The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-02-03
A Contemplated Crime.

Dispatches from WashlngtOn, says
the ST. Paul Globe, state that nearly
ali persons who ran for Congress last
fall as Republicans in the Southern
States, will contest the seats of their
successful Democratic opponents. All
but one of the seats from Mississippi
are TO be contested four minority
candidates from Alatama will apply
for admission to the House, and about
twenty others who received few
hundred votcs at the November elec-
lions in other States, willdo likewise.
All of them express confidence in
their admission, and there is no con-
cealment among the Northern Repub-
lican members of au intention to ex-
cludc as many Southern Democrats
from seats as possible. There ls no
claim that the Democratic candidates
did not receive a majority of the votes
cast at the elections, but the cid cry of
intimidation and fraud is to be raised,
and Republicans given their seats on
one preteXt oranother. There will be
no trouble in procuring all the evil
dence that may be necessary, in the
eyes of Republican Congressman, to
sustain any charge, no matter how
prepostorOus, that may be made.
There are plenty of scallawegs, white
and black, who will swear to anything
that may be required, without regard
to the truth OR falsity of their state
me- nts, aud even though they may
know that these wretches are perjur-
ing themselY the Republican ma tor-
ity will have 10 hesitancy in exclud-
ing from the Hosue all Democrats
whose seats would be compromised,
provided the alleged facts were proved
by incontestible evidence.
1t will do the Democrats but little
good to protest against this wholesale
revolution that has been determined
upon. 1t will not sway the majority
from their purpose. But if the pro-
gramme already arranged is carried
out, the reaction against the party will
be so great as to be without q parallel
in our history. Congressional districts
that have heretofore been doubtful
will be doubtful no longer, for the
people will arise in their might and
rebnke such iniquity, such gross per-
version OF our governmental system,
with an emphasis ofoutraged decency.
Yet this plan is fully in consonsnce
with the past policy of the party in
power. During the entire period of
us dominance Ill TIC 1AOuec IL has cA
cluded Democrats from seats to which
they were elected, the most trivial
preiexts being sufficient to form bases
of action. The greatest of crimes
against free government have been
perpetrated under the guise of pre-
serving the purity of the ballot and
preventing unlawful intimidation.
The Globe ventures the assertion
that if intimidation was to form the
basis of excluding members from their
seats, and the evidence should be i'm
partially heard and considered, more
than half of the Republican Congress-
men elected to the next House would
be excluded. 1t is notorious that in
almost every.district in the North the
W workingmen were forced to vote for
the Republican candidates on pain OF
! losing their situations through which
they were enabled to provide bread
for their families. This species of in.
timidation was tar more prevalent at
the North than any form at the South,
and the 'idence to II at effect is con-
vincing and incontestible. If the Re-
publican majority shall carry out the
plan they now threaten, they will be
but sowing the wind, and the time is
| not far distant when they will be COM
PEELED to reap the whirlwind.