National Republican., 1880-11-10
ForesIrht and HIudsIrht.

To the Ediiorof The National Republican,;
SIR: The Post of Friday last justly gives
Senator Blaine the credit of having embodied
in a certain celebrated speech of his pretty
much all the political literature Of the recent
campaign on the foul measures Of tho late
rebel states to defeat an honest vote and
thereby capture states, governors, senators
aud representatives in congress that they
were not entitled to; aud tho Post seemingly
applauds Mr. Blaines sagacity Ia setting forth
his views Il whole year in advance of the cam
paign.
This reminds me of an incident that l wit
messed in this city about two ycnrs ago, Just
after the congressional elections OF 1873 A
newspaper reporter came into the room TO in
terview the Hon. James F. Wilson of Iowa,
who happened just then to be in the city. Af-
ter a number OF questions pertaining to the
currency, resumption, etc, had been asked
and answered the reporter concluded by ask
ing: "What, in your opinion, will be the pre-.
dominant question in the next presidential
contesl?' | well remembort the rugged, strong
deliberate way in which Wilson gave his au
! swer, which was substantially thus:
will answer that question by an illustration
| In Iowa We believe In freedom of speech and
| freedom of action. Any man may come TO Iowa
from any part of the south and talk as lie pleases
and act and vote with perfect freedom and Sc
curity, and If need be- we would fight TO protect
| him in the exercise of the rights. Now, we dc
maud that any man may 60 from Iowa TO any plac,
in the south and exercise the rights with IN,
| same freedom and security. And the people o
| Iowa, and, believe, The people of the north gen
orally, will never be satisfied. and Will never en-,
the contest, until the humbest citizen whetho
white or black, shall be just us safe and fire.
and secure in the enjoyment of his civil and poitl
cal rights in the darkest corner Of South Caroline
us in the state OF ohio and Indiana,
| submit that here was an instance II
which the foresight was as clear as the hind
sight But then, Wilson is one of those mel
who, In addition to his sterling common
sense and sound Judgment in regard to mel
and affairs has maintained aud cultivated
that keen moral sense which enables the pos
SCISSOR to read the currents of popular opinion
on great moral questions with unerring In
stinct or Intelligence. Such n man know
what popular opinion ought to be, and there
fore can safely foretoll what its verdict viii
; be in a given contingency
One word more 1t is said that all til
/ power of this grand nation can aud will b
| oxerted to protect the humbest citizen in an
G part of the world outside of our own bOrder
! Is II true that tho nation cannot protect II
humblcst citizen anywhere within its ow
borders? If there Is u failure of Justice in th
states and citizens are deprived of any
8 their civil OF political rights, is the natio
J, poweress to Interfere? Is there defect
the constitution in this regard2 If so, i So
d, let US fix the constitution. If there is II
! power in the constitution by which the NJ
: tion can protect individuals from state o
4 preston, lot us put it in the constitution.
Iowa.
NovENREp 1870