The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-02-28
The Same Old Dodge.


In every election which has taken
place since the Republican party has
come into power that party has had two
issues which it constantly pushed to the
front. One was the ''bloOdy shirt" and
the other the imperiled = business in
tereSts." Upon these two strings it has
been wont to play most dreadful and
discordant music to the ears of timid
people. The scare on business in
terestS was intended to reach the ears
of the commercial and industrial part OF
the people. and the dreadful outrages
at the South was meant to paralyze the
benevolent and philanthropic people of
the country, whose delicate sensibilities
could easily be infamed by skilfully
told stories of desperate assaults upon
the inofensive and harmless colored
brother. These familiar schemes are
well known to all the country, and as
they were thought to contain much food
for the stumper, and abound in fruitful
texts for the average editor, they have
done yeoman service in several cam
paigns. But it has been noticed by OBJ
serving people that as soon rs the cleo
ton was over the colored brother found
no one to modest or make him afraid, and
the business concerns of the country
gave no evidences of the fearful danger
which they had escaped. This singular
thing has doubtless caused some remark
and perhaps given rise to the suspicion
that after all these picturesque accounts
of Southern troubles and impending
commercial dangers may have been only
the visions of the diSordered fancies OF
Republican statesmen, superinduced by
dwelling too severely upon the posi-
bility of losing their patronage and then
offices. Such danger to the mind OF
a Republican statesman might possibly
produce a disordered fancy and give
risessto the most fearful apprehensiOns;
The loss of position and power might
possibly present great uneasineSs to the
mind of those prOtiting by party domi.
nation, and the most narrowing spec
tiers might rise to confront them, and
through them the country, in the event
of party disaster. But as no social up.
heavalS, no commercial disasters have
followed the narrow escape which the
country has made upon several recent
occasions when the Democracy were
very near obtaining the supreme power,
it may be reasonably inferred that per.
haps all this racket is but the device OF
Republican politicians to save them
selves from danger. At any rate it is
safe to receive all such narrowing an
nouncements with much allowance. fol
these dreadful visitations seem only tc
come with the return of the PresiGen-
tial year. In q sort of feeble way this
humbuggery is now again sought to be
tried on. The Republican editor sees
danger to the negro in the defeat OF
Malone in Virginia, and sees CONNER.
cial calamities in the election of Mr..
Carlisle. Of course the old plan won't
work so well this time, because the
people are getting tired of fleeing from
Republican ghosts, but it will try the old
dodge just the same. 1t is but sorry
attempt to save a discouraged party
from defeat, but as it is She best they
can do perhaps we ought not criticise
them too severely. 1t will be the last
time they will ever use it, and let them
make the best of it.-AmeTicaa Register.