The Republican journal., 1884-11-20
A Bourbon Victory.

The news came Saturday night that the offic-
ial count in New York gave the State to Cleve
land by Il plurality of 1857, and the long sus-
pense was over. Those who had built hopes
on the promises of the National Committee
could hardly give credence to the report, whose
truth was, however, soon confirmed. We hardly
need say that the result is a great disappoint-
ment to the journal. From the day that Cleve-
land and Hendricks were nominated we had
not the slightest doubt as TO the success of the
Republican candidates. They ought to have
been elected, and their defeat, which is also
defeat for the principles and policy of which
they were the representatives, is a severe blow
to the country, materially and morally. AT
present Republican Senate will stand in the
way of the iniquitous legislation that might
originate in Democratic House and meet the
approval of a Democratic President, but the
result of the election will alarm the manufac-
turers and strengthen the free traders, and
prolonged depression of business must ill.,
evilably follow The American manufacturer
and the American laborer will alike rue the
day that witnesses the accession to power of
the free trade and Bourbon Democracy.
The Republican party has been defeated in
national contest for the first time since the re-
bellion. The element that plunged the country
into civil war in 1861 has trumphed in 1884,
and we believe the results of such victory
will be scarcely less disastrous. The Solid
South has long been a menace to this Govern
ment; and now, according TO Grover Ceve-
lands biographer ''thc rebel yell will again be
heard at the National Capital The danger
from IA Solid South does not arise wholly from
the fact that its electoral vote is controlled by
one party; but because that vote is obtained by
intimidation and fraud. There has not been a
free ballot and fair count in single Southern
State since the war. Gen. Cyrus Bussey, of
New Orleans, who has been lauded by the
Democratic press Of that city AS a Conservative
Republican. worthy of all respect and of entire
confidence, in addressing the Blaine business
mems meeting in New York said
have been Il Republican for twenty-four
years, eighteen years of that time in the city of
New Orleans, where it costs man something
to be Il Republican. And | can tell YOU that
the Presidential vote down in that State is al
ready counted. If the people were allowed to
vote there would be Republican majority of
2J,000; but the Democrats will march up like
little men with about 10000 majority for Grov-
er Cleveland. | want to know why it is that
there are l53 electoral votes in the South, when
every Northern State is contested, and it is
claimed that there is fighting chance in every
one OF them. 1t is because, when the Rebellion
was put down. and when the Constitutional
amendments were passed giving the black man
vote, II was a farce, 50 far as giving them
the franchise is concerned. That question mas
got TO be fought out by the people OF the North
at the ballot box, and there should be IA Solid
North until there Is fair play in the Solid South.
| tell YOU, gentlemen, that there are seven or
eight of the Southern States in this country
that are loyal 10 the Republican principles that
saved this nation in 1864; but the popular vote
of the people has been sti1ed. In the State of
Alabama they have four times many mus
nets and daggers and pistols they have of
agricultural implements altogether. They have
twice as much money invested in that kind of
implements AS they have IN hogs. They have
three times more capital invested III shotgunS
than in sheep; and they keep those sholguns
there in order that they may keep the Republic
can party there in subsection.
1t is plain therefore that the Republican par
ty. the party of the people, the party that bore
on its banners the legends, "a free ballot and
fair count" and "Protection TO American in
dustrics and the American laborer,'' has been
defeated by the shotguns and pistols of the
Solid South, and by frauds upon the ballot box
committed by those who attempted to destroy
the NAT on in 1861.