Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-10-01
TO YOUNG VOTERS.
NO a.

There is grand army Of about one nil.
lion young men who will vote their first
ballot this next Presidential election. The
decision they make IN casting this their
first ballot for a President will probably
commit them TO the parties for which they
vote. Such decision will have lasting
effect on their minds. The influence Of
the political ideas, the associations, and
the sympathies which such a decision
brings around young men will have great
power over them for good or evil. This
million Of young voters we're born about
the beginning Of the great shareholders
rebellion. They have all heard, or learned
something about the mighty struggle-the
men Of the North fighting for the preserv-
alton Of the Republic; the men Of the
South Sighting for the overthrow and the
destruction Of the Republici the awful
conflict closing with the defeat ard the
dispersion Of the Rebel armies.
When the able-bodied men Of the coun-
try we're marshaled in two great armies,
the one seeking the destruction, and the
other seeking the preservation Of the gov
ernment. These two armies represented
the two great parties Of the country seek
ing to carry out their political ideas by
force CT arms. The conflict Of arms has
passed away, but the men and their princi-
pies remain; and the political conflict we
are engaged in to-day Is, With very slight
.h.r 10 t.
fought. Ideas last longer than passion,
and to-day It is war Of ideas. The princi-
pies Of government and social life for
which these Southern Shareholders fought
are their leading ideas in this Presidential
contest And the principles Of govern
ment aud social life for which the men OF
the North fought are their leading ideas
to-day,
In no true sense are the men OF the
South Republican in their principles Of
government and Of social life. The pO-
litical and social principles and practices
OF the South are such rs would destroy any
Republican government A slave aris-
tocracy, such as the South was could not
he Republican in government. A slave
market in which men, women and children
were sold to the highest bidder was not a
Republican market. A home where some
children were born into slavery, and some
children were born into liberty, both often
having the samo father, was not a Republi-
can home. The people among whom the free
schools was dangerous and aaiorbiduen
| thing, were not a Republican people. So
| cial institutions which depended on the
total ignorance Of the labOring masses for
their safety and continuance we're not Re
| publican institutions. A country in which
a slave aristoerat could cast the votes OF
| 90, or 500 slaves, at the rate Of two votes
| for three slaves, without their consent OF
knowledge, was not Republican country.
| But this was the condition Of political and
social life in the South and tp,day there
is scarcely trace OF Republican govern
ment among the Southern people. The
county officers are not elected, but ap.
pointed by the State Legislature. The
ballot box is openly violated without re-
bebuke; ballot box stufiing and false bal
| lot counting are common all over the
| South. The free school is held in nearly
universal hatred by the Southern people
and competent school teachers are in dan
ger of insult, persecution, outrage anC
| death.
Out Of this mass OF political fraud anC
despOtlsm and social barbarism, can CONT
no Republican principles or practices
Slavery in name, but not in principle, wa
abolished by the defeat of the slave hold
ers, Rebellion and the principles, anc
habits, and tastes Of the past are cherished
by the Southern people with intense bitter
ness. For this sort Of society and for thi
sort Of government the men Of the Soutl
fought, and are fighting now. They hat
Republican government and Republican
institutions. This is the "Solid South"
Rock Creek. TT. c.