Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-10-14

Ned before committee OF the Senate that one
man put about seven hundred votes into the
ballot-box. This makes politics one of the
'"exact Sciences much more certain than the
dice or lots with which Offices and nominations
were rallied OF here the other day. [Applsusel
l1n Mississippi, more than half the population
rs colored. Every year until 1874 the Republic
ANS had q majority in all elections. In 1876
the Republican vote returned was So, COS. The
next year il was but /, 16S, and the year after
2,0S5. In all these States the Republican vote,
and even the Republican committees and news
papers, had been utterly suppressed.
Alabama has just held an election The
Greenback candidate for President went there
and realized the embarrassment OF the bull
who butted against locomotive. The whole
proceeding was shameful wrong, and Mr.
Weaver says that the enforcement OF the na-
tond election laws is the only thing which viii
make fair election possible. Arkansas has
just voted-Arkansas, where until recentlv
Republicans always elected members of Com
gress and the Legislature, where at the last
Presidential election 1860 Republican votes
were cast, and where now in no part of the
State does the Republican vote appear. Re-
lpudiation aud Democracy prevail nightly. I
repeat here, as | said in the Senate when the
Government was taken by the throat and
threatened with strangulation unless the cleo
ton laws were stricken down. that the Demo-
cratic party would have to-day no majority in
either House OF Congress except for eiec
ltions dominated and decided by violence and
fraud.
REPUTATION OF SOUTHERN DEBTS
What use is made of this ill-gotten power
One Of its chief uses has been the reputation
of honest debts. Every Southern State but
Texas has lately repudiated its Obligations.
This aggregate reputation of State and muui-
cipal debts amounts TO about three hundred
million dollars. In 1872 the debts OF Sou 'hern
States were S242, 100000. Now these States
recognize and pay interest on only $50 97S, 945.
A large part even of this is unpaid and funded
interest On twenty millions, interest has
been scaled down TO two per cent Whether
the residue OF debts are also to be forsyorn is
now an open issue.
Is there excuse or palliation for this? We
are told 50. What is it? 1t is that "carpet-
bag governments contracted these obliga-
tons. One difficulty with this excuse, and not
the only one, Is Chat it is not true. The ante
war debt, contracted before the "carpet-bag-
ger" ever visited the South either with
knapsack or without it, was ninety million dol
lars. No part of this debt has been paid; a
large part has been repudiated. The carpet
bag" governments paid the interest on it
regularly. The increase of debt since the war
was largely for public improvements But the
most damaging fact for this excuse ia that the
alleged Illegal issue Of bonds charged upon the
csrpet-bag governments put together does not
equal the sum repudiated by Georgia alone.
What are we to think of men and communi-
ties who go into wholesale regulations as
gaily as the troubadour touched his guitar2
1Applause,l When Mr.. Weaver brought for
ward in tho House Of Representatives a bill to
issue mat money, and make it a legal tender
for all debts public and private, man after man
from the South openly declared that if the
word private were stricken out he would
vote for the bill. They had no objection to
paying OF public debts with chaff, but private
debts they thought should be paid in money.
afA atNf Ilxv Mi
gat ons in Southern ethics-a '1sovereign State"
is of higher essence than the Nation, and this
was the standing defence in rebellion for
''going with their States" Moreover State
and municipal Obligations are for home pur-
poses. Ii their own State, faith and credit is
not inviolate with Southern leaders. what in
their hands would be the fate Of obligations
which were the means, the cause, the memori-
ais of their defeat? [Appause.l
THE PERILs OF DEMOCRATIC AscENDENCY.
But we are told General hancock would
watch them An angel might watch tiger;
child might attempt to divide beefsteak
with BLOODHOUND; lamb might lie down with
lion, but the lamb would lie inside The
peril Of Democratic ascendency in all the
branches of the Government is deeper rooted
than any measure within the scope Of existing
public question. State men abroad talk o
''he balance of power" and of changing the
map of Europe" These sayings mean not
much more than might easily occur here.
The resolution admitting Texas to the Union
In l645 provided for erecting out Of Texas four
additional States. The area and population
are both sufficient. The area is 274 900 square
miles, the population a million and half
Such proceeding would add eight to the
number Of Southern Senators, and add to
Southern power in the electoral college. From
New Mexico and other territories, whose ira
ditlons and prejudices have descended from
slave-holding influences, several new States
may also be made. Schemes exist, not in en-
bryo, but far advanced, to obtain ''slice Of
Mexico" Cattle stealing on the Rio Granoe
border has been and is a fruitful occasion for
lncursions into Mexico. Special cavalry regi-
xnents Of unusual size have been raised aid
stationed on the Texan frontier Its an open
secret that not long ago much exertion and
alertness were needed to keep us out Of an
other Mexican war.
Without violating the Constitution or trans
ceDdlng the usages of the Republic at least
seven new States could be brought H. and in
the case of some OF them a very plausible case
could be made. The project would become
high party measure. 1ts success would assure
complete Democratic secendeney in the Nation
for generation at least. 1t would put the
Government not merely in the hands OF the
Democratic party, but Of the Southern Demo-
crstic party.
Why should not this be done2 Who and
what is to prevent it il the Democratic party is
elected? The Northern wing could never re-
sist the Southern wing in Congress were these
new States brought forward for admission.
Tho Northern wing never could, never will,
and never can withstand the pressure Of the
far stronger South wing. Gravitation and
arithmetic make such resistance impossible
just as pound can not outweigh ton, Just as
one man can not outnumber regiment The
past is pitiful in its warnings in this behalf
Despite pledges aud Northern indignation,
Northern Democrats in Congress united in
voting down the Wilmot proviso in order TO
make California slave Stete; united in voting
for the fugitive slave law; united in the
mig ty perfdy which overthrow the Missouri
compromise in order to fasten slavery on Kan
sas and other States, and united in defeating
the homestead laval at the behest of the
Southern majority.
Mr.. Van Buren, at last like Macbeth, would
''go no further in this bloody business, and
political destruction was his reward. Mr..
Douglas at last maize brave stand a. sinst
sectional aggression, and he was hunted TO his
grave. Caucus is king. and the avenging
angel is hardly more memorable in decree, or
more unerripg in retribution. Applause
THE DEMOCRATIC ASSAULT ON THE JUDICIARY
One of the main bulwarks of the republic is
the judiciary. The courts of justice are UNI
pire, conseryator, citadel. The Supreme court
is the final arbiter Of many momentous con
troversies. This great tribunal is very OBJ
noxious to southern leaders in congress and