The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-07-17
Government to Protect the Ballot-Box.
A dispatch from Tcrrc Haute, Indiana,
July II, says


A dispatch from Terrc Haute, Indiana,
July II, says:
Colonel R. W. Thompson, Secretary Of the
Navy, delivered campaign speech at Armosy
Hall last night two hours in length. He said
the right Of every citizens to vote would be
maintained at the coming election, if neces-
sary, by nl the power Of the government, sup
ported, IL need be, by the army and navy.
He said the President would be equal 10 any
emergency for the protection of citizens. high
or lox, rich or poor. He spoke chiefly on
the Southern question and Gen. Hancock 5
connection herewith, and closed by an elo-
quent tribute to Gen. Garfield. The Secreta-
y will leave for the Pacific coast next Tues
day evening
Look at the falsehood, the daring, and
the impotence, Of which this dispatch is
the sign and seal In the FIRST place, the
Secretary of the Navy proceeds on the
false assumption that the right Of certain
citizens to vote will be interfercd with BY
the Democratic party at the November
election. Upon this assumption, false a'
he cannot but kRoae Il 10 be, be takes oe,
casion to threaten the display Of "all the
power Of the government" aud the mon.
strous declaration is added that this dis
play of power is to be supported, if need
be, by the army and navy" lie further
added that "thc President would be equal
to any emergency for the protection Of
citizens" Now, ifthis Terre Haute speech
Of the Secretary Of the Navy is anything
more than the impudent bluster Of an ex-
cited partisan hArangue, il Is the revela.
ton Of a purpose on the part of the Repub-
lican party to carry the next election by
intimidation, if possible; and if that should
not succeed why then to employ tho army
and navy to dragoon the electors Of this
free republic into an aequiesence in the
perpetuation Of the power Of the present
dominant party, obtained BY fraud and
now to be maintained by force and arms.
If this is the purpose Of the Republican
party, il was well that member Of this
Fraudulent government should have re-
yealed il at Terre Haute, thus carly ia the
canvass. II warns the Democratic party
of the earnest work which lies before it,
ere the power Of the government eau be
wsested from the present usurping hand
and restored to the people, where il right.
fully belongs The Democrat, trust to the
power Of the ballot. II is more formida-
BE than the bullet, on which our Repub-
iiean opponents mostly rely, il Secretary
Thompson is TO be taken at his word, after
proper Interpretation Of the same in its
most occult bus logical meaning, Mr.
Hayes and his clustering Secretary ought
to know that il is perilous business TO
undertake to dragon frcemen, or to re-
strain them in the matter Of the exercise
Of the elective franchise Their hollow
pretcnse Of using force to "protect eiii-
gems in the right Of the ballot Is well nu-
derstood. The Democratic party has heard
the same plea for force before, but their
opponents might as well understand, at the
beginning Of this Presidential contest, that
they are not to be oyenwed BY threats of
force or overcome by force itself. They
mean 10 conduct this canvass within the
strict confines of legal requirement and to
crown il with the most overwhelming vic
tory ever achieved by the ballot, and If
tho Republican party, through their cor
rupt and unprincipled leaders, in the
White House or elsewhere, interpose the
bayonet, their discontinue viii be all the
more certain and eomplete. The people,
at the ballot-box, viii rebake their des-
potic methods by defeat 50 signal and
overwhelming that thcir organization, as
party, shall never be heard Of again.