The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-08-06
THEIR GREAT TROUBLE.
The Republican Disposition to vapor
About che Southern Outrage Issue.

The Republican Disposition to Vapor
About che Southern Outrage Issue.
The great difficulty in the attempt of
the managers of the Republican party
to run it in the next or any other cam
paign upon the Southern outrage issue
is their disposition to vapor about it.
They find it Impossible to lay down any
positive, distinct and vigorous propo-
sition with the slightest practical mea1-
ing.
Suppose the evils and wrongs of
which they complain are as great and
grievous, say. as burglary is in Detroit
and other cities, how do they propose
to remedy II?
Well. says the Cincinnati Commercial,
one of the most ardent of them, ''we
think the enforcement of the Fifteenth
Amendment would become 4 hopeful
task, and it would not be impracticable
to reduce representa- on in States where
there has been the unconstitutional dis
reimbursement of a race-in some States
OF the majority of the people-by reason
of color and previous condition of servi-
tude. "
But the Fifteenth Amendment has not
been passed since the Republican party
went out of power. 1t was in existence
under several Republican Congresses
and under Presidents Grant. Hayes.
Garfield and Arthur. If the Democrats
won the last election by a non enforce
ment of the Fifteenth Amendment: it was
because Republican Presidents and Re-
publican Congresses failed either from
power or inclination to enforce it. How
can a new Republican President and a
new Republican Congress do what
three or four previous Presidents and
Congresses have repeatedly failed to
do?
Under Republican Congresses and
under Republican Presidents burglaries
have been committed in Detroit These
Presidents and Congresses have been
unable or unwilling to prevent them.
BurgIaries continue to be committed
under Cleveland's Administration. Ac-
cording to the logic of the irreconcila-
BILE Republicans, Republican Presi-
dent and Congress ought, therefore,
to be elected. Then the prevention of
burglary would be hopeful task"
For there is just As much reason for
suppO>ing that Logan would suppress
burglary in 1889 as for believing that
Hayes did it in 1879.
OF course it will be said that burglary
is different from disfranchisement, be-
cause one is an offense against State
law. The other against National law.
But, even whsn that is admitted, the
neglect of previous Republican Admin
istratiOns to treat disfranchisement diff
ferent from burglary still remains to be
explained. But so far az the fifteenth
is concerned, is it very different in its
nature?
The Fifteenth Amendment relates TO
conduct of States in abridging or deny
ing the right to vote to any citizen ION
account of his race, color or previous
condition of servitude." What State
does this? If any State has done so,
under a Republican Administration,
why has not that Administration en-
forced the amendment? If no State has
done so how can the present Democrat
ic Administration enforce an amend
ment that has not been violatcd9 How
can Republican Administration to be
elected hereafter enforce an amend
ment which has not been disobeyed but
remains intact and undisputed?
If there are any United States statutes
relating to the violation of the elective
franchise of citizens Republican Ad-
ministratioH with al its officials have
long been charged with the duty of en-
forcing the severe penalties for their
violation. If they have not succeeded
it is because they have not wanted to
enforce them, or because they can not
enforce them. Why should the Repub-
licans demand of Democratic Admin
istration fultillment of task to which
the Republican Administrations have
been unequal. Why should they ask
that q Democratic Administration give
place to another Republican Admins
tration in order to attempt task which
was not fulfilled when the Republicans
had the power and opportunity?
If the National Government can not
suppress the crime of disfranchsement
any better than it can the crime of
burglary, then it is plain that it makes
no difference, so far rs either of those
crimes is concerned, whether a Repub-
lican or Democratic Administration IS
in power: and. therefore, it is as fair to
say and expect that the next Republican
Administration will ''enforce the Fiji
teenth Amendment" in every way diff
ferent from what it is now enforced, as
to say and expect that it will enforce
the laws against burglary. - Detroit
Free Press.