Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-06-19
Was it Good Policy?

tains an Item taken from the Transcript
of the 9Th inst, In which we stated that
the Republicans Of this county regard
the actionsof The Democrats in Congress
in relatida to troops at the polls and to
supervisoss Of elections as being a new
manifestation of the old rebellious ele>
ment, and that we believed the Demo-
cratic portion of Congress had taken an
unfortunate stand on this question. The
Times, in IN article criticising our state.
ments, says. -..- 4
ave do not believe there is an intelligent
Democrat in Morrison county who thinks that
the Democrats in Congress have taken an
"unfortunate stand" While they hsve n OF
succeeded ir repeating the obnoxious laws,
they have forced the Republican party into
sustaining and endorsing the presence of
troops at tho polls and supervisors of elec-
tions, who possess dangerous and unlimited
powers. +. They have also forced the Executive
into the uncomfortable position of an arbitra-
~, unWarranted and dangerous exercise OF
of the stealing Of the Presidency, we have
nothing but the most sanguine expectations
as to the result when the matter goes to the
people,"
The Times entirely naisapprehends the
position of the Democrats in Morrison
county. We have talked with many of
them on this question, and they have in
variably expressed opinions that coincide
with our own. The Democratic business
men of Little Falls are unanimously, or
nearly so, Of the opinion that the recent
action Of the Democratic Congressman,
in relation to the matters referred to, was
unfortunate. Senator Simmons express
es the belief very emphatically that the
position taken by the Democrats is un>
fortunate, premature and unwise, and is
detrimental to the interests of the party
We refer to Senator Simmons view be-
cause his election last fall by a large ma<
jority shows that his opinion would be
quite likely to fairly represent the feeling
of his party in this district. To our own
personal knowledge his view is the same
as that of large majority of the Demo.
cratic merchants, lawyers, and intelli>
gent mechanics and farmers of Morrison
county, there not being an exception
| among those whom we have interviewed
and we are of the opinion that there is
much of the same feeling, among Stearns
| county Democrats. It is unwise to form
an estimate of the local political senti
ment from what the New York Worl6
or Sun says about current politics. W.
believe that the position taken by the
Democrats was unfortunate, not because
wrong in principle, but because destitute
of beneficial results. A few years agt
this country was engaged in desperate
civil war, and an intense sectional ami
mostly was then created and has not ye
wholly subsidized. There are many thou
sands of voters who are dissatisfied with
the financial policy and glaring corrup
tion of the leaders of the Republican par
ty, but still vote the Republican ticke
because they believe it represents the I'm
ion sentiment. The Republican leader
recognize this fact, and have been ena
bled to elect their ticket IN many instan>
ces on this issue alone. No sane persol
will deny this. But the old bloody shirt
issue was getting about worn out.
Democratic Congress had voted fort,
million dollars of additional pensions t.
Union soldiers, and had shown.1n numer
Gus ways that neither Northern no
Southern Democrats entertained any dis
loyal intentions nor unpatriotic feeling
toward the Government. What were tn
Republicans to do, then? Their case wa
rapidly becoming desperate. They knev
that the bloody shirt issue must be work
ed in somehow, or defeat was inevitable
Even John Sherman, in his recent lette
indicating that he is a. candidate for Pres
ident, virtually admits that without tn
bloody shirt issue success is impossible
He says
"What I would aspire to in case publ
opinion should decide to make me candidat
for President would be to unite in co-opera
tion with the Republican party all the nation
al elements of the country that contributed t.
or aided in any way in the successful vindi
cation Of national authority during the wal" ;"
Since Sherman's national fotoriety
due solely to his connection with the ma
tlonal finances, it would be natural t
expect that if he entered the contest 70
the Presidency it would be on the fnan
clal issues, but it appears from his lette
that he does not dare to do SO, but de
pends upon the bloody shirt for success.
| The issue lately raised in Congress b
the Democrats was accepted on the Re
publican side as Godsend, and in ever
nook and corner Of the land the Republi
can leaders have proclaimed that "anoth
er blow has been struck at the nations
, Authority and in favor of State rights.''
| Many thousands of Republican votel
who are aware OF the corruption and ev
practices Of their party, and had conclud
ed to leave it forever, are caused to n
T main it under the impression that th
); Democrats have determined to vindicat
the old, offensive doctrine of State righi
:, by assaulting the national authority. w
:. believe these voters are mistaken, br
i that is exceedingly poor consolation afte
!; a roiislng defeat. When such men
Gen. Thomas Ewing and the other di
) tinguished war Democrats advocate
the, halls Of Congress and elsewhere Il
repeal of the laws authorizing the use
troops at the polls, it is impossible to b.
ieye that they are working in the inte1
ests Of treason. The confident assuml
ton of the Times that the President an
the Republican party have been force
into an uncomfortable position does n,
appear to be shared by leading Demt
Gratis in and out Of fCongress: In speec
made by Gen. Ewing in Congress on Il
26th Of April, he said:
4 "The stalwarts Of the Republican party nc
hold q lash over the President, threatenir
him with party expulsion if he dares to /
) governed by his own Judgment only; instei
: Of by the necessities of the sectional issues
the North" 49, -s;:ss7s@$.*7 ,r.t -.
) Gen.; Ewing thus plainly admits th