Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-02-23

hope may not come again, martialed By
leaders as gallant as any whose pIumes
ever waved IN front of a column, it en-
countered its first defeat in a quarter of
century. The Democratic forces
marched back into the citadel, and to-day
this ancient adversary of our party,
which has had "a look at the books" and
has counted the money" and has
s'turned on the light" stands before a
deceived people, daily fulfilling the Re-
publican prophesies Of its governmental
incapacity, and bearing dumb, unwilling,
but unimpeachable testimony to the
rectitude of Republican administration,
and the perfection of Republican
methods.
WORK FOR THE FUTURE.
But, gentlemen, the clarion call for duty
never rang out more clearly to the Re-
publican party than it does tonight. Its
work is not half done. We linger loving
Iy on its shining past, only to gather in
SEPARATION for the conflicts yet to come, az
the soldiers used to sing around the
campfire, the sweet songs Of home, to
nerve them to higher effort in the next
days fight.
Before this anniversary day shall come
again a supreme battle is to be lost OF
won. Great issues challenge the party's
best effort, and demand the party's best
leadership. One of the parallels OF his
tory confronts US. Minority rule has
come again into the nation.
By a strange faulty the colored race,
always kindly and inoffensive, is still in
the hands of the Southern Democracy,
factor of dagger and outrage in our poll
teal system. The republican party,
clothing the former slave IL the bright
raiment of citizenship, placed wisely or
unwiseIy in the freed hands our badge of
sovereignt y-the ballot. With too char
liable faith in the Developments of the
future, it changed the basis of representa-
tions, without adequate safeguards, and
to day its magnanimity and thrustfulness
are turned like weapons of death against
Us.
The Southern Democracy accepted with
alacrity the enlarged basis of representa-
ton, and by fraud, bloodshed and threats
has proceeded to stamp out the franchise
upon which il was based, and is back
again in control of the government,
stronger as a dominant element than ever
before.
Tell me what higher issue could sum-
mon the Republican party to great effort
than the protection of the ballot; the in
tegrity of the suffrage; the enforcement
of constitutional rights; the redemption
of the pledges of the past; the mainten-
ance of constitutional equality among the
states?
Now and then some demoralized leader
of the party sends out his warning that
the people have grown weary of this is
sue, and that we must take from our ban
ner the legend "a free ballot and fair
count" and fight the battle of 1888 upon
economic questions solely. What does
this mean? Is the Republican conscience
to be Quoted into slumber by the sooth-
ing spirit OF profitable trade? Is this
violent wrong upon the people, this gross
usurpation of power, no longer to inspire
the party of freedom, because forsooth
the men who perpetrate and those who
profit, cry with uplifted hands ''blo0dy
shirt" or because here and
there once Republicans turn YEARLY
YEARLY and complacently to
worship at the shrine of a civil-service
reform, which invented trial by affidavit
on charges of partisanship," which
which divorces the offices from politics"
party, and which thrusts the great weight
of executive influence into county cleo
ton against the protests of decency?
The people may well have grown weary
Of sentimental talk about the New South
and the spirit of love- and the EZRA of
reconciliation as the basis of a demand
which seeks to hush the republican party
into acquescence. in national crime. We
long for the coming of new south. The
republican party has not been, and viii
not be, backward in aid to her upbuild-
| ing or in fastening her advent; but, sir,
we can recognize no south, as a new
| south, in political aspect, which comes
to US with her heel upon the Negroes neck
with a desecrated ballot box in her hand,
and usurping with fraud and violence,
| disproportIonate power in the affairs of
! the government.
| If there is nothing in this any longer
to arouse the republican party, to stir the
blood and quicken the heart beat, then,
Mr.. President, turn the pictured, patient,
and pathetic face of Abraham Lincoln to
| the wall, and let his old party die.
| The protection of American industry,
the elevation of American labor! Who
shall be the nit champion of these, but the
republican party? these are matters of
gravest concern, but much involved, I
pray you to remember, in the vital issue
of pure, free, and honest ballot.
SOUTHERN DOMINATION.
The spirit of southern democracy,
dominant in control of disparity, dIctat-
ing the ind ustrial policy of the govern
ment, is the spirit incarnate OF free
trade. Is it not so? Prof. Carlisle's
Summer School of Philosophy at Red
Top had scarcely adjourned, when the
hand of New York president, amid the
huzzas of all England, pressed the
poisoned chalice of free trade to the lips
of this people.
4 distinguished orator of Kentucky,
speaking in this empire city of the con-
tinent, amid the deafening plaudits of
modern democracy, calls that 1.-The paint
ed harlot of protection" which another
son of Kentucky, whose name has given
20 I~o &c I'll !