Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-11-18
The Answer to the South.

Nc AusWtr u luc SOutH.
Wade Hampton did deliver the Solid
South. as he promised. There was no
mistake on his part. Why should there
be any where the election does not real
ly begin until the partisan managers sit
down TO count the votes? The Solid
South WAS ready to give its electoral
votes, without an exception, TO anybody
who would help it to get control of the
Government which it failed to destroy.
Delaware WAS kept in line by only 1000
majority. and the majority in Florida
was not large, but the thing was done
as Wade Hampton promised. The six
teen States in which slaves were for
merly held gave all their electoral votes,
and about 100000 majority on the popu-
lar vote as counted, for General Han
cock. No one cares whether the ma
jOrity there was small or large. There
is not an intelligent Democrat who does
not know that the real majority was
suppressed, stamped out, and virtually
disfranchised in several of the Southern
States Nc Democrat feels that his party
is the stronger, no Republican feels that
his party is the weaker, because of the
large majorities where free elections do
not exist.
The answer to Mr.. Hampton is found
in the votes of the Northern States. 1t
is not quite Solid North, in respect to
electoral votes. The people of the North
are free, and believe i'll freedom. In ev-
cry Northern State, meetings of either
party can he held in peace. without the
slightest danger that they will be i'll
vaded by armed hOrsemen. red-shirted
infantry, or political clubs with cannon
of the opposite party. The votes that
are cast are also counted; there is no
knavish prestidigitation. such rs that
which transformed a Greenback major
ity in Alabama into Democratic ma
jority of 10000. If General Hancock
has less than 100 majority in California,
even though it was obtained by an in
famous forgery which disgraces the par
ty by which it was used. still everybody
knows that General Hancock will in
that case receive the entire electoral
vote of California. So of every other
Northern State. Public opinion would
instantly crush any party that should
off - In fi,. 10
in any Northern State, even though it
should be for the purpose of giving eff
feet to the will of the people in every
other Northern State. That is freedom.
Upon such foundation popular institu-
tions rest securely. OF all the Northern
States, three are claimed to have voted
for General Hancock; the State of Cam
den and Amboy by plurality of about
1000; the State of the Bonanza Kings
by a majority of about 500; and Califor-
mia, if at all, by a majority so small that
microscopic examination Is needed-to-
detect 1t. Beyond these. no Northern
State is by anybody supposed 10 have
voted for the Democratic ticket; and
New Jersey was turned by a railroad
company; Nevada by a mining million
aire, and California by forgery so pal
pable that it would not have deceived
the most stupid Celestial in China
Town.
General Garfield, some one remarks,
was found extraordinarily strong in the
Western States. Undoubtedly, he WAS
strong. But the Republican party was
stronger than its candidate, and gave
him tremendous majOrities where lie WAS
not known at all, as well as in the States
which knew him best. The gain in ma
jority since 1870 is nearly $4,000 in Ohio
and $4,000 in Indiana. The Republican
party was not mistaken in believing that
his personal popularity would help great
II in those States. But its gain i'll ma
jOrity since 1876 was $4,000 in New
York, 1000 In Massachusetts, 10000 in
New Jersey, 5000 in Connecticut, 10000
in Pennsylvania, $4,000 i'll Michigan.
%, 900 in Wisconsin, 10000 in Illinois,
p, 900 in Iowa, $4,000 in Minnesota, 25,-
900 in Kansas, and 1000 in Nebraska.
The Republican majority in the nine
teen Northern States which gave an I'M
doubted majority for General Garfield
was about $4,000, and four years ago in
the same States it was only 265,O70,
three of those States having been carried
0y the Democracy. In spite of fraud in
counting, bulldozing. red-shirted rifle
clubs, and mounted rangers with cannon,
the Democrats could not get as large
majority in all the Southern States as the
free North has given for the candidate
who represents its convictions and Its
will. General Garfield goes into the
Presidency with clear majority of the
popular vote, although sixteen States
were counted and three more were stolen
by his opponents.-IN. Y. Tribune.