New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-04-25
TIP pyTH or THE NfTTER.

There has been a great deal of talking III
the Senate, since the present session began,
that was "full of sound and fury, signfying
nothing" But the speech of Senator Frye will
not be placed in that class by friend or 10y foe.
It opened line of discussion which the Re
publicans should have opened much earlier
The session has not been wasted, it is true.
The speeches Of Senator Hill and other Demo
Gratis have done the Republicans great service.
But they have not chosen, until now, IN meet
in the strongest manner the issue which their
alliance with Senator Malone brought into
especial prominence. That alliance it
sheer waste Of time to justify, if it meant only
AN agreement as TO the division Of the offices
Rut il meant more 1t was a revolt against the
proscriptive, dishonest and criminal methods to
which the Democratic party has rcsOrtod in
order to keep the South solid. On that issue the
Republicans and the Senator from Virginia we're
in real accord. He had given proof of his sincerity
by his acts. No man could say that General Ma
homes effort to secure Il fair vote and an honest
count in Virginia had been for the purpose Of
getting any partition of United States Offices,
either in the State or abOnt the Senate Cham
ber On that question his acts showed hearty
accord with the settled convictions of Repuhli-
cans. The alliance between him and them
needed no other justification when it was
once made clear that the paramount object
with both was to secure honest elections.
In earlier stages of the discussion Rcpubli-
can Senators gave thought to this subject. as
illustrated by events prior To the last Prsi-
Dental election. The Democratic reply was
that they were treating of ancient history
,breshing old straw, and dragging up Incl
dents of a bygone state of society to justify
complaints against the South Of to-day. The
reply had some force. But Mr.. Frye puts all
ancient history aside and comes down to the
events of the latest election. He arrays a mass
of evidence which the Democrats of the
Senate will find it impossible 10 refute, show
ing that the latest election at the South was
not more honest than those Of earlier date. His
proofs are largely drawn from official reports
They concern the character of the elections, not
in a few counties or towns, and not in one State
only. but throughout the Solid South. They
prove that precisely the same Infamous, bloody
and law -defying spirit, by which the South
WIS spotted all over with assassnations and
massacres years ago, so that the Republican
party was literally murdered in State after
State, exists and reigns to-day, defes all law.
lust rs it did then, resorts to murder whenever
fraud will not serve as well. and thus keeps
the South solid in spite of the will of major
ity of the people in several of the States and
in many districts.
The Democrats may rs well understand that
this is the issue which they. sooner OF later
will be forced to meet. No contemplate claptrap
about any pretended bargain, no hypocritical
cant about the improperly of tearing open
old soresn will divert attention from the
facts and arguments Of which Senator Frye has
given sample. II the Democrats waste time
in talking upon trivial or fictitious issues they
will only leave the Republican charges
and proofs to make their way unanswered
to the convictions of millions Of voters
II they can make any defence it behooves
them to make it at once, before the terrible
arraignmeut and the powerful array Of evil
dence have produced deep-roOted beliefs. The
Republican party declares that self government
does not exist at the South. 1t drags to the
bar the Bourbon Democracy, and charges it
with keeping itself alive by theft and murder
in o thousand forms. Ii shows that even with
full control of every Southern State, and with
not Federal soldier to interfere, the Bourbon
Democracy does not dare to permit free and
honest election TO be held in any Southern