of this peril, all other
things become trifes light as air, ana the Re-
publican, of any position who keeps alive dis.
scnsions and difficulties, is false to the highest
interests Of the country.
There Is scarcely an intelligent voter in the
North who does not take IN the situation. The
peril threatened to free elections is discussed
and considered in every school district, and
the average intellect of the country compre-
hends the subject in mass though perhaps not
vet in detail. That belief among the thinking
people Is that the nation is in MS great peril now
rs in 1860.
The one cardinal principle which is the
| foundation of the Republic Is freedom OF cleo
ton, the right of each individual citizen to ex-
| press his choice rs to men and measures by his
pressing such choice, and without suffering or
injury for having so expressed it. Oppression,
! violence, or fraud, however or wherever COM
mitted to defeat this great right, are disastrous
to the country, in violation of the very necGs-
sities of its existence and the highest crmo
against free government
Rebellion in 1861 was the violent consum-
nation of q conspiracy long meditated long
prepared. The overthrow of free elections
| now is the fruit sought by an existing conspir.
acy as formidable and as bad rs the other.
| The one was bold, salient, defiant when its
incubation had been accomplished. The other
| is more cautious as vet is still covered by pre-
lenses of law, is still shielded by glib phrases
of estate Rights" Home Rule, "and the like,
but the deadly animus and fatal purpose are
clearly visible through the thin hypocritical
pretense
Stripped of all verbiage the Democratic doc
trine OF to-day is this; That neither the
| United States as nation, nor any citizen of
the United States outside of the State directly
affected have any right to sorutinize or inter
fere in elections held in States for Representa-
tves TO Congress. That supervision by the
United States over such elections is tyranny.
That all laws of the United States providing
tribunals aud penalties to try and TO punish
fraud and violence in such elections are un-
constitutional and ought to be repealed.
As yet the leaders do not attack the consti
tutional amendments, but they do attack all
laws made to enforce such amendments. The
amendments are dead letter without the law
TO enforce. The courts Of the United States,
which, in discharge of their high duties, do
enforce the laws now existing on this subject,
have drawn upon themselves the lond and
ribald denuuciatOu of tho whole Democratic
party, North and South, and leading organs de-
clare that this jurisdiction must be taken away
or that at least seven members of the next
Congress will be in the penitentiary.
Now, It does not require much statesmanshlp
nor much learning to understand that to the
extent that fraud and violence are permitted
TO alter tho free choice of any portion of the
people or TO suppress such choice, IL made in
Congressional elections, such fraud or violence
acts directly upon every citizen aud voter in
tho country.
II such fraud and violence reach to the ex-
tent that It did in the last election, 1t i'm.
poses an unauthorized majority in the present
House aud in the next Senate and our laws
are made for the whole country, by the aid Oi
II few men who have no right in law or con
science 10 the law makers. These few men
creatures of crime, hold the balance and turn
the scale, and constitute the Democratic ma
iority in Congress. TO continue this rule o
crime, TO extend the realm Of fraud and VIC
lence into our great cities, Is the living prin
ciple Of action in the Democratic party OF to
day.
Seeing all these things tho thoughtful mer
Of the country look to the Republican organi
Altion as the sole barrier 10 rampant and inso
lent audacity; the sole bulwark Of honest and
free elections the sole conserYator oil. the free