Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-07-23

| colored populaticn is in large excess of the
white. The colored people are Republicans.
| as are also a considerable portion OF the
white people. The remaining portion of the
latter are Democrats. In face of this incon-
/ testible truth these States invariably return
| Democratic majerities. In other States of
the South the colored people, although not a
majority, form very considerable body or
the population, and with the white Republic
cans are numerically in excess of the Demo-
Gratis. vet precisely the same political result
obtains-the Democratic party invariably
| carrying the elections 1t is not even thought
advisable to allow an occasional or unimpor-
tant election 10 be carried by the Republicans
as blind or as a stroke of fnesse.
i Careful and impartial investigation
has shown these results TO follow the
systematic exercise of physical intim-
idation and violence. conjoined with the
most shameful devices ever practiced in the
name of tree elections. So confirmed has
this result become that We are brought face
TO face with the extraordinary political fact
that the Democratic party of the South re-
lies almost entirely upon the methods stated
for its success in national elections.
This unlawful perversion of the popular
franchise, which | desire to state dispassion
ately, and in a manner COMFORTING with the
proper dignity of the occasion, is one of deep
gravity to the American people-in double
sense.
First: 1t is in violation, open, direct, and
fragrant, of the primary principle upon which
our Government is supposed TO rest. viz
that the control of the Government is par
ticipated in by all legally qualified citizens,
! in accordance with the plan of popular gov
| eminent, that ma orities must rule in the de-
cision of all questions.
| Second: 1t is in violation of the rights and
| interests OF the states wherein are particu-
larly centered the great wealth and indus
! tries of the nation. and which paw an over
whelmng portion of the national taxes. The
immense aggregation of interests embraced
within, and the enormously greater popula-
| ton of these other states of the Union, are
subjected every four years to the dangers of
wholly fraudulent show of numerical
strength.
! Under this system mnorities actually at
tempt to direct the course of National affairs,
and though upto this time success has not at
tended their efforts to elect President yet sue
cess has been so perlOusly imminent as to en-
| courage repetition of the effort at each quad
rennial election, and to bject the interests of
an overwhelming ma jority of our people,
North and South, 10 the hazards of illegal
subversion.
! The stereotyped argument in refutation of
these plain truths is, that if the Republican
! element was really in the majority they could
not be deprived of their rights and privileges
! by minority; but neither statistics of popu-
lation, nor the unavoidable logic of the stu
alton, can be overridden or escaped. The
colored people of the South have recently
emerged from the bondage of their present
political oppressors; they have had but few
of the advantages of education which might
enable them to compete with the whites.
As | have heretofore maintained, in order
to achieve the ideal perfection of popular
government, it is absolutely necessary that
the masses should be educated. This propo-
siion applies itself with full force to the col
ored people of the South They must have
better educational advantages, and thus be
enabled to become the intellectual peers OF
their white brethren, as many of them I'M
doubtedly already are. A liberal school
system should be provided for the rising gen.
GRAFTON of the South and the colored people
be made as capable of exercising the duties
of electors as the white people. In the
meantime it is the duty Of the national gov
eminent to go beyond resolutions and declar-
atoms on the subject, and to take such action
as may lie in its power to secure the absolute
freedom of national elections everywhere,
to the end that our congress may cease TO
contain members representing fictitious
majorities of their people, thus misdirecting
the popular will concerning national legisla-
ton, and especially to the end that in presi-
dental contests, the great business and other
interests of the country may not be placed in
fear and trembling lest an unscrupu-
lous minority should succeed in sitting thu
wishes of the majority.
In accordance with the spirit of the last
resolution of the Chicago platform, measures
should be taken at once to remedy this great
evil