The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-09-22
The Greatest Question.

Ii asked what was The supreme IS
sue of this years campaign, before
which all Others should bow down
as the sun. moon and eleven stars
bowed before Joseph in his dream,
the most careful, thoughtful and inn
partial citizen to be found would
probably say the fact that there Is
practically ~ negro suffrage in the
south. There are other issues before
the people, every one of which by
itself ought to be sufficient TO insure
the defeat of the Democracy-the
tariff. the finances and tthat party
dangerous adherence, 10 the divine
right of sovereign States, for the
rtrht thev demand for States Is not
short Of the divine right formerly
claimed for kings. But vastly im-
portant as each one eofthese questions
undoubtedly IS. the greatest issue OF
the century is now before Us, except
that OF slavery itself Shall we, after
having given the colored citizen the
legal right 20 yote, rs he already had
the natural right, enforce that right,
or shall this nation, to It's undyiGg
shame. allow its sacred duty to sink
intoinsigniliicance, permit Its former
great achievement to become a null
litv. and suffer the negro citizen to
be gradually exterminated by the
freezing-out process to which his
white neighbors subject him?
We agree with Senator Hoar. OF
Massachusetts,, in saving we have no
patience with anybody, whether
thev are constitutional lawyers,
Fourth of July orators, or Republican
doctors of divinity, who allow this
issue To be obscurcd. None Of the
Others approach it in importance.
We have not the slightest doubt that
there is a Republican majority OF
voters in South Carolina, Florida.
Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana
to-day. Yet no majority Is reported
in anv election. Why not? Well,
for a variety of causes-not for any
one only. 1t is not due to the shot
Gun. or to the i'll will of white neigh
bors whose influence withdrawn
can ruin the colored citizen, or to
threats of discharge from employ
ment or to poll-taX laws made iol
the purpose OF DISTINGUISHING the
negro. but to the work of all these
causes. and even others, put together
There are so many of them that a
complete cure for any one cause
would only make transient and
local impression upon the great
central fact. Suppose all of them
remedied. there is still the unscru'
pulousncss Of the politicians who
count the votes and who make the
majority suit themselves, as Alaba.
mas recent election. proves, Know
/ inc that q fair count would be I'M
possible il they voted, the ncgroe,
think il useless to vote. No one car
say that any particular cause q
Democratic solidity is general in The
south. but some one Of them Will be
found to obtain in almost every
State.
This condition Of affairs is no
only sectional but a national dis
grace. The broader and higher view
/ of it cannot escape this conclusion
/ Every State in the Union IS interest
cd in its correction, for it affects
the reputation of the whole people
abroad. Until it is remedied, re
publican France, parliamentary
England and imperial Germany car
alike point the finger Of soorn at Us
and charge us with false profession;
of being true Republic. Buta StatC
can not constitutionally interior,
with a sister States laws, however
unconstitutional they may be. That
is the province Of the national au
thority, and its exercise calls for th'
most comprehensive craftsmanship