The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-10-03
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InEnLINo, ". va, OCTOBER 5, 1883.


Republicans everywhere are indebted to
the brethren in Massachusetts, for making
George F. Hoar the chairman Of their
convention, position which gave him a
splendid opportunity to address the peo-
pie Of the United States. Much Of sena-
tor Hoars admirable speech was devoted
TO the suppressed vote Of the South and its
blighting effect on American institutions.
His arraignment lost nothing Gifts force
by It's calm, judicial tone. There is no
employment OF harsh phrases, but instead
clear presentation OF facts already I'D.
mitted by the organs Of public opinion in
the States where the minority has
prevailed by crimes agsinst the elective
franchise. Senator Hoar well says 1t is
not enough to retort that somebody is
waving the "bloody shirt" or that these
things are mot new. It is the burning
shame Of it all that 1t Is old and that those
who are responsible for it give no signs OF
new and better life. There is no desire
among Republicans to raise dead ques-
tions, to go back to the unhappy memories
which rent the country into two hostile
camps long before the bloody conflict be-
gan. Senator Hoar spoke the sentiment
OF country.loying Republicans when he
said:
For US we demand only that the Conss-
tuition shall be in force everywhere
throughout the land; and that, while the
right OF no citizen Is denied or abridged
because OF old disloyalty, 1t shall not be
denied or abridged on account oil race or
color, still less that II shall not be denied
or abridged simply because he is Repnb-
lican. They say that our friends at the
South have q great and difficult problem
to deal with, q great burden to bear, which
entities them to all our sympathy. This
may be true. fit be, the least we can do
is 10 relieve them Of the trouble OF ruling
us by unconstitutional and illegal pro-
cesses.
No Republican would II he could dis
franchise single citizen who took up
arms against the Union. 1t was the Re-
publican party that restored them to
citizenship, gave back the ballot which
they had forfeited when they resorted to
the bullet, and to the surprise OF the
world placed the man who supported tie
rebellion on exact equality with the man
who supported the Union! The country
had q right to expect that in return the
white leaders of the South who had been
in rebellion would show their sense Of
Justice, to say nothing OF grateful recog-
milton Of magnanimity such as the world
had not seen before.
It Is easy to understand that the new
order OF things was most distasteiul to the
old ruling class Of the South. 1t would
have been distastefuf to other men SINH
larly circumstanced. The rebellion Of
arms had failed. Peace wrought reyo-
luton. The institution Of slavery was
disestablished. There was no longer the
relation Of master and man, but in its
stead iellow.citizenship based on civil
equality. There had been no attempt to
enforce by law an impossible social equal
ity, which does not exist among all white
men and is never the concern Of the State.
The law and public opinion dealt only
with the political rights Of men. These
rights have been unwissly and unlawfully
denied to large element Of lawful voteip,
and the whole country suffers by tie
wrong.
On an unyielding opposition to this
state OF affairs the Republican party can
afford to stand. It can better afford de-
feat-utter annihilation-tha to secure
endless power by compromise with
wrong 80 monstrous. But this issue, TOO
long delayed, viii bring strength to the
Republican party, for it must attract the
support OF every American who believes
in the rule Of the majority and the a3cen-
dancy Of the Constitution. The peaceful
battle must go on until Right shall have
conquered Wrong.