The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-08-06
THEIR GREAT TROUBLE.

Tho Republican Disposition to vspor
About the Sovthern 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 mean
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 itp
Well, says the Cincinnati Commercial,
one of the most ardent of them, 1--WE
think the enforcement of the Fifteenth
Amendment would become a hopeful
task, and it would not be impracticable
to reduce representation in States where
there has been the unconstitutional dis
franchisement of 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 beer
unable or unwilling to prevent them
Burglaries 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 o
burglary would be hopeful task.
For there is just as much reason TO
supposing that Logan would suppress
burglary in 1889 as for believing tina
Hayes did it in 1879.
OF course it will be said that burglar.
is different from Acknowledgement, be
cause one is an offense against Stat
law, the other against National law
I But, even when that is admitted, tn,
neglect of previous Republican Admin
istrations to treat disfranchisement dif
fereut from burglary still remains to b.
| P,,f 70, fhn
is concerned, is it very different in it
naturep
The Fifteenth Amendment relates t
conduct of States in abridging or deny
ing the right to vote to any citizen ''ol
account Of his race, color or previou
condition of servitude." What Stat
does thisp If any State has done Sc
under Republican Administration
why has not that Administration er
forced the amendment If no State ha
done so how can the present Democrat
ic Administration enforce an amend
ment that has not been .violatedP Ho'
| cssn Republican Administration to
elected hereafter enforce an amend
J ment which has not been disobeyed bu
remains intact and undisputedP
J If there are any United States statute
| I6ldIlug lO buc NlOldblOu VI buc ClOCblt
franchise of citizens Republican Ad
ministration with all its officials hav
, long been charged with the duty of en-
forcing the severe penalties for thei
violation. If they have not succeede
it is because they have not wanted
. enforce them, or because they can nc
l enforce them. Why should the Repul
licans demand of Democratic Admir-
istration fulfllment of task to whic
the Republican Administrations hay
been unequal Why should they as
a that Democratic Administration gi,
! place to another Republican Admin
tration in order to attempt task whie
was not fulfilled when the Republican
:, had the power and opportunityp
If the National Government can M
s suppress the crime of d sfranchiseme
9 any better than it can the crime
Q burglary, then it is plain that it max
no difference, so far as either of tho
a crimes is concerned, whether Repu
,, lican or Democratic Administration
d in power; and. therefore, it is as fair
say and expect that the next Republic;
a Administration will "enforce the F
= teenth Amendment in every way d
" ferent from what it is now enforced,
. to say and expect that it will enfor
g the laws against burglary. - Detrt
q Free Press.