Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-12
A Free Ballos-Free Government,

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A Free Ballot-Free Government.
The leaders Of the Republican party are
Determined not TO surrender the control OF
The United States Government to the Demo
ofais. "To the Democrats" we say, but
We might have omitted those words. The
Republican leaders are bent upon perpstua.
ting their own rule, let the opposition party
be styled what Il may-Demoeratic or what
not. The laws which Republican Con-
gross passed years sgo empowering Repub-
llcan judge 10 supervise the elections
in the several States will be relied upon
next Novsober 10 enable the Republican
party 10 perpctuate Its power. "A free
ballot" IN Republican parisnse. Is ballot
cast under the eyes OF tools OF the Re-
publican Administration at Washington. IL
Is 0 ballot such a. was cast In Richmond
two year, ago, when our election judges
officers OF the Commonwealth Of Virginia,
performing their duties under the laws
OF the shte-were arrested In the
middle Of slection.day, and marched of
20 the Federal or Republican custom
house, and there Mraigned upon afrivolous
charge which resulted finally in--noth-
ing, we think. "a free ballot" In Repub-
iican parlanee. 10 ballot cast under the SUI
peryisiou Of such men as made the arrests
spoken Of. The election officers OF the several
States are treated As unworthy OF the conf
dence Of the community. and thoir acts are
"supervised 4" by Federal "sup9vissrs,"
backed by Federal "deputy msrshals,"
and these "deputy marshals" are backed
n turn by Republican judges.
As Ohio win soon hold her State cleo
Cons, all eyes are now turned In that direc-
ton. The leading Republican paper in
that State, In the same issue in which II
announces the results OF last Mondays
elections In Maine, holds IN tervOrem over
the heads OF the Democrats the Federal
laws, though these laws In terms apply only
80 elections for congressman and electors
Of President and vicePresident. Thss
does the most influential OF the Republican
papers Of the State try to intimidate the
voters al State election. wequote:
"The bummers who are being enrolled
for the purpose Of repeating in October
should he reminded that there will be big
force OF United States marshsls at the polls,
and all offenders will be arraigned in the
United States Court. II frauds should be
attempted, there will be . lively time at the
corner Of Fourth and Vine. aud heavy
draugbt upon the transportation resources
OF the roads leading to Columbus"
That 10 downright bulldosing. 1t 10 in
tended TO ksep timid voters from going 70
the polls at all. II Is an attempt 10 deceive
the voters, or else Is 10 q manifestation OF
Ignorance. And this bulldozing. and
this browbeating, and this threaten
ing, come from . party whose acts
Judge oriPLn described 90 forci-
bly, at wythe,ille last Monday when
he called upon the voters never 70 forget
"thst the leaders Of the Republican party
for the Las, twenty years had rosorted
70 every species OF unconstitutional
legislation-t 70 force bills, sivil-right bills.
enforcement ssss--to all the appliances OF
military power, TO al the dark and bloody
machinery Of military bureau Of justice, to
fraudulent returning boards aud vindictive
prosecutions under the forms OF judicial
trials in order 10 deliver the people OF the
South, their governments, their liberties.
end their institutions over to the control
aud dominion OF their emancipated
slaves"
Read over the woods quoted. and recoi-
lect that the party which is responsible for
those outrsges IL the same party which
now pretenas to be for ga free ballot"
What do the threats We have quoted
indicator They indicate that it is the pur-
pose Of the Republican leaders TO carry
Ohio In October per .faS ct ntas. These
leaders, as we said In beginning this article,
are determined not TO surrender the con-
troll Of the Federal Government. Like all
other usurpers and tyrants, they libel the
people In order 10 furnish an excuse for
tyrsnnical acts. Read what the Cincinnati
Commercial Gazette says OF the Democrats
In that State. We quote:
"The Ohio election occurs on the 18th
Of October. The Democratic ballot-box
suffers are oil ready"
"If Ohio does not give 20, 900 Republican
majority In October. 1t will be the fault OF
the Republican managers.
"The Democrats have al the machinery
arranged for big frauds at the October cleo
ton In this city and State, and that IL the
way they expect TO succeed"
The same paper that threatens the voters
q Ohio with Federal deputy marshsls and
supervisors, and with the penitentiary at Co
lumbus, makes the above-Quoted charges
against them.
The Democratic National Committee
ought 10 abandon all the rest OF the States
for the next month and throw all the money
and speakers they can command into OHIO.
A supreme effort TO carry that State ought
20 be made. Tho one all-absorbing issue
which ought 70 stand out 10 every speech,
and 10 everv newspaper article, and In
every private conversation ON politics,
ought to BE-, Have the people lost the con-
troll Of the Federal Government. The
fraud Of 1879 ought TO be avenged In the
name Of frss political institutions.