National Republican., 1885-10-16

The idea that the conscience OF the
country was dead so dead that 1t could not
he aroused to respond to the appeal for
honest elections aud legitimate govern
ment, was a stupendous dclusiou which the
voters Of Ohio have dispclcd,
lie who believes that there is to be any
rest for the party which gains elections by
supprcssing votes is the crcdulous dupc OF
his own folly. lie who fancies that this
government is going to he run permanently
by usurpation Is fool. lie who imagincs
that the intelligence and patriotism of the
American people will quietly submit to the
continued ascendancy Of the minority,
through fraud, has little knowledge Of his
Countrymcn. And lie who suppOscs that
age so commcnds an abuse that 1t can be
adopted as the rishtful and proper thing
should give his mind to contemplation OF
the history Of reforms.
II is fact not seriously denied, and alb
solutely impossible Of truthful denial, that
the south is solidly Democratic because the
Republican vote is suppressed The RE-
PUBLICAN has given numerous illustrations
of this systematic suppression, showing
that hut small minority of the voters in
various states actually control the elections
Of those states. If the influences Of this
condition Of things were confined to local
affairs alone the outrage would he hard
enough to tolerate. 1t becomes intoerablc
when It vitiates the Legislative and GXecu-
tive departments Of the federal government
and, through the executive department lays
its tainting touch on the judicial.
The Republican party has suffered chas-
tiscment because it lacked courage TO de-
fend its principles. 1t gets regeneration
now because it has turned back u leaf and
avowcd its purpose to fight the battle which
it thought TO shirk.
The party that was born to contend against
and reform the great evils that afflicted and
cursed the republic has no choice but to
sneak into q dishonorcd grave or fight its
battles to the end.
While seats in the national House Of
Representatives are filled by men elected
by minority through suppression of the
majority, the Republican party can have no
lack Of great national issue.
While one side of the Senate OF the
United States Is dotted all over with men
who would not be there II fair elections
were possible in all the states, the Repub-
lican party cannot refuse to cry out against
the wrong without forfeitng its respect for
itself and decent regard for the opinions
Of future generations.
When the electoral college is controlled
by the same illegitmate methods and an ud-
ministration is installed by suppression OF
suffrage the Republican party cannot neglect
to demand a return to justice without for.
feiting its right to live.
Those who make this demand do not de
sire sectional strife or the renewal of sec
tional animosity, but they do want ant
they will have Justice. They have no wisi
10 take any lawful right from any man, but
they insist that rights unlawfully seized
and held shall be surrendered to those who
have been despoiled. They believe that
there is manliness and honor enough in the
south to insure the peaceful triumph of thi
great reform. To that manliness, tina
sense Of justice they will continue to ap
peal, and the story will not be old, tn
issue will not be dead till the wrong is re
moved
The government which the patriot father
built, and for which million patriots hav
died. must rest squarely on its only basis
the lawfully expressed consent Of the gov
erned-before the Republican party can cal
ahalt in this crusade.
Men and brethren of the south, 1t is 70
you to determine how long the agitatio
shall last. We appeal to you, "Let us hay
peace,n by consenting to the only possibl
condition of peace-absolute political Ill
erty, fair elections, and honest returns. 1t
this be assured and we care not how gre'
your majorities may be, Let the blacks vol
, as they please and have their votes faIrl
counted, and we will cheerfully cOnsel
, that they vote with you. SO that We hay
an honest, legitimate government it ma
tcrs little which party runs it. But until
, is honest and Legitimate you shall have /
rest except in utter hardness OF heart an
irremediable recklessness Of right. An
that is a state in which great communi
, cannot exist under the full glare of Il
moral light which illumines this country
our day.
Il, n Int