The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-12-15

An address has been issued in Ar
kansas, calling for State convention
pledged to nominate NJ man not IL
favor Of reputation. 1t IL farther
recommended that cisbs be formed il
every county and precinct in the State
Tho "putrid reminiscsnces" OF Re
publican and earpst-bag supremacy il
that State have taken courage, and
backed by the patronage Of an admin
istration born Of assassination, viii
address themselves to the task o.
wiping out the evidence of their pee
nlations in the halcyon days of the
Dorseys, Kslloggs, Spsncsrs, Casey
and Dents. Reconstruction in the
South under Republican rule has only
commenced. The bonded debt Of the
Southern States indicates to what ex.
tent the landed agricultural, manufac
turing and commercial Interests OF
that section have paid tribute to the
fanatical and blighting influences in.
cident 10 their reconstrnction and re.
generation under the rule Of the Re.
publican party.
It is this axiom rather than postu.
late which will put to the test the
moral forces of existing political or
ganizations. In spite Of the vigorous
protests and opposition Of the Deme.
cratic or conservative political forces
OF the country, these debts were fast.
ened upon the Southern States by the
Republican party, and, judging from
present indications, in spite of the
same opposing forces. these obligations
will doubtless be rcpudiated in order
to perpetuate the power Of tho party
both morally and legally responsible
for their existence. Every public in
terest as we'll as the solemn obligations
imposed by the laws of the country,
demand the defeat of the scheme to
plumber a helpless people OF the'mil-
lions Of property represented by the
bonds 1t is now proposed to repudiate.
The Democratic party did not hesitate
to assume the responsibility Of the
defeat of the measure. But these OBJ
legations, having been once assumed
by the Southern States-eyen had the
State governments of tie South been
only de fact0-it now becomes the du-
ty OF tho Democratic party to treat
them as sacred obligations not 10 be
avoided save by dishonor. The Rs
publican party, true TO the JacObiu
spirit and revolutionary policy with
which it has set aside the constitution
and defeated the ends of justice, will
in the Arkansas case, as i'm
raise the standard of repu-
diatiOn in order to prop its waning
fortunes among people 1t has ruled
with an iron rod and robbed without
There can be no safety in
longer cOnfiding the conduct of the
government 10 party that recognizes
\ higher law than the cOnstitutiOn aud
the moral and property
interests Of the country 10 questions
Of mere party success. Tho issue can
not be forced too soon for the public
good. The Democrats in the South,
paying as they do, nine-tenths Of the
.axes, haYs every incentive, financially
speaking, 10 induce them 10 join the
revolt against the payment OF these
bonds. But when the issue cemss
hey will rise superior to aud above
mere questions of dollars and cents.
The party may 60 down in the contest,
Is it did in Virginia, but the integrity
Of the government, and the welfare Of
he present and coming generations
demand that an effort shall at least be
made to substitute . government un-
Ter the constitution and in harmony
With the traditions of tho past, for q
acknowledging NO law
ave that which is declared to be par
mount to the written constitution of
he csuntry.-[St. Paul Globe.