National Republican., 1885-10-02
The Voice of the Bay stnte.

1t would be impossible for words to con.
vey an idea more false than that the
protest Of the northern Republicans against
suppression Of votes in the south is an evi.
dence Of desire to excite sectional strife.
The people of the south have no better
friends anywhere than these same Repub-
licNns Of the north who are falsely accused
of 'waving the bloody shirt" and ''reopen-
ing the wounds Of the war;"
The records of Congress show that in
every case where an appeal for aid has come
up from the south the Republicans have
been foremost in speaking and voting for
liberal propositions. Devastations OF Hoods,
ravages of pestilence, and other Affections
that have befallen southern communities
have called forth such words and acts by
the Republicans in Congress as ought to
Lave left 10 doubt Of their kindly feelings
Any unpreiudiced person who will study
the Congressional history Of the New Or
leans Exposition will find therein n com
plete refutaton of the charge that the Re-
publicans of the north are unfriendly to the
south and its people.
And If this is not sufficient, let the his
tory Of the Blair educational bill lie cited to
the north Sjadly. the Republican states of
TO leip the south mitigate rs 1esffGhi
burden Of illiteracy. But for the intense
hostility of southern Democrats that most
ICneticicnt measure would have been law
year ard q half ago.
The news items and articles which have
had widest publicity and kindest editorial
| Ia, lao
have been reports of industrial and educa-
| tional progress in the south. And the capt.
the south to the extent of many milli ms
annually for the past eight years to aid in
developing the resources of that section.
The true feeling of the Republican masses
is voiced in the declaration of the Republi-
cans Of Massachusetts, that therparty "has
| always been an essentially national and Union
| patty. 1t is opposed to sectionalism and to
geographical divisions in any and every
foim. 1t has heartily and deeply rejoiced
| in the manifestations of sympathy and
| good feeling at the south called forth by
the death Of our great soldier and patriot,
and, as Republicans, we wish for com.
plete and perfect reconciliation between the
scctions.n
But there must be justice In the relations
of the sections If ''perfect reconciliation" is
10 be assured. To have peace and prosper
ity abound we must have government
lasCd on the foundation prescribed by the
constitution. The Massachusetts Republi.
cans state fact that is known of all men
when they assert that one result of the war
"has not been accepted-the negro, enfran-
chised by the war, is largely deprived of his
| privileges as voter. In certain states
elections are mockery, returns are fraudu
lent, and voting is farce" And there Is
the resistless eloqucnce of absolute truth
and sincerity in their further declaration
that
II we were to be silent as to this crying evil
we should be false to all the traditions and
principles of our party, as well as to those o
American government and American freedom
| Against this great wrong, so dangerous and sc
un-American, yet vindicated and maintained
| by successive Democratic majorities in the
| House of Representatives, we propose to agi
tate and 10 protest. We appeal against 1t tc
public opinion, both north and south. We
shall seek redress IN an aroused public con
science and in proper legislation. We shal
not be content until the wrong is crushed on
and justice done As one specific measure
tending TO remedy this evil, We urge upor
Congress the policy of making liberal grants IL
aid Of primary education in the recent slave
states.
THE REPUBLICAN, does not believe tha
this appeal TO the reason and justice Of the
south will be in vain. 1t is impossible tha
men will be so blinded by passion as not tc
give heed to such utteranccs.