National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-03-10
The Alabama Republicans.

| The full address Of the Alabama Re-
publicans presented 10 the President Tuesday
! IS as follows: 4" The Republicans of Alabama
congratulate you and the American people on
Your elevation 70 the highest Office IN their gift
! and thank you for the patriotic sentiments ex-
pressed in your inaugural address. In the inter
css of the people of Alabama we desire 10 present
| you brief statement of their condition, and re-
( specially, but earnestly ask your careful con-
sheraton Of the same. The election laws Of Ala
/ hanna open wide the door TO fraud and render i'm
bleits detection and punishment Endorsed as
IL is by aggressive and dominant minority: in
deed, those laws were enacted to enable tis DOM
inant minority 10 commit fraud on The ballot with
impUnity and the elections in Alabama arc worse
than farce As You wisely say in Your inaugural
address, bad government is certainly a great
evil, which ought 10 be prevented: but to violate
the freedom AID sanctity OF the suffrage is more
than an evil: it is crime which, if persisted in
will destroy the Government itself
UNDER THE EANEFTI. INFLUENCE OF THESE
laws, political corruption and Generalization so
prevalent in The state. have extended TO the Fede-
raj elections and they. too. utterly fail 10
press the viii Of the people. We therefore earn
estly desire that the Federal election laws be so
amended that every qualified eiectoF in Alabama
III common with the great body Of the American
people, may without moieSt!ti0n cast one ballot at
counted. 4 free and un;rammcled exercise OF the
elective franchise is the right OF every qualified
voter, and this right the Republicans CT Alabama
demand. Another sacred right of every American
citizen is a fair trial by impartial jury We wish
TO call attention 10 the fact that in rIany portions
of the State this right is practically denied TO the
coiored citizens by their total exclusion from, the
jury-iox, though many OF them possess all The
qualifications required by law FOR Jurors. They are
excluded simply on account OF their color
TIE EDUCATION Of THE MASSES
IS Of supreme importance 10 the South MANY of
the people Of Alabama are poor and ignorant with
OIL fisIlt of their own, and the inadequate pro-
visions made by the Stale, tliScrimnatingly dis
bGrsed fcr .their education. have failed TO afford
proper relief The Republicans Of Alabama Oh
with unfeigne pleasure thai sais important
s,;biect i engaging the attention Of the American
Congress and they hope that il may take form in
such legislation as may provide national law for
national education. that may extend its bcRefcen:
Influences every portion of this great Republic
In order that ali the people may equally enjoy the
benign blessings of this law v:e declare il TO be of
the highest importance that all funds appropriated
for this purpose for Alabama shall! lie controlled
aud disbursed cxsIusivc!! under Federal super
vision. We further desire TO direct yotiF attention
TO the fact that the friends Of good COVE! nmept in
the South naturally look 10 yonr administration
for protection AMI support. The Republicans of
Alabama subjected a. they have been 10 the sever
est 'ess Of political Intolerance and persecution.
Oh social and business o=iraci>m, have followed
With uDtaltGTing fidelity
TIE PRINCIPLES OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY;
and nOw, upon the accession 10 the chief cxecu-
tive chair ofthe Nation Of true exponent of those
principles, We confidently hope that the patronage
Of yonr administration may be bestowed Epon its
friends in Alabama, vino are really identified with
The interes Of the State. and not wasted in the
vain endcavor 10 conciia,e is enemies Signed
by W. t. Ewing, Joseph H. Speed, Winfield s.
Bird, Philip Joseph p J. CTenshaw, J.. e Cntilson
c. C. Sheats, Z. 4. Noseley, jr and s. vs. AicCul-
lougl