New-York tribune., 1880-10-27
SOrTHERN ELECIONEEEING MfTH0DS

SOUTHERN EtIIONEEhINb -Hf iH"D''
The wires are burdnncd again with accounts
of violence and fraud at the South. Speakers
are mobbed. Meetings are dispersed by
armed bands. The clubs of one political
party 90 ABOUT with cannon, hunting meetings
of the opposite party. Illegal registration Is
permitted, where any registry law exists ana
there is danger of blood.hcd if any body IN
sists upon honest enforcement OF law. What
can be done about ii Free speech Is not
tolerated The right of all citizens TO meet
pcaceably for discussion is violated. Armed
force is openly employed instead of argument.
Laws are used or defcd, without scrnple or
shame, to suit the purposes of one political
party-that party which, by means such as
those. holds the 13S votes of the Solid South.
II would be a mistake to suppose that
these things are reported. at this late day, 10
affect pnblic opinion. There Is 10 desire on
the part of Republicans to discuss the
Southern question. They have found 1t wise
to give all the time they can to the discussion
Of business interests, the finances, and es-
rociollv the tariff The Democrats show by
their wipcing and shrieking how sOrcly this
line of discussion hurts them. But the South
will not let us forget the fact that seIi-gov-
ernment has been foully murdered there. Ii
thrusts new proofs of the fact upon u, even
while the public mind Is fully occupied with
other thoughts. The North WAS content TO
forget the Southern question, rs 1t mas Dceh
mony times before, satisfied that the business
interests of the country would be safe i'll the
charge of Solid North. But the ghost OF
murdered sclf-government rises ut every
feast. The South will not have lis crimes
forgotten, even for week.
viii Democratic wOTklngmen, who are
thinking of their own interests, and compar-
ing HancOcks letter with his PLATFORM ana
tariff cards with their own wdg 5, tell us
why the workingmcn OF the South have not
an caual right to discuss freely aud to
vote as they plcase7 For years, troops
have been withdrawn; not the phantom
of a troop alfrghls the Southern soul. For
wears Republican governments at the South
have been dead, and if there have been any
wrongs there. Democratic rulers are response
bic. There is not vestge OF excuse Tor VI0-
leuce or lawlessnrSs. Republicans want 10
meet at the South, aS Democrats do IN YER
mont or Iowa, to hear their own interests
discussed bv men who satisfy their own JudS-
ment. and to prepare IN their own way tor
exercising the duties of citizenship. 1t Is an
empty right, and they know it. Democrats
have the count, and elections there are a
farce But still i, is a right, to meet freely,
sneak freely, and vote freely, and it gives
them some poor pleasure to exercise 1t II
they may, consoing themselves with the
| thought that, If no votes OF theirs are
counted, at least they tried to do their duty
| as citizens.
Answer, Democrats why should these rights
be violated thus7 Why should cannons take
the place of arguments : What business have
| YOU to defend party which relies upon such
| means for such success as it can get ! Does
it seem strange to you that the free North Is
/ going solid against that party