Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-10-28
Sectlonallsm.

is an old charge. 1t has been iterated un-
til it has become so common place that
it is uttered without thought and heard
without mental impression. What Is
meant by 10 La the sense that Republi-
canism has been practically extirpated
from large portion Ct the South by the
shot gun, the bull doz.r, the white league,
the masked assassin, and the terrorism of
the night raider, 1t may &c said we are
sectional, because our orgacization is
overcome in some sections. We Toad
SON ewhere that the Christians were once
driven by persecution into the forests aud
mountains, and then tainted as being q
rude sect OF fanatics dwelling
only In the woods and hills.
In the same sense VIZ may
be called sectional, because not permitted
to exist as political organization. nor
to exercise the right OF suffrage ind have
our ballots received and counted, in some
sections, where the bsrbarism of slavery
still aids Democracy by its intolerance,
its fraud and cruelty.
But in no other sense is the party open
to the charge of sectionalism. We seek
to advance the interests of no particular
section. We claim no peculiar privilege
for one section, which we do not accord
to another. We permit the freest ey-
preston of opinion wherever we are in
the ascendant We ask the same privi-
lege in the South. To make this claim
is, according to Democratic diction-
aries seclionalism.
We claim that all citizens entitled to
vote shall be allowed to vote aud to dis.
cuss freely their opinions and politics, ba'
cause tree ballot implies free discussion.
We struggle to make freedom national,
every foot of American soil its home, to
invest every citizen with the equal pro.
lection of the laws. Aud, because we are
compelled to denounce the outrsges
against free speech and free ballot com.
mitted on a gigantic scale in large sec
ton OF the country, the Democracy say
we are sectional. We denounce As narrow,
bigoted, cowardly and cruel the spirit OF
ostracism which the Southern people en-.
terrain towards the North, and permit TO
control their political action. We propose
to keep on in our pathway of duty, until
in every village and hamlet, and at every
cross roads, a man, no matter what
the complexion of his skin or his
politics, may state his case, plead his
cause, advocate his opinions, organize for
political action with those of similar
views, and woe hlr chosen ticket in safety
and 10 peace. If this be seCtionalism, We
are proud of the reproscb.
Sectionalism 81 thank thee, Jew, for
teach ng me that word" How il it de.
fineds Sactionalism, says WEBSTER, is
"a feeling of peculiar interest IN some one
section of the country" 1t is sectional
ism to band together solid to promote the
interest of one particular section. 1t is !
the meanest kind OF sectioaalism to ostra' |
else man, socially or politically, because |
he comes from another section or enter
tains opinions different from those we !
think Tor our local interest, II is sec /
tionalism to organize KuKlux Ktans, Rife /
Clubs and White Leagues. l. is section I
alism o. the mario vest, most illiberal and |
ignorant type to stamp out tree speech, /
and overthrow fge3 ballot IN the |
fancied interest OF particular /.
class in particular section. This is sec ,
in all lis exclu iveness, its mar. I
rowneFs, bigotry and Intolerance. 1t was /
sectionaliam which took up arms to DIES (
troy the Union. the same sectionallsm
makes the South solid to-day, 1t Is the /
same sectcualism which has already /
couuted 1873 glectorSl votes for ina Demo I
cratic nominees. Aud because our Dem /.
ocratic naighb1rs here 81 the North hope I.
Or did hope, until the October trosts in /.
Indiana and Ohio nipped their budding !.
hopes-to gain power as the resul. OF this /
Southern secuoualism, they hail it as (
simon pure Democracy. Taey hasten to J
enrol themselves IS accessories 10 all the /.
crimes by which Democratic secuoualism /.
maintains domination st the South; and /
are eager, for the sake o! spoila, to share (
power usurped by violence and fraud, .