The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1880-10-15
BELITTLING TIE ISSUE.

Graf.
BELITTLING THE ISSUE.
An article from the New York Her.
aid of Sept. 81, reprinted in the last is
sue of the Kenosha Union, is entitled,
A Vigorous Republican Protest" It
is certainly amusing to insinuate that
the Herald is Republican. It does not
claim to be Republican, and no one
who reads it could make the claim for
it. The object of the Herald is to be-
little one of the vital issues of the
campaign, namely: a "Solid South y
with all that it implies. A Republican
form of government is one in which
the lawfully expressed will Of major
ity governs. The Herald we'll knows
that in fourteen southern states, and
parts of others, the will of the majority
is suppressed by violence or subverted
by fraud. The Herald cannot be ig-
norant of the fact. The white rebel mi
nority of those states openly boast of
this, and of the means used for it's con-
summation. The Herald says it has
not thought the political solidity of the
Southern states wise or statesmanlike
policy, but it can do no possible harm
to the North or to the country, and is
simply passing phase in our politics.
By the violent suppression Of the
will of the people in the reconstructed
states, the constitutionally expressed
will of the majority of the people of
the United States may. be subverted,
and under color of the forms Of law a
man may be seated in the chair of the
White House who was not placed there
by the people. The loyal people of
these United States will always bow
to the expressed will Of the majority.
But, if minority, by violence and
fraud, overturn the foundations of Re
publican government by subverting
the will of the majority and placing a
usurper in the chief executive Office
of the nation, there would be no rem
edy left but revolution. Gen. Grant
says that during his journey through
the states lately in rebellion he talked
with many men who were against US
during the war, and have been against
the Republican party ever since, who
sincerely want break up in the Solid
politics Of the South. They. see that
it is to their pecuniary interests as
we'll as their happiness that there
should be harmony and confidence be-
tween all sections. They want a pre-.
text that enough of them can unite up
on to make it respectable. Once start
ed, the Solid South will go as ku-klux-
ism did.
This desirable solution can only be
brought about by the defeat, and con-
tinued defeat, of the Democratic party
as now constituted" In 1850 the
South was solid for jeff Davis. In
1880 it is solid for Winfield Scott Han
cock. In 1850 the South was made
solid by terror. violence and assassin
alton. Loyal men were either merci-
lessly shot down or were compelled to
flee, in the darkness, to the North fol
their lives. Their homes were give1
to the flames and their wives and chill
dren were cruelty turned into the fields
and woods to starve or beg their wa.
northward. If in 1880 the South i.
solid with less of bloOdshed, it has on
ly given way to the easier method o.
fraudulent counting of votes and tbs
sue ballots. If the South were Solid
by fair means, if after proper and fre'
discussion, the Southern states SOlldl,
adopted the same political policies ant
principles, then the view of the HerGlt
would be correct. 1t might not b.
wise and statesmanlike, but woult
bode no harm to the country, ant
would simply be political phase tina
would work its own cure. The indie
pendent voter, if he be thoroughly i'm
bued with the Republican principle
that majority must govern, will no
give his vote to partyl who, if sue
cessful in obtaining power, will do i
by subverting the will of the peopl,
and paving the way for anarchy ant
strife.