The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1880-10-14

I dREAI REGAkD FOR fORElGNERS
and claimed their votes on that pretense.
But their professions have been mere
words. But republicans made haste as
soon as they had abolished slavery by the
18Th amendment to the constitution, to
declare in the fourteenth amendment that
the same shield of protection, and the
same constitutional equality of rights and
privileges should be extended to natural
lied foreigners as to native-citizens; and
prohibiting any and all states from anv
and all determinations against them.
Listen to the majestic sentences of this
fourteenth amendment:
All persons, born or naturalized in the
United States, and subject to the iurisdic-
ton thereof, are citizens of the United
States and Of the states wherein they re-
side. No state shall make or enforce any
law which shall abridge the privileges and
immunities of citizens of the United States.
nor shall any state deprive any person of
life, liberty, or property without due pro-
cess of law, nor deny to any person with
in its jurisdiction the equal protection of
the laws.
Our opponents always profess great inter-
est in the poor men Of the country. But
words are cheap, and acts are far more
valuable.
While the democrats enjoyed their sixty
years of power there was no free home
steads on the public lands, outside of the
far-distant Oregon, for the landless poor.
Bills were often proposed but as oft en-
voted Gown in democratic congresses. At
last one was passed during Buchanan's
term--one I had the honor of reporting
myself from the conference committees
which prepared it. But it came back
from the white house with Mr.. Buchanan's
veto killing it. When Mr.. Lincoln, how
ever, came into the presidency, with a re-
publican congress, this benefcent grant of
free homes for free men was presented
and passed through both houses and
promptly signed by him-as it now stands
on our statute book, monument to repub-
licanism- and l rejoice to say that last
year no less than six million acres of our
national domain were taken up under it
by our landless poor.
During the sixty years of democratic
power in this nation, slavery grew and
thrived and strengthened, becoming more
and more arrogant, until by the repeal of
the Missouri compromise, demanded of
the north by the solid south, and the
bred Scott decision, It seemed almost in
vincible. But the republicans, feeling
that it both dishonored the nation and de-
graded the poor white laborer working by
the side of the slaves, grappled with it
fearlessly, elected president on the issue
OF no further extension of this ''sum of all
villainies:" and when the solid south rose
in rebellion and strove to destroy the ma
ton and to murder the nations defenders.
the republican administration and congress
rose to a grander height and destroyed the
whole institution.
1t the democratic party had continued
to govern the country till this dav, a.
they resisted both its non-extension and
abolition to her uttermost,
SLAVERY WOULD STILL EXIST
arrognant, domineering, national. If
there had been no republican party slavery
with its auction blocks for men and wo.
men, would cast its baleful shadow over
the republic to-day.
After further illustrations and brief dis.
cussion of financial questions, Mr.. Col.
fax in conclusion returned to his opening
thought about the commanding position OF
our nation to-day.
The very cornerstone of our national in.
! stitutionis the ballot-bo In themonarchies
the sovereign is born to rule and the people
are but ciphers; but in republics the PEG.
pie rule.
Our proudest boast is that here the poor
and the friendless are to be protected
equally with the rich and the powerful, land
that the majority of our citizens decide the
policy Of the nation. Hence, when in
in 1900 the people voted down the John
son, all parties acquiesced, because all
had the largest liberty to express their
sentiment at the polls. So, also, in 1912,
when the war ofthat year was sustained at
the ballot-box by the reelection of James
i Madison. So, also when in 1910 Harrison
ousted the Van Buren, administration by
So, also. in 1856 o. when me BudRh sHRte
at the ballot-box, beat Fremont
and Fillmore. Every qualified voter
in the union, at these elections, cast
his ballot free and unfettered and volunta.
) rlly, with none to modest or make him
afraid; and the result of full vote, free
} ballot, and a fair count was quietine
down of all agitation and peaceful sub
mission of the minority. But in 1860
when Mr.. Lincoln was elected, the solid
south, with arms in their hands. set the
TREAsONABLE EXAMPLE
of rebelling against the result of an cleo
ton in which they had themselves partic
ipated, and since the war ended the same
J south has striven, in more ways than
have time to recount, to have the minorit,
there rule the majority.
Their first demand was for ':'home rule,
as they said it irritated them to have
their enfranchised slaves control thei1
, home affairs. 81,
State after state was captured upon thi.
plea. Then to President Hayes have the,
pledged their honor that they would afforc
the fullest protection of equal rights to al
!; If he would withdraw the United States
troops, which irritated them, from thei1
sta and thus allow then to capture
have been broken let history tell. With
; out time to go over the gloomy and blood,
} record of the outrages through which W,