The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1879-10-16

OF SUPERVISION, tntOuSH united States Offlcofs,
at elections where Presidential electors or mem
bels Of Congress are voted for, are simply the
contriyances OF corrupt party, by violence
and fraud to keep themselves in power.
1t ia always pleasant to believe that our pub
c men are canoid in their positions and state
ments; but in this case it is too great tax upon
our credullty to suppose any of the honorable
Senator'S and Representatives who declaim so
valiantly against the use Of troops, or Deputy
Marshals and Supervisors. suppose for one
moment that the army and officers of the
United States are menace to the freedom of
elections
It is truth beyond controversy that no
qualified elector since the close of the rebellion
las ever been turned away from the polls or
deprived OF his vote by soldiers; and it is
equally well known that, wherever troops
have been quartered near polling places, it
has been to prevent qualified voters from be-
ing deprived OF their rights.by force and vio-
lence
SOUTHERN FRAUDS, INTIMIDATION, AND MUR-
The charges of intimidation and fraud at
elections against the Republican party come
with poor grace from the Democracy, who
own their majorltles in both houses of Con-
gress to organized fraud, intimidation, and
murder.
The record of the crimes Of the Democratic
party in the Southern States since 1865 is
enough to make the blood run cold The whip
pings, murders, assassinations and massacres
perpetrated by them during this period, for
political purposes, show degree of cruelty and
treachery never excelled by the most savage
races The deliberately planned official mas
sacre at the Mechanics Institute, New Orleans,
in July 1866; the butcheries in st. Landry and
Rossier parishes in 1868; the massacre in Grant
parish in 1872; the killing of unarmed prison
ers, travelling under solemn promise of safe
conduct, in Coushatta in 1878; the cruel, pitt
less killing of the Chisolm family in Kemper
county, Miss; down to the raidings and indis-
criminate slaughter of colored men in Tensas
and Caddo parishes at the last elections in 1873,
are as historical as the massacres of Glencoe or
Wyoming tf "' t's
The breaking-up of the political meetings;
the intimidation and whipping by ma sl1ed men
of unoffending citizens for political causes; the
murders OF men singly, and by fves, tens, and
hundreds, for the same reasons, have been 80
numerous that it requires many printed vol
umes to contain the details.
1t is within the bounds of reason to state that
not less than $1,000 human beings have been
murdered in the Southern States for the pur-
pose of securing the ascendency of the Demo-
cratic party.
White Republicans and black have alike
fallen victims to the bludgeon, the knife, the
revolver and the shotgun, in the name of local
government and, when these lovers of a.
free and fair election became fatigued of she'd
ding blood, they resorted to the more quiet
and orderly method of tissue-ballots for car
rying elections and by this means, with con-
venient ease, converted Republican districts
into Democratic strongholds; and yet we hear
these men, whose political fortunes were made
by these murders and frauds, loud in their de-
mands for a fair election, unawed by United
States soldiers, Marshals or Supervisors.
THE OBJECT IN VIEW
It is evident that the object of this clamor
for the repeal of the United States election
laws is to give the Democratic party full swing
in the election next year
They know that, with the civilization of the
North, the Democracy of the North will be
able to cast all their votes; and they believe
that, with. the civilization of the South the
Republican party can be kept from the polls,
or outcounted if they vote, and thus they hope
to secure the election of Democratic Presi-
dent.
If you examine the record of the called ses-
sion OF Congress, you will find that, to the bills
to prevent the presence Of troops or United
States officials at the polls the Republicans
offered numerous amendments to prevent the
red-shlrted rif1e-clubs Of the South calling
themselves State milltia) from surrounding the
polls and intimidating Republican voters. ALI
these amendments were voted down by the
Democrats. ...
They wanted the United States army driven
away from the polls, and the Confederate army
put there in its stead, for the purpose of pre-
venting fair election by outrage and intimida-
ton. 'el-A f. +4'' T.
We cannot turn aside and decline with honor
to meet this great ISSUE The wrongs Of the
Republicans of the South cry aloud for redress
They have claims upon us not only as Repub-
ncans, but as American citizens -
' SOUTHERN INs1NCERITY
1t is tremendous draft upon the creduIity
OF any honorable man to ask him to believe in
the sincerity of the professions of the Southern
Democracy. They waged four years. war to
perpetuate and extend slavery, and yet claim
to be in favor of freedom. After the war they
denied the negro the right to vote, to hold office,
to sit as juror, to testify against white men.
to bear arms, to acquire real estate, Or to leave
the plantation, and provided for his sale for
debt These laws of tyranny and injustice were
overthrown by the Republican party in opposi-
ton to every leading Democrat; and yet they
claim to be in favor Of equal rights "A p.
j They use the State courts for the persecution
OF leading Republicans, infiict excessive penal
ties upon negroes, and cruel and inhuman pun
lshment III chain gangs and this mode of pun
lshment is so approved by public opinion that
Senator Gordon and ex-Goy Brown, of Georgia.
can afford to become lessees Of chan-gangs:
and yet they set themselves up as the extmpars
of humanity, justice, and the equal enforce
ment of the laws. They have, by military ar
ray, broken up public meetings, suppressed the
right of free speech, driven out and murdered
leading Republicans, have terrorized whole
communities and by intimidation compelled
Republicans to remain from the polls or vote
the Democratic ticket By these means they
have seized control of majority Of the South
ern States, and have secured ma orties in both
houses of Congress-; and yet they set them
selves up as the champions Of tree and fair
elections. Being the enemies of free ballot
themselves, with most transparent hypocrisy
they denounce the Republican party opposed
to fair elections, and threaten the very continu-
ance Of the Government in their efforts
to repeal wholesome laws enacted for the pro-
lection of the purity of the ballot If our svs-
tenn of government is to be continued, the
sanctity of the bailot-box must be maintained.
1t is the chief cornerstone of our system, and,
If ssppe0 and ruined by fraud, intimidation and
murder, our splendid fabric OF civil govern
ment must fall. The laws upon the statute
book for the protection of free assemblage and
free speech, aad for supervising the elections,
and for securing fair count, must be main
tanned in their integrity, and enforced with
vigor and courage. SO that all men, everywhere,
without fear, shall be protected in their rights
of American citizenship. The history of par
fry fh,t