The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1879-09-11

states, ike the Northern States, divided into
parties, and with free speech and a free press
the difficult political questions of the South
would be gradually solved by the party divi-
slons growing out of the war turning into other
channels. With the South made solid by vio-
lence, it is so strong that, with few scattered
members and States of the North, it controls
the political power of the country, and, through
the action OF the caucus, can elect President
| and control the Senate and the House. And
such is the aim of the Democratic party If
that succeeds, Our political system, founded
mon free and fair elections, will be over
thrown.
Compared with this issue, all other issues are
secondary Though you may not pass upon it
this fall, yet your election this fall will affect the
issue to be made in 1880, when the Republican
party will present a formidable and stern
reslstanceto this rebellion against constitutional
rights, the same in principle, and Gin fact, that
we resisted in 1861 and which we had foolishly
hoped was settled by the constitutional amend
ments.
I may be Asked SWELL, what will you do
about it? Would you have soldiers in the South
and \ eral armies at the polls?"
My answer is that this is not practicable
remedy. Federal soldiers were never used
at the South or at the polls, except to
is by an earnest appeal to the sense of JUS
tlce and the interests and the manhood of the
Southern States. The negroes are free are
citizens, and are voters That, at least, is de-
clared by the constitution, and cannot be
changed. 1t is the interest of the white people
of the South to respect the rights of the negroes
for If they do not, and carry their oppression to
extremity for a number of years, they will in
time contend with majority of intelligent,
property, holding, law abiding freemen, both
black and white, who will meet them with their
own weapons Such contest now would be
utterly hopeless The black man must submit
and suffer. His only remedy for extreme suf-
fering is his right to leave the land of his OPP
presson-the same right exercised by the
Israelites of old, by our forefathers and by
every citizen of foreign birth who sought in our
own land to escape oppression or to improve
his condition.
If the white men of the South can win by
kindness the votes of their former slaves no
one would object, but, if they continue what is
called the Mississippi plan" of terror and
violence, they will not only disgrace our civil
lzation, but will utterly ruin themselves. The
labor of these black men is the foundation of
all their property and all their hopes The
blacks are no longer slaves, and every year
will add to their sense of this fact, and will
teach them the rights of free men and the
modes of maintaining those rights. In some
of the States they are in the majority, and they
will exercise their political power as such,
either in harmony with the whites or in oppo-
S1tlOu TO IneM. WQIl6 Gn1S rdC0-COnnlCG Is
kept up by oppression and wrong, the Southern
States cannot improve, and must continue to
be in decaying condition, and their relative
power will be greatly diminished in the
next census. Their credit is impaired,
and several of them are debating
schemes of reputation. They have
turned back the tide Of Industrious immi-
grafton that flowed upon them after the war
closed, and now there is no disposition in the
North to either migrate to, or invest in, proper
ty in the South and will not be until the right
of self government is restored to the majority
of the people.
had hoped that the evil effects of the Mis-
slsslppl plan" would have caused the fOrma-
ton of s conservative party in these Southern
States which would have protected these freed
men in their constitutional rights, and restored
again to credit and confidence these several
States. | believe there is ample material for
the formation of such party, but it seems now
utterly helpless and powerless in the grasp of
lawless elements, who form themselves into
rifle clubs and klans and ride rough-shod over
the rights of the freedmen, as we'll as the in
terests of the planters and business men.
This policy of fraud and violence in the
South should have been met by the firm and
determined opposition of the Democratic party
of the North This party could have checked
such scenes as it could have checked the COM
mencement of the war; but, by denial OF the
truth, and from interested participation in the
results of the violence, the Democratic leaders
have sanctioned and encouraged that violence
and fraud, and vote in daily co operation with
those who have participated in it
What, then, is the remedy if this policy is
continued? There is none other except m ap-
peal to the Northern States, to all who were on
the Union SIDE IN the war, in action or in SYM
pathy, and to the independent manhood of the
Democratic party, to stand by our political Or
ganization until the rights of all men are Sc
ovfor o,,1 81 h.
and Territory in the Union, and this appeal
should be made now and next year, and as sure
as God rules in the heavens it will not be made
in vain.
The Republican party asks nothing of the
South but the observance of the constitution
and the laws, and, especially, the amendments
which they agreed to after the war 1t does not
seek to Cypress. It encourages none of the
bitterness of war. It fairly appreciates the
difficulties OF their position, and would gladly
join with them in developing their resources
dlversifying their industries and adding to
their wealth, but it is bound in honor to see
that the benefits of the amendments adopted by
its policy shall be extended to the freedmen Of
the South who have been loyal and true to their
principles, but faithful and forbearing to the
white men of the South.
MULTIPLICATION OF ELECTION LAWS
There is another question intimately connect
ed with this Southern question, and that is, the
lACCIlOu nuu putty VI Ol0CllOu5. i ALu SldQ TO
be able to agree with Gen. Ewing when he says:
"The question of free elections has assumed
prominence never before given it, although the
statutes out of which it arises have been long
in force, and the Democracy have heretofore
repeatedly attempted to repeal them" The
Republican party is determined to have not only
free but fair elections, cost what it will Az he
says, the United States statutes providing for
such elections have long been in force. They
are made in pursuance of q plain provision of
the constitution, which declares that Congress
may at any time, by law, make or alter the reg
ulations of the Legislature of each State as to
the time, place and manner of holding elections
for Senators and Representatives
The provision as to Senator's has been long
exercised, and every member Of the Senate
holds his office under law passed by Congress,
The same power was exercised eight years ago
as to REPRESENTATIVES in Congress, in cities con-
tanning 10000 inhabitants, where, upon the ap-
picatCn If certain number of people of both
parties, Supervisors may be appointed, with
Deputy Marshals, to keep the peace at the
polls. This law was caused by the reckless,
criminal course of the Democratic party at the
Presidential election of 1868, when over sc. 600
Illegal votes were stuffed into the ballot box It
was q fearful crime which struck at the founda-
top Of civil iDstitutiona ord, iobt bo