The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1879-05-16
rs civil war.ProbabIe!
II May Hurst Unexpected OR The Conn


Democratic leaders, are in earnest, in
Washington, the situation of the
country if not alarming, certainly
should cause very great concern.
The very elements are at work on
the rery issues best calculated to pre-
cpitate civil war upon the country,
and this contrary possibly to the in
tention of many of the present chief
actors in Congress. The issue in
wolves, in Democratic opinion,
TIT FREE BALLOT,
without which the liberty of this coun
try is gone. and further preten
sives to a Republican form of govern
ment will be merest hypocricy. Does T.
the attitude of President Hayes and |
the Republican party in demanding
the right to use soldiers at the cleo
ton polls justify the Democratic opin
ion that they really intend to destroy
the free ballot in this country? Our
people h~-..s i,anr,S nd.raataa oil their
lives TO look with fear and Jealousy on
the use of soldiers at the elections,
and this teac IS ingrained. Ii has
been handed down from father to son
from generation to generation, and
the experience through which this
country has passed has taught the
lesson that party feeling is so strong
in the best Of our leaders that it will
permit aud Justify the use Of soldiers
to control elections. Fully one half
Of the American people, if not more,
/ believe to-day that, Tilden was elected
President, and that the party in power
wrongfully set aside his honest election,
+ and reversed the free voice Of the peo~
pie simply because they had the por-
er. Believing this, conscientiously,
this half Of the American people are
prepared now to believe that the same
President and same party are vetoing
and opposing the repeal Of the soldiers
at the polls bill, actuated by the pur-
pose of using the army to carry the
national elections in the interest OF
their own party. Be it true or false,
the belief of it on the part Of such 6
large element, brings the c0antry face
10 face with terrible issue. If there
is any issue which will induce the peo~
pie Of this country to leave the pleas
ant walks of peace, and again engage
in civil war, this is tie issue that can
bring it about.
The issue in Republican opinion is,
perhaps, equally as alarming to those
who view the situation from their stand
point. They regard the Democrats as
attempting TO divest the President OF
the constitutional prerogatiyes OF his
office, and that the power to use soil
diers at elections should remain with
him to
PROTECT HONEST VOTERS,
and it is clear that the great mass Of
Republicans believe, conscientiously
that a free ballot in large sections OF
the country is already destroyed with
out the protecting presence Of troops
Believing this, and viewing the fact
that large majority of the Democratic
representatives at Washington are Of
the ex rebel element. they are the more
readily made to believe that the failure
Of the Democratic majority to vote the
necessary appropriations to the army
and different departments of the Gov
eminent, (without which the Govern.
ment is stopped is deliberate plan to
sTARvE THE GovERNMENT
to death, which, as rebels, they were
unable to destroy by arms. We be
lieve that the most truly loyal people
10 the country, to-day, are the old
confederate soldiers, but through par
tisan clamor a great mass Of Republic
cans believe that the South sent her
confederate brigadiers to Congress, to
destroy the life of the Government by
strategy.
We have heard good deal about
democratic threats" but Senator
Blaine, speaking on the House anti
bayonet bill last week, shouted to the
Democrats: "I'ass this bin, and It .g1i
lead to another and Lloodier l1ar than
the one ,ce're had" Mr. 3. gave his
hearers to understand that he was not
Joking.
The issues invoked on either side
are of such grave consequence, and
the respective party attitude is so
seriously endorsed by the two great
bodies of people that grave uneasiness
may we'll be entertained, lest
A TERRIBLE CIVIL WAR
again burst upon the country. There
are some things no people can or will
stand; and the issues now invoked
and which of necessity will be the is
sues Of the Presidential race of next
year, are exactly of that class. No
reason will stay the storm when once
started, and the respective elements,
conscientious in the belief Of the terri
bic purposes of the other, will hear
nothing and believe nothing except
their side. a great part of present
excitement may be, and doubtless is,
intended only to
ADVANCE PARTY PURPOSES,
but the danger is that, under the ex>
element of a Presidential election, the
storm may acquire proportions that no