Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-08-01

fact of the case is, that while,
theoretically, we are in the enjoy
ment Of a Government Of the whole
people, practically we are almost
as far from it as we were in the
ante.bellum days Of the Republic.
There are but a few leading and in
disputable facts which cover the
whole statement of the case. In
many of the Southern States the
colored population is in large ex-
cess of the white. The colored peo-
pie are Republicans, as are also a
considerable portion of the white
people. The remaining portion OF
the latter are Democrats. In fact
of this incontestible truth these
States invariably return Democratic
maiOrities. In other States Of the
South the colored people, although
not a majority, from a very con-
siderable body Of the population,
aud with the white Republicans are
numerically in excess Of the Demo
Gratis, yet precisely the same politi-
cal result obtains-the Democratic
party invariably carrying the elec-
tions. 1t is not even thought adj
visable to allow an occasional or
unimportant election to be carried
by the Republicans as a "blind" or
as a stroke of fncsSe.
Careful and impartial inyestiga-
ton has shown these results to fol-
low the systematic exercise of
physical intimidation and violence
conjoined with the most shameful
devices ever practised in the name
of free elections. So confirmed has
this result become that we are
brought face to face with the ex-
traordinary political fact that the
Democratic party Of the South re-
lies almost entirely upon the
methods stated for its success in
National elections.
This unlawful perversion Of the
popular franchise, which | desire to
state dispassiOnately, and in a
manner compOrting with the pro
per dignity of the occasion, is one
of great gravity to the American
people in a double sense.
First. 1t is in violation, open,
direct, and fragrant, Of the primary
principle upon which our Govern
ment is supposed to rest, viz: that
the control of the Government is
participated IN by all legally quail
fed citizens, in accordance with
the plan of popular government,
that maiorities must rule in the de-
cision of all questions.
Second. 1t is in violation of the
rights and interests of the States
wherein are particularly centered
the great wealth and industries of
the Nation, and which pay an over
whelming portion of the National
taxes. The immense aggregation
of interests embraced within, and
the enormously greater population
of these other States of the Union,
are subjected every four years to
the dangers of a wholly fraudulent
show of numerical strength.
Under this system minorities ae-
tualIy attempt to direct the course
of National affairs, and though up
to this time success has not at
tended their efforts to elect Presi-
dent, yet success has been so peril
ously imminent as to encourage a
repetition Of the effort at each
0uadrennial election, and to subject
the interests Of an overwhelming
majority Of our people, North and
South, to the hazards Of illeged
subversiOn.
The stereotyped argument in re.
futation Of these plain truths is,
that if the Republican element was
really in the majority they could
not be deprived of their rights and
privileges by a minority; but neither
statistics of population, nor the
unavoidable logic of the situation;
can be overriden or escaped. The
colored people of the South have
recently emerged from the bondage
of their present political oppressor,
they have had but few of the ad.
vantageS of education which might
enable them to compete with the
whites.
AS l have heretofore maintained,
in order to achieve the ideal per-
fection of a popular government, it
is absolutely necessary that the
masses should be educated. This
proposition applies itself with full
force to the colored people of the
South. They must have better
educational advantages, and thus
be enabled to become the intellec-
ual peers of their white brethren,
as many of them undoubtedly al
ready are. a liberal school system
should be provided for the rising
generation of the South, and the
colored people be made as capable
of exercising the duties of electors
as the white people. In the mean
time it is the duty of the National
to go beyond resOlu-
tiOns and declarations on the SUBJ
iect, and to take such action as
may lie in its power to secure the
absolute freedom of National elec.
tions everywhere, to the end that
our Congress may cease to contain
members representing fictitious ma
jorities of their people, thus mis-
the popular will concern
ing National legislation, and es-
pecialIy to the end that, in Presi-
dental contests, the great business
and other interests of the country
may not be placed in fear and
trembling, lest an unscrupulous
should succeed in sitting
the wishes of the majority.
In accordance with the spirit of
the last resolution of the Chicago
DlatfOrm. measures should be taken