Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1880-10-27
THE QUEST TION.

The question of the election, we are
told, is, which of the two parties Is
more likely to govern the country
wisely and well and again, whether
the present prosperous and contenteC
public situation will be more disturbed
or more surely maintained by change
of administration. This is substanti
ally the question of the campaign. II
is with this debate that the country
rings All the gentlemen who are an
nounced in the papers to speak every
day and every night, upon one side or
the other, are speaking upon this ques
ton. Mr. Evarts, at the Cooper ms.
titute, brilliantly shows that change
would be unwlse from every point oi
view Mr. Seymour, at Chickering
Hall, argues that such a change is
most desirable. This, indeed, is al
ways the question of Presidential
campaign and the necessary point OF
departure of the debate is the princi-
Piles, professions. history and character
of the parties. How, indeed, can we
tell whether ship is likely to carry
US safely, until we have investigated
ship and crew !? and how absurd it
would be if we were told when we wish
ed to look into the hole, that we ought
not to do that, because it would be
sure to excite unpleasant feeling. Yet
that is precisely the manner in which
Republicans are accosted when they
propose to consider what the antece-
dents and spirit and tendency of the
Democratic party are. The one great
glaring fact in the history and present
situation of that party is that it it is a
Southern party. Deduct "the South, F"
and the Democratic party practically
disappears. Yet to inquire into this
fact, to try to ascertain what it means
and what it promises, is declared to be
kind of Fickedness, proving a bad
heart, and showing ferocious disposi-
tion to ALLEVIATE brethren, and foster a
hate sectionalism.
This is exceedingly droll. Mr.
Wade Hampton, for instance, comes
into the state of New York. He de-
nounces the extravaganza, the corrup-
ton, the Capitalization, of the Republi-
can party. He complains of its dis
trust and hostility toward his own
part of the country, and insists that
its present administration was born of
fraud, and that it is, in word, the
enemy of the peace, prosperity, and
progress of the country. He. then as
serts that his own region has heartily
acquiesced in the results of the un-
pleasntness, that it cheerfully recog-
nizes the changed conditions of affairs,
and the equality of all citizens; that
it is overfowing with brotherly love
and goodwill to man, especially the
colored man, and that the only serpent
in the paradise is that monster, CON-
pact of every crime, the Republican
party. But if in the same State Mr..
Evarts, or Mr.. Depew, or any other
eminent Republican, proposes to look
into the nature of this hearty acquies-
cence, and at this overflow of brotherly
affection for everybody, especially the
colored voter, and to ask whether a
free vote and fair count are to be Sc
cured by Mr.. Hampton and his friends
and if, still prosecuting these perfectly
legitimate inquiries, he proceeds to ask
what is this party of Mr.. Hampton's
what has it done, what views has it
held and how, and why, with its his
tory akd character and spirit, it is
more likely to administer the govern
ment more wisely for all citizens and
all interests that the Republican party,
he is assailed by Mr.. IIampton's party
process and fellow-orators as thirsting
for blood, and rekinling old embers of
strife, and preaching the DEVILS gospel
of brotherly hate. And while this is
the fate of Mr. Evarts and Mr.. Depew
and their Republican associates in
New York, if Republican club holds
a meeting in Mr.. Hampton's one State,
the Democratic Rifle Clubs and Red
Shirts and Regulators of every kind
shut up their shops, attend the meet
ing armed, and insist upon sharing
the time with the speakers or silencing
them altogether.
Bdt if in one part of the country to
inquire what the Democratic party has
done, in order to determine what it
probably will do, is wicked section
alism, and in another part not to be
Democrat is to be silenced by hook or
by crook, how is the debate to pro
ceed !? 1t is apparently proper, in the
estimation OF Democratic journals, for
Democrats to show what Republicans
have done, but it is something in the
nature of crime for Republicans to
show what Democrats have done. 1t
is perfectly legitimate, by Democratic
standards, to hold Republicans respon-
sible for the Whiskey Ring four years
ago, but altogether devilish to hold the
Democrats responsible for the mas
sacre and murder and harrying of
colored votes at the same time, and for
the systematic and organized cheating
of the tissue ballots. In word, una
BILE to deny the fragrant crimes intend
ed to seize the government by force
and fraud at the polls, the Democrats
try to distract the public eye and mind
by insisting that it is unbrotherly to
allude to the crimes, while apparently
it is not to be thought wrong and
wicked and bloody and sectional and
unfraternal to commit them. For the
crimes themselves not a Democratic
orator or paper has a word of comdem-
nation. But they unite in decrying as
stirrers up of fraternal strife and assas-
sins of union those who expose them,
and who warn the country against the
domination of a party which seeks
power by such means. The Demo-
Gratis would prefer speculations about
finance and the tariff; but the one nat
| nral lorical. inevitable question of the