The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-09-09
THE pLuMEp KNIGHT.
his oplnion of the Democratic Exclusion OF
Dakota from Statehood,

i
ERw YoRE, Sept, S.-A special to tn
Tribune from Bangor, Me-, says; Mr.
Blaine, General Gibson and Congressman
Boutelle spoke to Eve thousand people a
Etns Grove, eighteen miles from thil
place, A special train from Bangor tool
four carloads OF passengers. among whom
was the venerable ex.Vice.Presldent
Hamlin, in his swallow.tail caat, looking
as hale and hearty as when he was on
the stump two years ago. There was
great enthusiasm Whenthe speakers. with
Mr., Hamln, reached the stand. When
the cheering had suhsided, Lewis A.
Barker introduced Mr.. Blaine, who, after
mRkingR reference 10 the industrial and
prohibition questions, said: ....
~ spoke q few days since OF the deter
minAtion OF the Democrats in Congress to
keep Dakota knocking at the door OF the
Union for admission even after she has
tan times the population that certain
Southern States had when they were ad-
mitted, The wrongfulness OF this step IL
made more marked and more intolerable
when It Is remembered that q material
proportion OF the vote by which the
Democrats accomplished the exclusion Of
Dakota is obtained by the diaIranChise-
ment OF &, 900, 900 OF the Southern popula-
tion, thus enabling them 10 cast from
thirty-hve to forty votes in Congress to
which they have no moral nor legal title,
and no title at all, except that which Ia
founded upon force and fraud. lGreat
applause,
~ know 1t is regarded by large mum.
Der as useless II not pnwise to continue
the discussion Of the Southern vote, but
no feature connected with that vote eau
In the end he 80 deplorablo and destruct-
i've as that the whole nation could quietly
aGqulesce In the outrage. have only the
voice and influence Of q private citizen,
but so long us l have that l will protest
against wrong which not merely blots
out all the rights OF Colored men, but ab.
solutely seizes the vote to which they are
entitled, and with the wrongiully acquired
electoral strength controls the legislative
power Of the United States. Cheers and
cries OF "good."] II the matter involved
only the exclusion OF the ColOred man
from the ballot, and thus from the highest
right Of citizenship, 1t would surely be
bad enough, but he Is Knocked with the
possession OF the ballot, and his electoral
strength is turned to the support Of the
party whose success Is a lasting injury,
"a Southern gentleman with whom !
have long hold personal relations OF kind
ness said TO me with Caudor which was
as surprising as his lack Of perception oil
the enormity which he WAS apparently
indorsing, that in recent election In Mis-.
sisslppi, and also In South Carolina, the
Colored men, who are In large majority
In both States, were actually we'll organ
lied for the election, and would have car
ried 1t, but for tho great activity and Wig
lance Of the white men at the last mo.
ment.
"IHaid to him: did thsse colored men
intend any violence or fraud?
"0h, no." he replied; but they would
have outvoted us. They had the num-
bers, and It took great exertion on oul
part to overcome them.'
ale was apparently quite unConrCiouE
Of the magnitude Of the crime which wa!
involved in the destruction OF the electoral
rights OF an entire race, and yet this incl
dent shows the extent to which disregard
Of natural and legal rights has proceeded
in the South. The refusal to allow the
colored men to vote, and the cool Rppro
priaLion Of their electoral strength by the
white meRhave become the common Gus.
tom and common law Of the South, and
will remain so until some great moral
shall awaken tho people to the enormity
Of the otionse. 1t will read strangely in
the future history Of the United States
that u minority OF tho white citizens OIL
this country could neutralize and destroy
the franchise OF six million colored people
seize zetheirrepresentativ cleo oral strength
and continue the administration Of the
National Government against large ma
IiOrity Of the undoubted legal voters.
"And yet that Is what Is going on In the
South, and what has been going on since
1877. ACquiescence In the practice does
not change its character, but only involves
others in the moral responsibility attend
ing 80 grave an ollense."
MIR. Blaine then spoke OF the fact that
this organization would keep out Dakota,
as Its electoral vote might disturb their
power. He predicted that Dakota could
not get into the Union until after the
next Presidential election.
General Gibson followed, speaking on
general iasueg. Congressman Boutelle
made telling speech on the bad record
OF the Democrats in Congress and the fail
ure Of the President to redeem hiE