Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-09-25
From Washing ton.
WAsHlHGToN, Sept. IS, 1879

MR. EDITOR:
As promised in my last letter l send
the conclusion of Vice President
Wheelers speech at Saratoga.
make no apology for putting peri
lous National issue now joined above
all States issues. The republican par
ty believes first of all things in the ab-
solute supremacy Of the Constitution
and the laws of the Nation. We are
thus early, by the action of the Dem
ocratic party at the last session oil
Congress, forced upon the first line Of
the Presidents canvass of next year.
The rebuke Of that revolutionary act,
ion, BY majority of the people OF
this State, speaking through their bal
lut-boxcs in November next, will DC
the assurance Of the complete over
throw of this new attempt to subvert
the Constitution.
The Democratic party lacks now
only the Executive Department to
control the government The Con
gress has already passed to the abso-
lutte rule Of that over mastering South
ern section of the party which. by a
more than two thirds majority, chosen
always for its conspicuous fidelity to
the rebellion, dictates the action Of
It's Northern followers. II IS Of this
Democratic party | am speaking to,
day, which, despite al debate upon
the question Of Northern or Southcrn
responsibility for the initiation Of any
given measure Of governmental policy,
can alone control aud does fix the final
impress, and give it effect The as
tendency in the House of Repres .nta-
dives has been gained by cIutching the
increase OF representation given by the
fourteenth article Of amendment to the
Constitution; meanwhile eXhausting
the catalogue Of crimes to delraud the
class who form the basis Of that in
crease, Of the benefit which should ac-
crue to them, and by thus AFRO eating
to themselves, double tue legislative
power to which they are entitled, cur
failing the Just influence of the oeher
States in making the laws and the adj
ministration of the government
In the insolence of power thus
gained, the Democratic party becomes
defiant in its denial Of the right OF the
Government to defend itself by regu-
lating tie national elections, or by en-
forcing It's status for the protection of
its citizens, either by the military or
even civil authority 1t denies the
Government any participation in the
control of proceedings which d feet the
common defense and the general
welfare" Anarchy may reign su-
preme on the day of an election involv-
ING the Interests Of the whole people,
but the government has no power to
subdue it Denying, with deadly de.
termination, as just now at Yazoo,
even The right Of candidacy to one
differing from the dominant majorI v,
this solid South asserts its right in a
carnival Of rifles, shot-guns, masks,
red shirts aud tissue ballots to elect
It's otca Congress, which shall enact the
laws-revenue, commercial, financial
and others affecting and binding the
persons and property of the whole
country Suchfis the party which, in
trenched in Congress and solid South
proelaims its purpose to turn back the
finger on the dial aud to reverse the
legislation of the nation for the last
eighteen years.
Who are these demanding that
their craftsmanship and patriotism
shall shape and control the destiues OF
this Nation? In the knowledge oil
every man Of ordinary intelligence in
the land, they are a minority OF the
legal voters Of the United States, max
ing mp in force what they lack in mum.
berS, suppressing by fraud and oppres-
sion the vote of the emancipated citi-
Zens Of the South standing always
across the pathway of the progress OF
the masses Gesplsing the rule of the
majority educated to despotism and
violence, and impelIed by one control.
ing purpose. born of their barbaric in.
stitut1on-to rule their section their
own way. They are party led and
dominated by those whose violated
constitutional oaths and foresworn al
legiance to the Government are the
only testimonials of their fidelity to
the Union. and whose contempt for
the Government, and aw-defyins
spirit are shown by their neglect, in
the entire domains, to bring to just
ice even one of the numerous foul as
sassins of United States officials. gull
ty only of attempting to discharge
their duty in executing the laws Of the
United States-a party whose leaders
launched the spurious Confederacy,
with negro slavery as its corner stone,
and which was buried in the abysmal
depth of that ontgrowth of treason