Wichita daily eagle., 1884-07-02

evidence of the witnesses, who think
Copiah favorable specihsx of the
counties of that state, TO the docu-
mentary matter brought TO our at
tcn!ion by Judge Ware, TO the evi-
dence taken by the senate committee
in 1876, to the testimony in the election
cases in the house of representatives,
| To the numerous declarations of the
Democratic press, and to the crimes
well known and unpunished, such as
the murder Of fChisholm, of Patterson,
of Dixon, and Of the United States
collector ofintcrnal revenue, and three
Others in IaZoo. whose blood stained
hands Copiah is so eager To grasp.
No legislation dealing with Mississippi
alone should be enacted without an
investigation which should cover all
parts of the State. Before such in
vestigaion Il national election will
have taken place, at which the temper
and respect for law Of the people OF
Mississippi will undoubtedly be made
fully manifest
1t is asked. sometimes with tone OF
eXultation and defiance, what remedy
we can propose tor these things? Tn
questionably, so long as any consider
able political party shall deem it for
its interest TO countenance such crimes.
the remedy will be attended with diff
Guilty.
But they little understand the spirit
of the age, the temper of the American
people or the power Of education and
freedom who believe these things can
long endure, when held up to the day
light. The communities that perpctu-
ate them cannot long withstand the
abhorrence and Indignation OF the
country. The power of the moral
sense OF mankind, the sting which be-
longs to the consciousness of having
outraged it, which Mr.. Webster, sixty
years ago. deemed strong enough to
turn the scepIer which Turkish opprcs
sion held over PROSTATE Greece to
ashes in the grasp of the tyrant, is not
| likely TO fail of full effect upon the
people of an American state. 1t is no.
ticcable with what care the events OF
the election of 1888 in Mississippi have
been kept from the columns of the
newspapers. The scnsiiivcncss OF
most of the Democratic witnesses. who
were above the level of mere ruffian.
ism, TO their condition showed itself
through their tone of b:avado and de-
fiance.
If the constitution has not powers
enough in its arsenal for the protec-
ton of all the rights it confers or rec
ognizes, the people on being satisfied
| of the fact will confer Others.
The great prizes for which these
crimes are committed can be kept
from the grasp of those who commit
them by the exertion OF an unques-
toned constitutions! authority. Each
house of congress is iInperativcly re-
quircd, by its duty, to refuse seats to
persons whose election is directly or
indirectly due TO crime, either Of vio-
lence or fraud. The boast OF the ora
tor at the meeting held hhe day after
election 10 ratify the murder of Mat
thcws, and the proceedings of what
Mr.. Barksdale calls "ihe procession
in beat 3 must not be rcAiZed
The committee recommend the pub
iicaiiou. for the information OF the
American people, Of the testimony
they have taken.
They further recommend the passage
Of senate bill No, IL. which is design
ed to atlort IA remedy for some ot the
evils which are disclosed.
The further recommend that aite T
the next leection in Mississippi. unless
the same shall be unqucstionably fair
and free, there shall be IA full investi-
CATION of The condition Of things in
that State, with view 10 determine
the question whether Republican gov
ernmenl exists there, aud whether it
is entitled to an existing representa-
ton or has forfeited in whole or iu
part by reason of the denial or in
lringement of the right to vote of any
portion OF its people.
The question of submitting 10 the
Senate farther legislation aud of the
necessity of comforting new powers
on Congress 10y an amendment TO the
Constitution 10 afford further protcc-
ton 10 the rights of citizens, we re-
serve for further consideration.