The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-08-11
THE PARTY OF HIGH MORALITY.

THAT tnere Is not prlnclpie CONTEND
ed for by the Alliance that has not
been advocated by the Democratic
party"
We are free to confess that the
Democratic party Is famous for dd.
pocdting great measures paper
and just as renowned for contendiRg
against and dJedting anything that
smatters of reform, or which looks to
the advancement Of important gov
ernmental affairs. There is 4 vast
difference, however, between the
aims and objects of the Alliance and
the record of the Democratic party.
In fact there is no similarity between
the two, and the only combination
that can possibly make the two one
is the fact that the leaders who have
the manipulation of the Alliance af-
fairs are composed principally of
Bourbon Democrats, whose early
teaching and life training have rem
dered them impervious to anything
that opposes Democratic proclivities.
1t is not by any means claimed that
all the Alliance members are Demo.
Gratis. There are few good, consien.
tious and well-meaning Republicans
attached to this organization who
went into it, not as party move
ment,-as 1t was not intended rs u
political organization-but simply to
demand of the political parties that
they nominate for office men who are
in sympathy with the producer, and
who will regard the wishes and the
interests of the people at large. Is
the Democratic party such party as
combine these elements of virtue {?
We think not. and our reasons for
such conclusion are too many for
utterance i'm this connection; but
there are just few 50 fresh and of
such recent occurrence that we can
not forbear drawing attention to some
of them.
We will not 60 back to the times
of slavery and its attendant occurs
edness. That is one of the by. cones
that cast blot upon our nation
which rankles in the breast of every
true American. and generations yet
unborn will look upon its heathenish
practice with hated scorn, and its
adjustment will ever be conceded
equally Republican victory as its
institution and defense was Dem.
Ocratic measure. This is II matter of
acknowledged and incontrovertible
history and will not down 10y any
amount of excuses or innuendoes. But
let us come down to the present de.
cade, aye to the present time, and
see what this great So called party OF
morals and reform is doing. In the
Congress which has just adjourned
there were four contested election
cases-frOm Mississippi, South Caro-
lima, Alabama and Florida respective
ly. The testimony adduced by the
House election committee shows t.
what an intolerable degree the ballot
box is prostituted in the revolutionary
attempts of Democracy to maintain
supremacy in our national govern
ment through its fraudulently elected
members. In the Lynch Chalmers
Miss contest, IN a single county, il
was charged and admitted that 2,02t
votes cast for Mr.. Lynch. the Repub
lican candidate, which had been certi
fled to by the inspectors who hell
the election in the various precincts
land who had passed on them a:
valid were thrown out by the County
Commissioners on the most paltry
and transparent technically. Not
only was this true of one county, but
several precincts in other countie:
where Republican majorities were
given were totally disfranchized fl
seiZing and destroying the ballots
\ like state of affairs existed in tn,
other States named, but ii is nothing
new nor unusual. 1t is a yearly oc
currence in the Southern States, an(
there seems to be no remedy for TIT
evil so long as Democratic manager!
have control of the ballot-box at tn,
polls during the day Of election; ant
yet we hear the Democrats of tn,
North clamoring for "a free ballo
and fair count" Do we understand
by the Reuieto that this ballot. DO,
stuffing and the disfranchiZing o.
thousands upon thousands of Ameii
can voters every year is a "principlt
commended for by the Alliance" II
seems to be the paramount principle
of Southern Democracy, and without
that element, where, we would ask
would the Democratic party be to
day, for does not its strength lie south
of Mason and Dixon's linel THE
FREE PRESS does not believe the AL
lance has any such principles within
its formulated code, and cannot there
fore he classed as contending for that
which the Rerieo would have its
members accept.
Turning to matters other than the
corrupt use of the ballot.box. which
is so base that is has no parallel. what
measures have the Democrats in Con.
gress brought forward during the
past session of Congress that entitle
them to credit or recognition? We
will let the ReuieD explain this, while
we show small fraction OF important
legislation the formidable minority
has defeated and endeavOred to de.
feat. We have now $4,000, OOO
surplus money that is being annually
added to the treasury for which there
is no demand nor immediate use.
The efforts of the Republicans to re.
duce internal taxation to Il degree
that would greatly relieve the people
from present unjust and unnecessary
burdens have been practically de.
feated by the Democrats. This is
but one of the instances where the
Democratic party has shown itself
opposed to monopolies and unjust
tariff extortiOns!
n...4oaii.... -, III ix,xl Lat Iial cla,.nasl