National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-03-27
SOUTHERN REPUBLICANS.
Addresses by Representatives Martin ant
Houck.

Addresses by Representatives Martin and
Bouck.
A meeting Of tho Southern Republican As
ISOLATION was held at German HALL last even
ing, Mr.. Mcdonald Lindsay in the chair and
Mr.. A. M, Hardy secretary.
After tho transaction of routine business
Hon. J. J. Martin, OF North Carolina, was in
trOduced to the association, and made
spirited speech, during which he said that the
Democrats In the present House Of Represent
atives had thrown Mr.. Bisbee out of his seat
although they knew him to be legally elected,
and had installed man named Hull, over
whom an indictment was now hanging, aud
who the speaker hoped and expected would
shortly be put in tho penitentiary, where
he belonged. Whenever the Democrats
can, they count out or cheat. In
his own district they had thrown out 400 votes,
but, luckily, this was not enough to defeat
him. Had there been railroad and telegraph
lines, however, the result might have been diff
tcpent. lie was in favor of every man voting
as ho pleased, but there must be free and
fair election. This had not been permitted in
the South, and the day would come when a
proper and just retributon would fall upon
the people who had prevented 1t. He would
not aud could not believe that the people of
South Carolina had voted according to their
convictions simply because Wade Hampton
said so. The policy in that State had been,
IF we cannot succeed with the ballot, let us
try the rifle, shotgun, and club" The latter
plan had been successful as was proven by the
manner in which large Republican majorities
had been overcome in the South. In conclud-
ing the speaker advised the members of tho
association to work in harmony, as there was a
great deal of work to be done in 1880. He did
not know who was to be tho standard-bearer
of the Republicans, but whoever il was, Ito
would be successful. The Democratic party
had shown by recent actions that they would
appoint none but Democrats to Office and it
behooved the Republicans to do likewise He
believed that Ito the victors belong the spois."
Hon. L. G. Houck, of Tennessee, was the
next speaker. He said that fifty years ago
Chancellor Kent prophesied that an election
for President in this country would be the
cause of grave difficulties, and this prophecy
had now come true. The Democratic party had
always been noted for its revolutionary ten
denotes, In 1861, when it's power was taken
away by the force Of the ballot of the people
of the United States, il had seeded and at
tempted to dismembcr this country. Armies
were placed in the field for the purpose of or
ganizing a little confederacy, in which the
Democracy might have power. After four
years, however, they were defeated in their
nefarious object, but now, after lapse of four
teen years, they had obtained another lease
by means of rifle clubs, and what was their
attitude? Although having possession of both
Houses of Congress, they were not satisfied.
Because law on the statute books prevented
the Democracy from cheating at the polls they
say to the nation, through its Executive ii
you do not repeal this law we will take away
tho sinews by not appropriating money to con.
duct the affairs of the Government This was
in consOnance with their previous policies.
Rule or ruin" was their motto, no matter
| what the cost might be. The speaker further
| said that the entering wedge of the overthrow
| and loss Of the Republican majority in the
Southern States was due to the deci.
| sion of Mr.. Pierrepont, Attorney.Gen.
| eral of the United States in 1875
| in which he said that President Grant could
not support the Amcs government in Missis-
Sippi. Under this ruling the rifle clubs sprang
| into existence and broke down Republic IN
majorites. The proper thing to be done now
| was to buckle on armor aud fight the Hamp-
| tons, Lainars, and Hills of the South just as
was done in 1861. Under proper enforce
ment of the election laws in the South a ma
jority for the Republican party could be
| built up which would stand in the
| future as in the past. In re-
gard to the Presidents Cancellation
policy, it had been demonstrated clearly that
the Democratic party in the South could be
concilated only by giving them all the spoils
and when they had all they could get they
would still cry for more Mr.. Houck con-
cluded his remarks by saying that the Repub-
| lican party must be successful in the next
Presidential campaign or the Government
would drift to pieces. The association then
adjourned.