National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-06-05
THE REASON OF II.

why Mr.. Blaine HIS so Few Friends
Among tho Republicans OF the South,
and why They are 80 Universally
Friendly TO President Arthur.
Washington Dispatch 10 me Ncto York telegram
A veteran in southern politics. one who has
been a stanch republican since tho days Of
reconstruction, was asked to-day why so few
of tho southern delegates to the national
convention favored Blaine for president and
so many favored Arthur. To which he re-
piled
"Tho reason why Blaine Is weak among
southern republicans is because he used his
power aud influence rs speaker of the house
of representatives in 1874 to defeat tho
passage of what was known as the Force
bill" This was party measure and had
about the unanimous support of the republic
can members of congress at that time. Its
purpose was to confer on the president ample
powers to protect southern republicans in tho
exercise of tho elective franchise. Shortly
before the bill was introduced in congress
several of the cotton states had been wrested
from tho governmental control of the repub-
lican party by the armed forces of the
democracy. Occurrences such as were
recently shown by tho senates Copiah in
vostigation were the daily incidents Of the
political campaigns through which tho
ICpuDllCuOb OF lnCSe States uhu phSScu. An
actual reign of terror existed.
at was made clearly apparent to tho
republican congress that unless the president
were given adequate powers to enforce tho
laws and use the army and navy when
necessary for the purpose, elections would
cease in the cotton belt
MIR. Blaine prevented the passage of tho
bill, and precisely that condition of things
has come to pass. There have been no
elections in the cotton states since that time.
The polls are opened in due form, but the
ballots are counted as the democrats aud not
as the voters wish them to be. Tho truth of
this statement is so notorious that it has
ceased to DO denied. The republicans of these
states, when reminded of their deplorable
condition on each and every election day, are
at tho same time reminded of Mr. Blaino's
course, when he defeated the bill intended
for their relief They cannot forget it as
long as they arc suffering the direct conse'
| quences of his act.
at is pretended that Arthur is strong and
Blaine weak in tho southern states because
tho former has favors in the ways of patron.
| age to bestow and the latter has none. But
| if the votes of the delegates to the national
conventions 1876 and 1850 arc examined, II
will be seen that Blaine had then as little
strength in these states as he has now.
Talk about the influence of patronage
Why, Sherman had at his disposal in 1880 all
that Hayes had to promise or bostow, and he
bestowed or promised it lavishly. Yet Grant
received the great bulk Of the southern vote
Now, having given you the sound ant
solid reason why the south opposes Blaine,
would ask why it should not be favorable t.
Arthur? About all the republican state
conventions recently held, including those
whose members preferred other presidential
candidates, were compelled to acknowledge
tho excellence of Arthurs administration
But in a narrow party sense alone the
republicans of tho whole country are under
the greatest obligation to him. They were
divided into factions--it appeared hopeessly
divided-when he became president. BY tn,
unselfsh exercise of excellent judgment ant
tact he united them. If he had been
member of faction before, he ceased to be SC
as soon as became president.
I'm addition Mr.. Arthur has made NOR
favorable impression on the southern
Yb2 haze had n intoT FS e T r
gentleman, not only in manner, but il
everything
You now SEQ why Blaine. with all of hi
magnetic brilliancy and dash, has failed t.
find followers in the south, and why tn
president has found them"