Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-07-10

sibly give one Congressional District to
the Republicans, but there is nothing like
certainty about this, and the presumption
is against it. Now it should be ap-
parent that such surrender of a
1 large portion of the Union to the
alleged lawlessness and violence of a
faction is equivalent to far more danger
Gus and discreditable outcome than seces-
sion itself would have constituted. For
had secession succeeded, these ten Southern
| the federal revenues, but at the same time
| they would have ceased to NEEDLE with
national affairs whereas under the exist
| ing situation they refuse to obey the Con
stitution and the laws, yet they claim and
receive far more than their full share of
political power. Practically the only re-
suit of emancipating the Southern blacks
has been to give the Southern whites
means of increasing their own political
influence, in fact. 1t should be evident
/ that this condition of things is intolerable,
and that the Republican party is under OBJ
legations to meet and contend against it.
And the first duty of the Republican party
is 10 deny the existence of solid South,
and to act towards the South precisely as
/ it intends to act towards the North and
! West. It is said the Southern Democrats
will not permit any electioneering in their
strongholds. That assertion must be tested.
The National Republican Committee must
send speakers of repute all over the South,
and invite the Southern Republicans to
come out and hear them. The Red Shirt
Leagues must be challenged upon their
own ground. If they mean violence and
intimidation they must be forced to
show their hands. Hitherto all the
/ bulldozing has been done upon ne
groes and local white residents of
little consequence or reputation. 1t re-
mains to be seen whether the rifle and
saber clubs will venture to break up Re-
| publican meetings presided over by men of
national reputation, and addressed by
|
and Ingersoll. In the past the bullying
and abuse has been SO generally directed
against local persons, that it has often
been difficult to convince the general pub
lie of the reality of the outrages, and this
notwithstanding the patent evidence of
their occurrence in the election returns.
The truth is that Southern bulldozng has
been fostered by Republican neglect OF the
South. The Republican leaders have been |
content to take all their information con-
corning that region at second hand, and
they have made the natural mistake of
partisans in thinking that these outrages
could be safely nursed for campaign pur-
poses. The fact is that such Mexican
methods as have been employed at the
South can never be introduced without en-
dangering the political morality of the
whole country. Ii permitted to continue
they breed an indifference to lawlessness
which is the first step towards anarchy,
and nothing is more difficult than to shake
off such habits when they are once ac-
quired.
1t is therefore incumbent on the Repub-
lican party to force the Southern Demo-
Gratis to act openly and in the face of the
nation. II it is the settled purpose of the
Democracy to carry the South by fraud
and force, the methods to be employed
must be used without concealment. With
Northern speakers scattered all through
the Southern States, however, it will be
anything but an easy task to put in motion
the regular bulldozing machinery. II the
Southern Republican vote is to be sup
pressed, it must be first cowed in the
campaign. But it is a question whether
the bulldozers are prepared to ply their
vocation under the eyes of Northern
men. The fact that Hancock is their
candidate will certainly embarrass this
part of their programme still fur
ther. How can they affect loyalty and
respect for law and order while they
are suppressing free speech and tramp
ling upon the franchise at the South |
Or if they attempt this inharmonious
combination of policies, how can they
escape the swift and fatal exposure
certain to be visited upon them by their
Northern visitors? The truth is that
vigorous Republican campaign at the |
South is as necessary as it is polite. 1t |
must force the Southern Democrats into |
one of two courses, either of which is GER
tain to make for the Republican cause.
They will be compelled to abandon all |
bulldozing, and then the solidity of the |
South will be broken up by the casting OF
full Republican vote; or they viii be /
compelled to do their bulldozing openly, |
in which case the qualification OF the /
North will ensue as matter OF course.
The Republican policy clearly is to force
the Democrats to choose between these
alternatives. ANY other course would be /
fatuous. To abandon the South altogether
is to play straight into the hands of the
Democrats. They can then use force and
fraud at the South as much as they please,
and can deny that they are using
any unfair means. all through the
North. And in such case they
would find many Northern voters
to believe their assurances. The only
way to break up the Mexican political
methods which have been introduced at
the South is to expose them thoroughly
and constantly. The whole country must
be made to realize that there are ten States
of the Union in q far worse condition than
If they had seeded ; that they are practi-