The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1880-10-22
THE GREAT ISSUE.
The True "Inwardness" Of the
Solid South"
An Open Letter from the Hon. Jay
A. Hubbeu.

by the Republicans of the Ninth Michigan dis
trict to represent YOU in Congress for the fifth
consecutive time, should esteem it an especial
breach of duty, under ordinary circumstances
to be absent from that district during this can
:. vass! But, occupying as do the Craftsmanship
of the Republican Congressional Committee,
my Judgment tells me-and in this l think ali
good Republicans will agree-that should not
be absent from this central post of duty. This,
therefore, must be my excuse for thus address
ing you.
In the olden time, when two ARMIES in hostile
array confronted each other, it was sometimes
the practice for the leader of each-or for some
specially selected man from each-to step to
the front and decide the hattie issue by single
combat. Thus it was that David afterward
King of Israel, by staying Goliath with pebble,
defeated the army of the Phistine5.
As nations grew more enlightened, the trial
by single combat ceased, and victory fell to that
side which had the most skill, courage, muscle
and weight Of numbers.
Later on, other elements Of warfare devel-
oped themselves, and it WIS found some
times that the nation with the longest purse
YES often victorious. But the latest lesson
Taught us by war is that, all else being equal the
aIny which is best armed must triumph. Thus
it was that Germany successfully dictated her
Z. own terms ut Vienna and at Paris.
Now, take it the great contest between the
opposing armies Of Republicanism and Democ-
racy into which we have just entered is not to
be fought out on the old plan of single combat,
but on the new.
The leaders, Gen. Garfield on the one side
and Gen. Hancock on the other--both cour-
ageous, both athletic, both skilled, both in the
very prime of stawart life-are not to stand
out in front of the line of battle and grapple
each with the other until one falls wounded
unto death The day for such spectaces has
passed Nor are they to come out to the front
and halt, facing the enemy while the enemy
pelts each leader with voleys of mud and
biliingsg2te The day for such spectacle,
trust has not yet come.
Not thus are the issues presented by two
great political parties before an enlightened
American rTbllc to be decided.
That party will be victorious which is the best
armed and equipped with the truest and safest
and wisest principles, and whose record will
show that it has acted upon those principles Sc
as to secure the greatest good to the greatest
number" That one will be trusted which has
shown itself most worthy of trust.
Hence it is that l shall have not one word to
say against Gen. Hancock personally, as l am
sure were Gen. H,ncock addressing you he
would have not one word to say against Gen.
Garfield personally. Both of these distin-
guished leaders, if consulted would deprecate
campaign of personal Cetraction-of mul
singing.
This Is a contest of principles, not men prin-
cpes as exhibited by the traditions, the history,
the controlling spirit of each party.
The prize is vast. No less than the Govern
ment of this great nation, with all its attend
ant responsibility for the safety, honor, happi-
ness, freedom and prosperity of all its people !!
And ask every Democrat at all open to the
convictions of reason, as well as every voter
who hesitatca to weigh carefully and well the
facts confronting him, before he casts the vote
upon which so much that is sacred to us and
dear to the oppressed of all lands now de-
ponds.
Consider well, my friends, these vital ques-
tons, and after that review, answer with your
enlightened votes the question that another
old-timo Democrat Gen. Grant, has put
whether the Democratic party, "as now con-
stituted and controlled, is fit party to trust
with the control of the General Govern
ment?'
How is the Democratic party now "consti-
tuted aud controlled2" Let us see.
At the last Presidential election 4,2S4, 265
Democratic votes were cast in all the States for
Presidential electors. OF this Democratic
popular vote" as it is termed, 1870, O65 votes
were cast by Democrats of Northern States,
and ,614, 200 votes were cast by Democrats of
Southern States-States that were known as
"slave States before the Rebellion-to wit i:
Alabama, Arkansas Delaware, Florida, Geor-
gla, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland MISSISSIPPI
pi, Missouri North Carolina, South Carolina.
Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia ;
States which are now claimed to be banded to-
gether as q "sold SOuth.' In other words
the 'sohd South contains q trifle more than
half as many Democratic voters as there are
Democratic voters in all the other States, or
one-third of the entire Democratic vote of all
the States. North and South
Now, where the responsibility for party meas
ures should properly rest upon the whole Demo-
cratic party, North as we'll as South, one would
naturally suppose that Ill its councils the North
ern Democracy, having double the popular
weight of the Southern Democracy, should rule
wherever Democracy is in power. Northern
Democracy has as much ability surely as has
the Democracy of the South, besides having
two-thirds of the Democratic popular voting
power at its back, yet this immensely-pre-
pondcrating Northern vote is by some means
not allowed by the " solid South to assert q
policy of its own, but is obliged to bend its
neck to the yoke of Southern dictation. That
IL not q healthy state of things to begin with :;
and this is the very kernel of the nut which
the people at this election are called upon to
crack
This usurpation of power by small minority
OF a great party over the policy and actions of
that whole party is what every Northern DEM
ocrat should resent. The possibility of this ex-
ercise OF power over the entire country bv the
representatives of only 1,614 200 Southern DEM
ocratic votes out of 8,411.136 votes is what
every Northern man should, by all legal means,
resist. The American people surely will not
permit this great and pussant nation to be
governed by mere fraction of q party backed
by less than one-ffth of the entire popular
vote
That the "solid Southern" wing absolutely
runs the entire Democratic party will hardly
he denied by any person respecting the truth
VI course, in the making of national platforms,
It stands nobly back and permits the Northern
Democracy to formulate grand professions and
meaningless plattudes; but when it comes to
work, to action, this sohdifed, dominating
southern fraction asserts its tyrannical power,
and Northern Democracy tamely yields !
Is the republic ready to slip its neck into
the Southern noose2 Not yet, l take it, not
yet
How is it that this 1900, 900 solid Southern
Democratic votes controls the whole Demo-
oratic party, and in the event of the election of
Hancock and a Democratic House would con-
troll the 50,000,00O of people composing this re-
public?
It's because by killing, by torture by whip
pings by other violences and, where these have
failed, by stuffing ballot-boxes with tissue bal
lots, and by the commission of other frauds and
outrages-the Republican majorities and in
come cases the entire Republican vote of the
South have been wiped out, and the Southern
States stand in the Electoral College and in
Congress "solidly" Democratic.
Thus it is that, claiming for the "sold
South 1888 of the 1876 electoral votes necessary
to elect President, and holding large ma
Jonty of the Democrats in each of the two
houses Of Congress, and consequently large
majority in the Democratic caucus upon every
measure-and every measure of Importance to
the South is always made caucus measure
the "solid South " is the controlling power in
the Democratic party; controlling its work OF
legislation both by caucus rule and committee
rule; controlling the executive business of the
Senate by committee rulo if not caucus rule /:
controlling the organization of both bodies in
the same way, and controlling even Presiden-
tial nominations by the mere force OF the solid
lSS electoral votes, which lack but AZ votes of
amajority.
This is the secret of the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
portionate power which this fraction of a party
exerts over the whole party, and which il
threatens to extend over this nation of 50. 600 :
600 people and it is through blood and terror
and fraud that that power has been secured !:
and it is this party, so constituted and con-
trolled," that asks the American people to trust
it Just this once with the reins of govern
ment.
Put your heads in the Southern moose if We
will, 0people but blame not us for failure to
warn you.