Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-10-07

LAhA pun dDOuG sSfCL Ab4uAC0 fOlCo A4GO LL4c
ballot-box4 This makes politics one Of the
+" exact Sciences" much more certain than the
dice or lots with which offices and nominations
we're ratified of here the other day. [Applause.]
In Mississippi, more than half the population
Is colored. Every year until 1874 the Republic
ans had majority in all elections. In 1876
the Republican vote returned was 81, Cos. The
next year it was but 1,168, and the year after
2,085. In all these States the Republican vote,
and even the Republican committees and news
papers, had been utterly suppressed.
Alabama has just held an election. The
Greenback candidate for President went there
and realized the embarrassment Of the bull
who butted against a locomotive. The whole
proceeding was q shameful wrong. and Mr.
Weaver says that the enforcement Of the na-
tional election laws is the only thing which viii
make a fair election possible. Arkansas has
lust voted-Arkansas, where until recently
Republicans always elected members of Con
gress and the Legislature, where at the last
Presidential election IS, 500 Republican votes
were cast, and where now in no part Of the
State does the Republican vote appear Re
pudiation and Democracy prevail nightly. I
repeat here, as I said in the Senate when the
Government was taken by the throat and
threatened with ssrangulatIOn unless the elec-
ton laws were stricken down, that the Demo-
cratic party would have to-day no majority in
either House OF Congress except for cleo
tions dominated and decided by violence and
fraud.
REPUTATION OF SOUTHERN DEBTS.
What use IS made of this in-gotten power
One OF its chief uses has been the reputation
of honest debts. Every Southern S ate but
Texas has lately repuiiated its Obligations.
This aggregate Reputation OF State and NUM-
cipal debts amounts to about three hundred
million dollars. Iu1872 the debts Of Sou bern
Stares were $242, 500, 600. Now these States
recogn re and pay interest on only $50, 978 945.
A ~S+ ia,
interest. Ga twenty millions, interest has
been scaled down to two per cent. Whether
the residue Of debts are also to be forsWorn is
now an oPen issue.
Is there excuse or palliation for this? We
are told so. What is 1t? 1t is that "carpet-
bag gov rnmeEts" contracted these obliga-
tions. One difficulty with this excuse, and not
the only enc, il that it is not true. The ante
war debt, contracted before the ''carpet bag
ger" ever visited the South either with
knapsack or without il, was ninety million dol
lars. No part Of this debt has been paid; a
large part has been Tepudiated. The carpet
bag" governments paid the interest on it
regularly. The increase of debt since the war
was largely for public improvements. But the
most damaging fact for this excuse ia that the
alleged illegal issue CT bonds charged upon the
carpet-bag governments put together does not
equal the sum TepudiaJed by Georgia alone.
What are We to think OF men and c0mmuni-
ties who go into wholesale regulations as
gally as the tyoUbadour touched his guitar ?
[Applause I When Mr.. Weaver brought for
ward in tins House Of Representatives. bill to
issue ''fat money" aGd make it alegal tender
for all debts public and private man after man
from the South openly declared that if the
vote for the bill. They had no objection to
paying off public debts with chaff, but private
debts they thought should be paid in mOney.
State debts are sacred above National obi
gat Ons IN Southern ethics-a ''sOYeTeign State
is of higher essence than the Nation and this
vas the standing defence in rebellion for
going with their S5ates." Moreover, State
and municipal obigGtions are for home pur-
poses. II their own State, faith and credit is
not inviolate with Southern leaders, what in
their hands would be the fate OF obligations
which were the means, the cause, the memoir
ais of their defeat? Applause
THE PERILs OF DEMOCRATIC AsCENDENCY.
Bat we are told General Hancock would
watch them! An angel might watch tiger
child might attempt to divide a baefsteak
with BLOODHOUND; d lamb might lie down wiGh
& lion, but the lamb would lie inside The
peril of Democratic a8cendency in all The
branches of the Government is deeper rooted
than any measure within the scope OF existing
public question. State man abroad talk
'#he balance CT power" and OF Changing tho
map of Europe" These sayings mean not
much more than might easily occur here
The resolution admitting Texas to the Union
IN 1845 provided for erecting out Of Texas four
additional States. The araa and population
sre both sufficient. The area is 274 900 Cquare
miles, the population d million and q half.
Such q proceeding would add eight to the
number of Southern Senators, and add to
Southern power In the electoral college. From
New Mexico and other territories, whose trS-
ditions and preiudices have descended from
save-hOlding influences, several new States
may also be made. Schemes exist, not in en-
bryo, but far advanced, to obtain q ''slice Of
Mexico" Cattle stealing on the Rio Grande
border has been and is fruitful occasion for
iIclrsions into Mexico. Special cavalry regi-
ments Of unusual size have been raised aid
stationed on the Texan frontier. Its an open
secret that not lopg ago much exerhon and
aIertuess were needed to keep us out of an
ether Mexican war.
Without violating the Constitution or trans
cending the usages of the Republic, at least
seven new States could be brought in, and in
the case of some of them a very plausible case
could be made. The project would become q
high pa ty measure. It's success would assure
complete Democratic ascendency in the Nation
for a generation at least. 1t would put the
Government not merely in the hands Of the
Democratic party, but Of the Southern Demo-
cratic party.
Why should not this be done? Who and
what is to prevent it if the Democratic party is
elected? The Northern wing could never re-
sist the Southern wing in Congress were these
new States brought forward for admission.
The Northern wing neyer could, never viii,
and never can Withstand the pressure of the
far stronger South wing. Grayitation and
arithmetic make such resistance Impossible,
just as a pound can not outweigh 2 ton, just IS
one man can not OutnumOer regiment. The
past is pjtiful in its warnings IN this behalf
Despite pledges and Northern Indignation
Northern Democrats in Congress united in
voting down the Wilmot proYiso in order to
make California slave State; united IN voting
for the fugitive slave law; united in the
mig ty perfdy which overthrow the Missouri
compromise IN order to fasten slavery on Kan
sas nd other States, and united in defeating
the homestead laval at the behest OF the
Southern majority.
Mr.. Van Buren, at last, like Macbeth would
Ego no further in this bloody business and
political destruction was his reward. Mr.
Douglas at last made a brave stand aeainst
sectional aggression, and he WSs hunted 10 his
grave. Caucus is king, and the avenging
angel is hardly more memorable in decree. or
more unerriug in retribution. applause
THE DEMOCRATIC ASSAULT ON THE JUDICIARY.
One OF the main bulwarks of the republic is
the judiciary. The courts of justice are. UNI
pire. conservatoT, citadel. The Supreme court
is the final arb.ter of many momentous con,
troversies. This great tribunal is very OBJ
noXious to southern leaders in congress and
out. It is III their way. 1t does not always
decide SIS they think. The halls OF congress
raIg last year with assertions, uttered with
passionate yeLSmeLce, that the laws for pro-
tecting elections are unconstitutional. Soon
afterward q case on the docket OF the Supreme
Court, Involving the validity Of these laws,
was reached, and the court decided them valid
A register IN bankruptcy not long ago over