The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-23
"THE BLOODY SHIRT,

Senator Sherman Not Afraid Ashamed of
lt-Remedy for Wrongs in the South.
Report of Speech in Cincinnati
] say now that no Democrat in Hamilton
county dare take issue on this question. These
people have been deprived of their rights And
that is not all. They have not only been de-
prived of their rights, but these men. Democrats
OF the South, are now exercising political power
based upon the six millions of coored people seat
tered over the South. There thirty-eght
members of Congress and thirty weight electoral
votes assigned under the Constitution to these
six millions of colored people in the South; but
they manage matters there SO that these colored
people have no right to vote. They're deprived
of their votes, and then these Southern Demo
Gratis vote all this vast political power them
selves; and by that means alone Grover Ceve-
land Is now President of the United States: and
but Tor this enormous crime James II. Blaine
would now be our President, and John A Logan
would be our Vice president What answer do
they make to this Indictment? ''The bloody
shirtw And / don't know but the time is com
inc, my friends, in this country. when the
patriotic people of the Northern States must
wave the bloody shirt" l say TO YOU although
my years are passing away, and look upon the
faces OF thousands of bright young men, | say TO
you that the Republican party of the United
States Will never submit to the ostraciSm that is
now practlsed upon these six millions of people.
And when they ask me What will you do about
III" as Boss Tweed asked of the local authorities
of New York, | say will find remedy;
and the time is Eot far distant when that will be
found. When We see Jefferson Davis. the arch
rebel OF the country, eXtOlled In the Senate of
the United States as a patriot-and / was
frowned upon with great severity when / de-
nounced him as a conspirator and traitor-when
we see the flag of our country, under which the
boys In blue marched 10 many victories lowered
in sorrow at the death of Jake Thompson: when
we see Fitzhugh Lee riding at the head of his
Democratic cavacade with the old flag of Gen.
Pickett at Gettysburg, and with the saddle and
bride OF General Lee. marching with this rebel
cavalcade through Virginia in order to arouse the
rebel passions OF that population; when see
men almost without number who have been
rebels representing tins great government of
ours In various lands. In Cabinet positions, and
holding high carnival in important offices, and
Union soldiers and widows turned oat to allow
these Democratic partisans to come in, tell you
my conntrymen. the measure of my forbearance
has almost ceased to be virtue. But they say
What are you gong to DO about it," And the
only answer that Governor Hoadly could give
was that of What you going to do about it2
You have had power in this government; YOU
did not find a remedy, and therefore no such
wrong exists" Well. we did have the power
after the war was over, in kind of away. When
the war was over did we show any feeling of
hostility or want OF cbartyl No! No nation
was more liberal to extend emanc patton and to
make easy their coming back to their relations
to the general government. We do not want TO
Cypress them now. No blood was shed. No
property was confscated. In all human history
there is not another such example of kinaness
and forbearance to the party that had been over
come In war. But no sooner had
General Lee taken the parole and
surrendered to Grant at AppomAttox than
they went home, and at once tried to reduce
their colored people to quasi-slavery When
that was resisted to some extent, and the meas
ures of reconstruction were passed that secured
civil and political rights to all people. then they
resorted to other outrages, such as the terrible
Ku-klux They met in secret places and armed
and disguised themscves-some of them rebel
soidlers-to brighten the Republicans and in
some cases committed murder. This was kept
up for some time General Grant tried to sup.
press it. Congress sent committees of investi-
cation We saw no remedy. None seemed to
be at hand except to again call out the boys in
blue That was the only remedy and we didn't
propose to do that. We awaited for the coming
OF the time when the clearly acknowledged
rights of these people would be yielded without
further pickering But We waited in vain until
finally the Democrats got possession of the
House; and these Democrats associated with
and combined with the Southern rebels to keep
up this ostracsm. Governor Hoadly asks
What will you do about itl" I will tell you
what we will do about it. There is III every one
OF these Southern States Republican party
now springing up. composed OF rebel soldiers.
white men and black men, and they are now
fighting the battles that ought to have been
fought long ago. Governor Wise-Governor as
l hope he will be- unless they kill him before
publican party in Virginia, with our principles
engraved on his banner-lihertv and equal rights
to ALL protection to American industries.
the development of our industries, the diver
slty OF our employments. This is our creed and
motto. He is fighting that battle Shall we de-
sert hint Shall We, Republicans of Ohio, by the
election this fall, say, I'VE don't care cuss for
you" Shall we join with the Democrats? There
IS one remedy. The time is not far distant when
in every one of these Southern States there will
be party that will redress this wrong In
Tennessee, at the last election, Judge Reid was
almost elected. North Carolina will soon be car
rled by the Republicans, if they be given any
thing like fair play In Virginia. Louisiana
Mississippi Arkansas. Alabama Georgia. Fiori-
da and South Carolina. and every Southern
State: there is Republican majority under
fair election. The Republican party is a brave
party-always brave. 1t has never undertaken
to do anything yet that it has not ACCOMPLISHED,
and 1t will accomplish this in due time if you
will only stand by it.