Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-01-02
CAN MOI BE DEFENDED.
Tho Practical Disfranc chisement of Nearly
Million and Half of Southern Voters.

The Practical Disfranchisement of Nearly
n Million and n Half of Southern Voters.
Not single Independent or bolter
has yet attempted TO defend the practi-
cal disfranchisement of 100000 voters
at the South. If there were nothing
else to mark the hostility of these per-
sons to Republican principles this alone
is enough, that they have deliberately
enabled u party to elect President by
nullifying the Constitution and disfran-
chising large part of those to whom
the Fifteenth Amendment extends the
suffrage. This was not done in igno-
rance. To these men the fact was per-
fectly well known that in 1876 and ear
lier several Southern States had been
captured by systematized assassination
or armed revolution; that the usurpa-
ton was crowned with complete sue
cess in every Southern State in the cleo
ton of 1880, and that the supporters of
Governor Cleveland had no hope of
electing him except by the electoral
votes of the Solid South, thus obtained.
With full knowledge of this, the Inde-
pendents set themselves TO work to re-
ward the party of assassination and to
crown disfranchisement with victory.
If they suppose this thing will be for
gotten by true Republicans they are
greatly mistaken. .....
The question of the Democrats is still
that of Mr.. Tweed, "What are you GO
ing to do about itP'' Some, like SEN
ator German, obey the demands of par
ty rather than the dictates of self-re-
spect, by pretending that no wrong is
done at the South, and the voting is
free and fair, and the counting honest
Others, like Senator Morgan, are more
manly. They bluntly affirm that the
enfranchisement of the colored people
is not and never can be effective; that
the white Democrats OF the South will
never permit it to be. The usual pre-
text, that practical disfranchisement of
the colored people is necessary to the
maintenance of decent local govern
ment and the protection of life and
property, might command some atten-
ton if tho colored people were prevent
ed from voting for local and State Off
GERS only, but the fact is that the full
force of disfranchising methods is never
felt except when there are Presidential
Electors or members of Congress to be
chosen. We have nothing to do at
present with the motives, The Consti-
tuition confcrs certain rights. Those
rights are not, enjoyed by about 1,200,-
900 persons at the South, mainly col
ored. The question is whether the
Constitution shall be thus nullified.
1t appears to some of the Democrats
and Independents that it is waste OF
time to discuss the subject. About that
we shall see hereafter. Republicans
will discuss it, at all events, and make
the facts SO thoroughly known to the
country that no man shall hereafter
have an excuse for ignoring them. Mr..
Cleveland will 60 into office the first
President ever elected by the shotgun
That distinction. such as it is, he will
bear to the end. When the shotgun
party claims 10 have the support of the
people hereafter. II shall be In the
mouth Of every well-informed citizen tG
reply that its only success for twenty
five years was achieved by assassina
tion, by terrorism and fraud, and by th,
disfranchisement OF !, 200, 900 citizens.
But we are told that all this will d.
no good, and will only "creste bite
feeling" Very we'll; bitter feeling to