The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-05
FAIR ELECTIONS I'M TIP souTH.

Ohermans protest against South made solld
by violence and the suppression of the colored
vote. 1t is amazing, in view of so many we'll
known facts, that anybody can be found will
ing to take stand in defense of the infamies
whereby the Republican vote of the South
has been put out of existence. The Constitu-
ton declares that if the things charged be
true, the Republican party alone is response
BILE, since it had all the power in its hands
from the close Of the Rebellion to the inaugu-
ration Of Cleveland. The charge is true; but
with the same magnaminity that character
lied the party in levying no indemnity on the
South not shared in by the North, and in re-
fusing to confscate the property of such as
had forfeited it by acts Of treason and con-
spiracy, the Republican party at length con-
sented to try the South as its own governor
The plea had been that all the outrages that
had shamed Southern civilization would cease
the moment the South was allowed self-gov-
eminent. Weary of trying to forcibly hold
the murderous desperadoes from their bloody
work, the Republican party at last
withdrew all the power of the federal
government, after receiving pledge that
elections should be free and fair in the South
as in the North. How well that pledge was
kept is a matter of political history A free
and honest election has not been known in the
South for seventeen years. Murder, violence
and fraud have paved the way to solid South,
the only way that any great portion Of the
Union can be made solid in time of peace.
The reproach now heaped upon the Republican
party because it did not continue to throttle
the scoundrels who murdered, and whipped,
and threatened is one of the most contempti-
BILE cases of ingratitude ever known. Observe
the cool impudence of the Constitution in dis
posing of this thing:
owe took occasion to show the other day
that if what John Sherman says is true the
Republican party is responsible for the bull
doing and intimidation which the bloody
shutters say exists at the South. We took
occasion to show that the Republican party
had practical control at sne time not only of
legislation, and of the army, and of all the
federal officials in the South, but of all the
State governments. This being VIGOROUSLY
the condition of affairs, made bold to say
that the Republicans are alone responsible for
the intimidation and bulldozng by which, as
they charge the South was made solidly Dem
ocratic. If the negro voters were buldozed
and intimdated by the Democrats, the Repub-
lican party, being in power, must necessarily
have winked at, even if it did not sympathize
with the process by which the negro voters
were counted out or driven away; for, in one
shape and another, the Republican party had
absolute control of the political machinery of
every Southern State It's deputy marshals
were backed by United States marshals, its
marshals supported by its judges, and its
judges urged by the most partisan and
offensive laws. Every negro who can read
understands and appreciates this fact"
So the Republican party is responsible"
because it was foolish enough to abandon the
negro and the Southern Republican to the
tender mercies of the Southern red-shirter
and bulldozer. Having released these fell
lows on pledge of good behavior, they now
repay the concession by haunting the party
for giving them the opportunity to resume
their murderous work unimpeded! The Con-
stitution, having thus disposed of the question
of responsibility for the loss of the colored
vote while the Republican party made an eff
fort to defend it in its rights, as easily ac-
counts for the non-existence of an organized
Republican party in the South:
'For ten years there has been no Repub-
lican organization in the South. During ma
tlonal elections the orators of the Republican
party absolutely refuse to make any campaign
in the South. They not only refuse to organ
ize the negroes, but they leave them to the
tender mercies of the Southern fends who
according to John Sherman, are engaged in
the business of suppressing the negro vote
In regard to this matter, we have but one sag
gestion to make. If the Republican negro
vote is worth anything it is worth IS much as
the vote of the white Republicans of Ohio;
but John Sherman and his coparceners de-
clare, in effect, that it is nothing but mig
ger vote, after ALL"
The Republican party has not been organ
lied in the South for several years Efforts
in that direction have not been encouraged,
even when tolerated. Judge Chisolm tried it.
He and his daughter were assassinated, after
being thrown into Jail. The Republicans of
Louisiana tried to maintain their organization,
and the massacre at Coushatta was the result.
They tried it in South Carolina, and at Ellen
ton colored Republicans were murdered by
bands of Southern fends." They essayed it
in Mississippi, and Prent Matthews was shot
as he turned from casting his vote. In Vir-
ginia an effort to organize the Republican
voters was made 1t was "rebuked" at Dan
vile. At Hazlehurst the assassination of
Matthews was made the cause of general re-
foicing among Democrats; the man who shot
him was loaded with honors, and the boast
was afterwards made Owe have lillad Ra