The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-19
THE SOUTH SECTIONAL.

| tincty Democratic measure helped in the
work of preserving the integrity of the
| Union and the supremacy of the govern
ment. If there be any credit in having an
undivided country it is due wholly to the
heroic efforts of the Republican party
Although, of course, there were many earn
estly loyal Democrats, but they were COM
PEELED to go outside of their party organiza-
ton to give their patriotism effective force.
| 1t was but natural when the
war was done that the bitterness
of the struggle should st ill rankle in the
breasts of the men and women who paid
such fearful price for universal liberty and
an undivided country. There were many
| who cried for vengeance; many who wanted
the leaders of the rebellion hanged and their
estates sequestrated. The Republican party
had it in its power 10 do these things, and
Jefferson Davis, the President of the Con-
federacy, in anticipation that something of
the kind would be DONE made desperate
attempt to escape, while other officials fled to
various foreign countries, all evidently i'm
PEELED by the idea that somebody would
have to pay for the crime of rebellion and
civil war Men like George w. Julian and
Others, then prominent in the Republican
party, were loud and persistent in their de-
mands that hanging and confscaton should
begin at once, and be continued until some
thing like adequate retribution be visited
upon those active IN rushing the country
iHto civil war
The Republican party, then as now anx-
ious to bury all the animosities of conlctin
the interest of peace and secure a united
people, turned deaf ear to all these vindic-
tive entreaties, and not one man was
hanged for treason, nor was there any
confscation of estates on account of overt
acts of disloyaIty. The only men that went
into Punishment went voluntarily, because
they feared the consequences of their treason
or were unwilling to live in country made
free despite their efforts to divide it in the
interest of human slavery. With magnan-
unity unparalleled in such cases, the govern
/
bellion, and three years after the close of the
war every State in the Union participated in
the federal election. AS rapidly as was con-
sistent with the safety of the
| government the disqualification of
voters on account of treason was removed,
and to-day there is but one man in all the
land who cannot vote because of his part in
the rebellion, and his disability should be
removed, as it is distinction above his
fellows in crime that he does not merit.
The South is solidly Democratic to-day be-
cause the Republican party saw fit to restore
| to the people of the South all of their po-
litcal rights and for the further reason that
it has charitably foreborne to interfere in
cases when fraud and violence were boldly
practiced by men shameless enough
to boast of their part in the Infamous pro-
ceedings. The soldiers of the rebellion are
in the halls OF national legislation through
the liberality of the Republican party. Nine
tenths of the Democratic representatives
from the South have to take the modified
OATH" that is, they confess that at one time
at least, they were the avowed and voluntary
enemies of the republic. II these things are
not evidences of the Republican party's de-
sire to bury sectional animosties, they sig
/ Nifty nothing. 1t is the Democratic party alone
that will not let sectional issues die 1t
is the Democratic party that is unwilling
that the majority should rule in the South.
1t is the Democratic party that, by murder
and fraud, has solidified the South so as to
make it possible for desperate minority to
capture federal control. 1t is the Democratic
party that denounces all Southern Republic
ans as "knaves" and that regards them as the
| lawful prey of the fellows who carry cleo
tions by the aid of lash and shotgun. 1t
is the Democratic party of this country that
nation of reputable Republicans,
murdered because they dare to vote in open
election 1t is the Democratic party that
nominated Tilden and Hendricks, Hancock
and English, that has no word of condemna-
ton for the infamous Democratic mass meet
ing at Hazlehurst, Miss, which passed resolu-
lions warning the sons and brothers of Re-
publican, assassinated by a Democrat, that
they could participate in politics only on
peril of their lives. 1t is the Democratic
party that has deliberately aligned one sec
ton of the Union against the other and that
will not consent to fair elections in any
Southern State.
Each of these charges is a fact that cannot
be truthfu1ly denied yet even to mention
them is to invite the cry, "bloody shirt"
The Democratic party is determined that