The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1882-03-01
WELLINGTON LoRAIN COUNTY, OHIO, MARCH /, 1882.
AiMistaken idea.

AiMistaken idea. fa
There seems to be a general assump-
ton that any movement in, the South
which has for Its ultimate, aim the
breaking down of Bourbon power-in
other words, the overthrow Of shotgun
and tissue-ballot rule-must of necessi-
ty be led by Democrats and joined in
By Republicans One swallow does not
make . summers and the Malone move
ment in Virginia need mot be taken as
\ pattern to be blindly followed by all
those in the South who desire political
honesty; fair dealing and equal rights
The conditions under which the contest
had to be made in Virginia were pecul-
lar, almost exceptional When General
'Mahone came into political prominence
rs the leader Of the independent Demo-
ers, hefoundi the Republican party of
the Sta O. practically = thing off the
past. II had no general organization
worthy Of 1.-THE name. but few leaders
who could be trusted. and it was desti-'
tute Of money necessary to pay the le-
gitimate expenses of campaign. ni On.
der the circumstances IL washardly to be
wondered at that tire Republicans were
adjusters. or that they were compelled
: to give anT the honors In the State to
men whoi had, been their Democratic
opponents There was no other course
open to them They were compelled
for their own salvation to1ldo as they
did. They outnunbered the iReadjust-
ers three or more to one, yet they were
content to place themselves under the
leadership Of lMahone and give him and
his friends the control of all the most
important State Offices. They were
content 10 do this, because they knew
that through Malone, though, they
might not hold office, they, could at
> least secure the rights of citizenship,
could vote freely, and have their votes
counted fairly. aa I 71S
Turning from Virginia 10 Georgia, It
can be seen at o glance that the situa-
ton there is precisely rs it was in the
Old Dominion before the advent Of =. the
little SENATOR The Republicans are
demoralized, thoroughlV broken up and
disorganized. without leaders, without
hope or outlook for the future The
only position in politics which they can
reasonably ask for is that of allies and
followers of the Democrats who, calling
themselves Independents, have. for rea-
sons of their own, left the Bourbon ring
and declared for honest elections.
While this is The situation in Georgia,
however, it is very far from being the
situation in some of the other Southern
States. In North Carolina, for instance,
there is no good reason why the Repub-
hcans should consent to be absorbed,
led or controlled by any offshoot from
the Democracy or by any set of disap-
pointed Democratic leaders who seek
outside of their party the fayors which
they fail to find within it The Repub-
hcan organization of the old North State
has never been abandoned; on the con-
trary, it has been well maintained in
the face Of all opposition, and to-day, il
not so strong and well managed as II
was in 1876, it is at least in 3 condition
to meet the united Democracy, on q
fair field, with every hope of success.
To prove this statement it is only
necessary to refer to- the fart that in
the November election of 1880 the Bour-
bons, after whipping every one Of their
men into line and exhausting all their
familiar methods of fraud. intimidation,
and in two or three instances of actual
violence, were only able to declare Jar
Wis, their candidate for Governor, elect
ed by a majority of 5000. This, too,
was done by false count It is not de-
MED that the actual majority for Mr..
Jarvis was only 1900; the rest was ad-
ded, Us Colonel Keogh gently puts it,
for appearances sake" In other
words, at the last test election in North
Carolina it was shown beyond question
that with all the election machinery
that is to say, every appliance for the
perpetuation of fraud-in their own
hands the united Bourbons were able,
on a fair count, to defeat their unaided
Republican opponents by just one thou
sand five hundred votes. At the same
time it was proved conclusiyely, as Il
had been proved in former contests.
that in an honest and free election the
Republicans could be trusted to poll not
less than 10000 votes. With such 9
showing, with their organization rea-
sonably strong and well managed, with
very large percentage of brave and in
telligent native white men in their par
ty, all talk of the North Carolina Re-
publicans giving themselves up to the
support aid and leadership of few In
dependents can only be regarded as
sheer nonsense. -,
The time is ripe for q combination
against Bourbonism in the old North
State, but it ought not to be made upon
any basis which does not give to the Re
publican party as such, and under its
own name and leadership, the influence,
power and substantial reward and en-
enlargement to which its numbers en-
title it. The Independents among the
Democrats must come to the Republic
ans ready to take any honorable posi-
ton in the struggle to which they may
be assigned. With perhaps one-tenth
the numerical strength of the organiza.
ton to which they would ally their for
tunes as honest men in a demand for
good and honest Government, they GER.
tainly should not think of debating
terms. They ought not to be allowed to
assume the position of arrogant and self
ish leaders in q movement which, If il is
conducted in good faith. and with sim
gleness of purpose, must result in as
much good to them-as to their associ.
ates. Nor is there either need or reason
for making, as was done in Virginia,
financial questions the pretext for com.
bination between any of the elements de.
sirous of better government Since the
Reputation by a Democratic Legisla-
ture of what were known as 4" the. spe-
cial tax bonds" amounting to some.
'thing over twelve million dollars, it has
not been possible to get up an issue in
regard to the State debt, and it may
safely be predicted that the present eff.
fort to magnify into such. an, issue the
dispute in regard to the North Carolins
Railway construction bonds win signal.
ly fail. Fortunately, however, the In
dependent Democrats do not need atc
make grievance. They have most
serious one ready at hand. Under the
provisions of the Bourbon law, which
authorizes the appointment of County
Magistrates by the Governor, and in