Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-26
Free Institutions in Peril.

eide nj the ballot-Dox in November next.
No more important question was ever sub
mitied to popular vote. No more perilous
point was ever weathered by the Ship OF
State. The Graphic'S question may be
otherwise stated--thus Shall sectionslism
or nstioualism triumph in the approach
ing presidential electioni
We have again and again reminded our
readers that what is called "the solid
South" IA nothing but q result Of the ex-
istence Of q solid North. The South is
now, as always, on the defensive. The
North Is now, rs always, aggressive. The
South suffers. The North causes her sui
ferlngs. The southern States are power
less-totally helpless. They dare not raise
a hand for their own protection. The peo-
pie Of the South submit quietly to unnum-
bered outrages which in the North would
produce o revolution or at the least an In
suIreetion.
The Republican party is q sectional
party. Itis war party. 1t would hardly
be Too much to say that il exists in the
North only. In the South 1t is a mere
negro party. without the votes OF the
negroes. it would be in so small minority
in every southern State that It would have
no motive for running candidate for any
State Office except the selfish desire to es-
tabish claim TO some Federal position, or,
as MIR. RIDDLEBBRGEB taught his party
friends in Virginia to phrase II, except tho
selfish purpose to be "fOr ARTHUR because
ARTHUR il for us.'
The Republican party has created in the
North public sentiment which proscribes
every southern man. That party scorns TO
nominate n southern man for either Presi-
dent or vice-President of the United
Statcs'. The Democratic party dare not
nomif .T' southern man for either OF
those with 1--WE have never said word
sgsiuh, howl RID in this paper; but we
well lstrance - the recent Democratic
Natio ,. t.,, IN met that bis merits
and dizziness an omination for President
woult which dand the support OF
one california j. voters in that body.
Not r. T., Gnu n'I,. s,,. lug northern Demo.
crat snoseless cyiit6 Iudice against any
south{ and but a hail, but because the
Repulpport Their useh and the Repubh-
can 81 Iuiuu ~ WIN 1 az Republican party as
swhol 80 four re.u, gblned 20 perpetuate
In tho ,ni,ics or Ii re- northern people the
notiont euty.two wl" cannot be entrusted
with q -Ketpers, I'd that "rebel synps.
thizer wCmeu. sc than rebel. The Re-
publicf neAty 10 therefore a purely see
tional eliy; yet It has made large por-
tion OF northern public believe that the
Democ latic party is sectional while itself is
nstionS.
The North Is the ruling section. No
candidate can be nominated by either party
for any national Office who Is not accept
able 10 the North. No policy can be origi-
mated by either party with any prospect Of
success unless that policy be acceptable
to the North. Virginia, for example, de-
mands the repeal Of the internal taxes.
The Republicans laugh her to scorn, and
even the northern Democrats deprecate all
agitation Of the proposition. Whys Be
cause the southern people are not re-
garded or treated as II they had any
rights which northern people are bound
TO respect. Millions upon millions OF
dollars are appropriated to pay such
pensions 10 northern soldiers as were never
before heard OF in the history Of the world;
and yet SO powerful and prevalent is the
idea that the North must have everything
any OF Its congressman demand that even
southern Democrats unite with northern
Republicans and northern Democrats in
voting away these millions OF dollars OF
the revenue collected in the South-a
scheme which cannot but impoverlsh thi.
section.
The South, therefore, is a dependent
section. 1t Is helpless, so TO speak. Its
people must always be on their good be-
bavior under penalty Of being called
"rebels."
II they were to make a popular demon.
stratlon against the expressions and wrongs
Of the Federal Government, they would do
30 at the risk OF driving all the northern
Democrats into new alliance with the
Republican party. In word, the South is
the Ireland OF this continent, and is always
assumed TO be in the wrong.
A helpless South, therefore, calls upon
the North 10 protect free government in
this country. The South can do nothing,
except "su1er and be strong" But the
northern people have the power now to Sc
cure free ballot and fair count In tbs
section, and 10 prevent repetition OF the
fraud, the wrongs, and the outrages of
1876. The northern people have had abun.
dant warning. They have been told again
and again by truculent Republicans that
the Republican party knep that Florida,
Louisiana, South Carolina, and Mississippi
were Republican States, and intended 10
count the votes OF these States for the Re
publican candidate for President OF the
United States. General LOGAN, in his let.
ter OF acceptance, says almost in so many
words tina, the next President ~ to be
seated upon the census returns and not
upon the election returns. There is, there
fore, danger ahead.
We soy that the northern people are
aware OF the conspiracy alluded TO. The
striking question Of the New York Graphic,
which we quoted in the opening Of this ar.
tlcle. Is proof that light Is beginning to
dawn upon the minds Of the preiudieed
northern people. A still more significant
and striking indication Is the following ar
ticie from the New York World OF Thurs
day. That widely-circulated Journal says:
THE SHADOW ON rHE WALL.-The negro
Lynch who presided oyer the Chicago Con.
vention In its preliminary proceedings
sounded the keynote Of an attempt 70 re-
peat the fraud OF 1876 In 1884 II Il should
be rendered necessary through Clevelsnd's |
election. He declares that tue Democrats
could never fairly carry some Ct the south |
ern States, and that .the loyal people OF |
the Union would not permit Che inaugurs. |
ton Of President with tainted tltIe.D
Other Blaine politicians have sinee hint. |
cd st the same thing. Senator Hoar gave |
notice thai the twenty-six electoral votes Of |
Mississippi, Louisiana, and South Carolina |
would be deemed fraudulent ON their face. |
and n more should DC needed Virginia |