Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-08-29

By this system and BY the acquiescepce OF
few Northern States, the men who led IN the
civil war have been restored to power, and
hope, practically, 70 reverse all the results Of
the war. This 10 the spectre that now haunts
American politics, and may make it just %
vital and necessary to appeal to the Northern
States to unite again against this evil, not 90
open and arrogant a. slavery, but more dan
gerous and equally unjust. The question
then was the slavery of the black man. Nov
the question is the equality of the white man,
whether a Southern man in Mississippi may,
by deprivirg q majority of the legal voters in
the state of their right to vote, exercise twice
the political power of q white man in the
North, where the franchise 10 free and open
and equal to all. When this subject Is
pressed we are sometimes met with denial,
but in the face of proofs so conclusive,
spread upon the public records and in the
public journals and substantantially admitted
over and over again in the South, denial will
not answer. The actual returns of the cleo
tons show that in all the Southern States
where the negroes are in majority, they are
either not permitted to vote or the returns are
changed. When we point out these Of
fences committed in the South, it is said that
we are raising the bloody shirt, that we are
is over. hope the war is over, and that the
animosities Of the war will pass away and be
dead and buried. Anger and hate and preJu-
dice are not wise councillors in peace or in
war. Generosity. forgiveness and charity
are great qualities of the human heart, but,
like everything else that is good, they may be
carried to excess. and may degenerate into
faults. They must not lead US to forget the
obligations of duty and honor. While we
waive the animosities of the war we must
never fail to hold on with courage and forti-
tnde to all the results of the war. 1t was
for the preservation of the Union. Union
not of States, but of the people of the United
States; not Confederate Government. but a
National Government. We may forgive
without qualification what the rebels did in
the war, but we cannot, with honor, surrender
what our soldiers won in the war; nor can we
yield an iota of the benefits they have con-
ferred upon the country, greater far than all
the cost of the war.
The GOVERNING FORCE OF THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY IN THE SOUTH.
have seen many signs of deposition to
waive all the glorious results of the war, to
make no difference between the blue and the
gray, to revive again the doctrines of seces-
sion and State rights taught before the war.
do not question the patriotism of my demo-
cratic neighbors here in Ohio, but we know
by old experience they follow the leaders of
their party The governing force of that
party is with the South, as in the days of
Buchanan. We have no sign of protest
from democratic orators or journals of the
wholesale deprivation of the colored people
in the South of their right to vote. nothing of
the crimes by which the South is made solid
The only hopeful sign was that Cleveland
would not appoint a man as postmaster in
Copiah County. Miss, who indOrsed the muir
der of Matthews, but. as a rule, in all the
North no preference is given to the Union
soldier over any other applicant. The I'm
ion soldiers appointed by the administration
are few and far between, while 10 every case
it was not the record of the soldier
that was in his favor, but his services as a
democratic partlzan. In the South it may be
said that no known Union man has been ap-
pointed to office. The offices are filled from
the rebel ranks. No man who acquiesces in
the results of the war. who honorably de-
mands a fair ballot and fair CONT, can be
appointed to Office in the South.
The line drawn between the two parties is
now as distinct as it was during the war, but
we occupy a different field of battle Then
and as a means to that end, for the abolition
of slavery. Now the Union is saved and
slavery abolished, we fight for the equal poll
tic Il rights of all men and the faithful observ-
ance of the constitutional amendments. We
are for the exercise of National authority for
the preservation OF rights conferred by the
constitution. and upon this broad issue we
invite corporation from the South a. we'll as
the North Upon this issue we intend to
make our appeal to the honest and honorable
people OF the Southern States. We think
they are bound in honor to faithfully observe
the conditions of peace granted to them by
General Grant and prescribed by the constl-
tutional amendments. If they do this we
will have peace, union and fraternity. With
out it we have agitation, contests and COM
plants. Upon this issue | will 20 before the
people of the South, and, turning my back
upon all the snimosities of the war, appeal
only to their sense OF honor and justice. II
they continue under their democratic rulers
the present system of ostracism and oppres-
sion and injustice, party can be formed
among them who will demand justice to all
and thus break down the Solid South, based
MS it is upon crime and fraud. If not. it i,
the duty of the people of the Northern States
without distinction OF party, to unite the
N0rtn IN the execution OF the CONSTITUTIONAL
amendments, and, under the fourteenth
amendment, to deny the States that do MOI
protec: their citizens in the elective franchise
representation based upon the number sc
DISTINGUISHED.
UNwIsE ACTs OF THE ADMINISTRATION.
The last House of Representatives wal
strongly democratic. What useful measure,
did it propose or adopt? None whatever
Hopelesslv divided. they kept the business Of
the country in constant unrest by contes
as to the tariff. between free trade by Morri
son. and quasi protection by Randall. But il
may be said that the Senate was Republican
and would not agree to their acts. You ma,
be thankful for that, and that is your safe
guard for the future.
Let us take Cleveland's administration, ant
test it by its acts thus far as they affect grea
public interests. The greatest danger to tn,
country now is found in fraud at elections
As have said, the democratic party nov
holds the Solid South by the meanest frauds
but Mr.. Cleveland may say that is for Con
gress and for the Jaw to deal with But h,
had before him recently an application 70
the pardon of Lieut.. Mullen. of Cincinnati
| police officer convicted of the greatest op
preston and wrong. Here was an opportun
| ty for him to emphasize his view of violenc,
at elections. Here was the case of an of
| fence so gross and scandalous that no circum
stance could be added to make it more Grim
! inal. Mullen was sentenced to serve on,
year in the county jail, and yet, long befor
| his term expired he was pardoned by tn
President of the limited STATES 1t does no