The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-04-13

pose everything the party organiza-
ton approves" antagonized the
resolution, but they did no harm.
II the Senate the Republicans voted
solidly for it, and the few halfbreeds
in the House who opposed it only
thereby emphasized their hostility to
the Republican organization. We
are glad to see by the proceedings
that Hon. A. J. Colborn, among
Others in the House, made a speech
in favor OF the resolution.
NOTWITHSTANDING the jeers of the
Democratic press, and the caviling
of the ''Independeut" organs, the
struggle going on in the Senate Of
the United States is fraught with
moment to the Republican party
and TO the country. 1t is not mere
wrangle over the patronage of that
body, fight as TO who shall control
the offices, as is often alleged, but
it is struggle for principle, test
of the doctrine underlying the super
structure of the Government, a doc
trine embracing the very essence of
self-government-shall the majority
rule. The nominal Issue is, shall
the Republicans complete the organ
ization of the Senate as they are
entitled to by reason Of their ma
jority, or shall they he prevented
from doing SO, as the Democratic
minority declare they shall. The
real issue is, shall the majority rule,
and underlying this is the vital
/ point, shall political independence
in the South be encouraged or
crushed out. The desperation with
which the Democrats have for more
then two weeks resisted 4 vote be-
ing taken, shows that they fully
recognize the gravity of the issue.
The fate of the solid South" is at
stake on the result. 1t has been
made, and SO far preserved solid by
suppressing Republican votes, and
mercilessly trampling out all oppo.
sition to full Democratic sway. The
refusal of Senator Malone to longer
submit to thecontrol of the oligarchy
that monopolizes political power in
the south, has brought about de-
termination on its part to crush
him. No independent politician
must be permitted TO dispute its
power. Therefore the encourage
ment given him by Republicans is
full of alarm to them. Senator
Malone is the open advocate of a
free ballot and fair count, and his
success is the entering wedge that
splits the solid Democratic South.
As mere partisan measure there
fore, an alliance with .him not only
gives the Republicans control of the
Senate, but gives them hope of rescU-
ing Virginia from Bourbon thrall,
and that other Southern States in
time will break away from the
power that has hitherto dominated
them. For years the Republicans
have held out inducements to the
whites of the South to break away
from Democratic rule, and they
could not now without dishonor
refuse to sustain Senator Malone,
who has been the first to display
the necessary pluck and independ-
ence, and to accept the issue square
ly. For a number of years the
Bourbons have overthrown the Re-
publican majority in the South by
murder, intimidation, false counting
and fraud, and the success Of Ma
hone means not only free ballot
and a fair count in Virginia, where
he has a sufficient following which
when allied with the Republicans
can enforce their rights, but this
being accomplished in one State,
similar alliances between independ-
ent Democrats tired of dictation,
and the Republicans, will surely
follow in the other States. The
present struggle in the Senate is,
therefore not only for majority rule
in that body, but throughout the
South, from which it has so long
been banished.
The battle is fairly joined, the
stake is of the greatest Importance,
and no wise man will wish to see it
end, otherwise than in a complete
Repu blican victory.