The true northerner., 1880-09-17
An Influential Greenbacker OF
Branch County Declares
for Garfield,
And Gives Cogent Reasons for His
Course.
0 the editor OF Union CITY Register.

~. To the editor OF Union City Register.
ny The national Greenback party having dwil
to died to mere faction, mainly holding to I'll
at vagaries and Interpretations taught
IN Pomeroy, Preyer and other fiatists, and III
e. question OF the volume OF the currency hayin
'e been settled for The present, by natural cause
III it becomes the duty OF honest voters to cat
's about them for future political action an
II affiliation. In doing this, the individual vote
10 will, undoubtedly, like myself, find himsel
/ somewhat embarrassed by the associations AM
L. prejudces OF his party affiliations previous I,
: joining the Greenback party; but If he will
r candidly dvest himself OF such influences IN
o will, doubt not, find ample reasons for de
cided preference between the two great pollti
cal parties that are now asking the suffrages o
the people Of this country
I, The fret and fundamental prerequisite to
future currency REFORM" as well as reform OF
progress in any direction, is free speech, free
discussion, and free ballot, with an honest
count, and it seems to me that the attitude OF
the Republican and Democratic parties upon
these first principles, ought TO decide every ln-
tellgent and candid voter as to which he will
give his support Nothing is surer than q
demonstration by the logic OF events. For
years l have regarded the tales and stores
OF oppression, prescription and fraud, by the
southern wing OF the Democratic party as
grossly exaggerated versions OF trivial affairs,
or wholly manufactured canards for campaign
purposes and not until they were tried in the
court OF an Independent and non-preiudicial
tribunal did believe them true. The national
Greenback leaders who conducted the campaign
IN the southern states had no inducemeut to
misrepresent the true condition OF affairs.
Their interest lay in subverting every other
question to the currency issue. IL SELF or party
interest could color or warp their impressions,
1t certainly would not give undue prominence
to the issues at stake between the Republican
and Democratic parties. The country is famil-
lar with the treatment OF Greenback speakers
IN the south, and the report they make Of the
attitude OF the Democratic party there upon
the questions OF free speech, free discussion,
free ballot, and an honest count. The evidence
cannot he doubted. There is not Green
oacker In the United States who will disbelieve
the word Of Gen. Weaver upon this point; and |
ask any honest Greenbacker If he believes
the currency reform possible, with the doors of |
10 states closed against him and his party. by
force. Must we not settle the right Of discus
sion first
The explanation OF this condition OF affairs
IN the south, like the motive for all wrong
DONG, found in self-interest. The south, by
banishing free speech and free discussion.
hopes TO cast its solid electoral vote for the
democratic nominee for President, and in that
way secure control Of the administration OF
the general government, and when we consider
the southern claims, pensions, ETC, in the light
OF tue extraordinary and desperate means
resorted 10 by the southern Democrats to OBJ
tam control OF the general government. II gives
coiorabie grounds, at least, for some apprehen-
son n case they succeed.
Tue remedy is apparent, as IN the ordinary
affairs OF lie. We seek to suppress wrong
1olng by making II Improbable, and subject
.he doers to public disapproya and reprehen-
'lon. so the political crime of the south must
)e punished They must be led to see that tor .
every vote gained in the south by bulldozng
md fraud, they will lose at least two IN the \
iortb, and eventually, self-interest Will lead il
hem to abandon their present barbarous and Il
nhuman system OF politics.
Ihe Democratic party OF the north to-day r
tands as the condoners and apologists OF the a
condition OF the south. | give :,
hem credit for being honestly mistaken in cI
heir understanding OF the true condition OF
fairs IN the south. Never before has this u
uestion been tried In an unprejudice tri- II
unal, and l now beevs that very many will
ee the truth and array themselves against the y y
nemies OF wrong and oppression. II
These are some OF the reasons why have N
ecided to support the nominees. of the Repub- 81
can party. o. =,
In doisg this am not reviving issues settled ci
y the war, bat meeting issues created since %
lie war; do and ever shall. entertain a pro- Il,
'und regard for those who, with me, labored ps
stay the hand that was stretched forth to te
stroy the old greenback. Yet cannot say r
much for those who like Pomeroy and his pc
ew, sought to burden Us with their uusub- tn
lntial theories and ill-timed jealouses. ss ss
The fundamental principles Of republican tir
orm OF government are at stake in the present ca
,mpaien. Let the Democratic n.r,, ..;r,,,,,,, bo
: the use Of the shotgun and fraud in the fri
nth, and the death knel of the glorious re-
bic for which so many Of us fought and 90
ffered, Is sounded. The Republican party sta
day, with all its faults, stands as the guard bel
OF free speech free discussion, free ballot 81,
d an honest count, without which the repub- oul
is one simply In name. cla
am one who believed speedy return to az o1'
al self-government in the rebel states after spt
war advisable, and was willing to trust to jec
g honor and yeracity Of the southern people 90
en- then declared that this government then 10
Ould be republican in form and spirit In woi
J we have been basely deceived, for while Ia 10
autonomy the southern states has been den
nocratic all through, there has existed a exp
tenn OF tyranny more grinding aud barbar- CO co
than the rule OF the feudsl ages. A nation maj
denies to its humblest citizen one single be
vllege enjoyed by the most exalted is not M Ano
}. The possession OF freedom Is privilege nnc
precious to be carelesslv lost IL has oos, thei