The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-24

semblaee OF Republicans who listen to me to-
night wishes i'll to the South. II IL were left to
us here TO nj ght the streams Of her prosperity
would be full We would gladly hear of her re-
vivipg and stimulated industry. We gladly hear
OF increasing wealth in the States of the South.
We wish them to share in rho onward and mp
ward movement of a great people. It is not .
question of the war, it is not aquestion of what
was done between 61 and 60 at all that / am
talking about tonight. 1t is what they have
done since '65 II is what they did in "a when
President was to be chosen for this country
Our controversy is not one of the past, II 10 OF
the present. 1t has relation to that which will
be done next November, when our people are
again called to choose President. What is il
We aska Simply that the South live up to the
terms Of the surrender at Appomattox. When
that great chiestain received the surrender OF
the Army of Northern Virginia. when those who
had for four years confronted us in battle.
stacked arms IN surrender. the terms were
shall be there unmoiested so long as You obey
the laws in force where you reside That is the
sum Of our demand We ask nothing more OF
the South to night than that they shall cease to
use this recovered citizenship. which they bad
forfeited by rebellion, to Cypress and dis.
franchise those who equally with themselves
under the Constitution are entitled TO vote-thae
and nothing more.
do not need to enter into details. The truth
to-day is that the colored Republican vote of
the South, and with il and by consequences. the
white Republican vote eff the South, is deprived
OF all effective influence in the administrator
OF this government The additional power
the Electoral College, and in Congress. was moro
than enough to turn the last election for Presi-
dent, and more than enough to reverse. yes
largely more than reverse, the present Demo-
cratic majority of the House OF Representatives,.
Have We the spirit to insist that everywhere.
North and South. in this country of ours no
man shall be deprived of his ballot by reason OF
his polticsf There is not in all this land
place where any rebel soldier is subject to any
restraint, or is denied the fullest exercise Of
the elective franchise Shall we not insist that
what is true of those who fought to destroy the
country shall be true of every man who fought
for it. or loved it, like the black man of the
South did Iapp1ausei, that to belong to Aora-
ham Lincolns party shall be respectable and
reputable everywhere in America Cheers
But this is not simply Southern question.
1t has come to be national question, for not
only is the Repu blcan vote suppressed in the
South, but I ask you to turn your eyes to as
fair and prosperous a territory as ever stood at
to the sisterhood of the States. See yonder in
the Northwest, Dakota, the child of all these
States, with 500. 900 loyal, intelligent, law abd
ing prosperous, American citizens robbed TO-
day of all participation in the affairs of this Ma
ton. The hospitable door. which has always
opened to Territories seeking admission. is inso-
cause the predominating sentiment in the Ter
ritory of Dakota is Republican-that and moth
ing more. And that is not all This question
of free, honest ballot has crossed the Ohio
river. The over-spill of these Southern frauds
has reached Ohio, and Indiana and Illinois.
indicating to my mind national conspiracy.
having its center and most potent influence in
she Southern States, but reaching out into Ohio,
Indiana and Illinois in its attempt by frauds up-
United States. Go down to Cincinnati aud look
at the election returns, shamelessly, scandaious-
ly manipulated to return members to the Sem
ate and House of Ohio in order that that grand
champion of Republican principles. John Sher-
man, might be defeated. Go yonder with me to
Chicago, and look into those frauds W On the
ballot, devised, executed in furtherance of the
same ubiquitous scheme, intended to defeat the
reelection of that gallant soldier. that fearless
defender of Republican principles, John A. Lo-
gan of Illinois. Great cheering
And these people have even invaded Indiana.
AT the last election in my own State. first by
gerrymander, they disturbed and utterly de-
was so framed as to give the Democratic party
a majority of fifty on joint ballot; and Indiana
gave popular majority on members of the
Legislature of l0. 900. and yet they claimed to
hold the Legislature. And that is not all.
Then. when gerrymander had failed, they in
troduced the eraser to help it out flaughterl;
ferred ballots from Republican to Democratic
candidates. How are we going to deal with
these fellowsa What is the remedyf AS to the
Southern aspect of this question, L have first to
suggest that it is in the power of the free peo-
pie of the North those who love the Constitu-
ton and free and equal ballot those who,
while claiming this high privilege for them
selves, will deny it to other man, to elect
President who shall not come into the enjoy
ment of the usufruct of these. crimes
will be great gain. And then we should place in
the Southern States, in every Office exercising
federal authority, men whose local influence
men the district attorney appointed by MIR.
Cleveland, who in this recent outrage upon the
ballot in jackson, Mlss was found among the
most active conSpirators when, by public rts5-
luton of a Democratic committee, Repu blicans
of that city were warned away from the polls.
There is vast power in a protest. Public
knows to-day. Cars tremble in its presence:
and we msy bring to bear upon this question
public sentiment, by bold and fearless denuncia-
ton of it, that will do a great deal toward cor.
recting it. Why, my countrymen we meet
now and then, with these Instantaneous aud
lift our voice in denunciation of the wrongs
Applause. We do not elect any members of
Parliament. but the voice of free America, pro-
testing against these centuries of wrongs. has
ing, stimulating and sustaining the
liberal policy of William e. Gladstone and
his associates [Great .applausel Cannot
Eot make our appeal to these Irish-American
citizens who appeal to us in behalf of their OPP
pressed fellow -countrymen to rally with US in
this crusade against election frauds and intini-
dation in the country that they have made their
own? Applause.
There may be legislative remedies in sight
of the national Congress and have executive
at Washington who has not been created by
these crimes against the ballot iApplause.l
Whatever they are, will seek them out and
put them into force. not in a spirit of enmity
against the men who fought against us-forget-
ting the war, but only insisting that now, near
ly quarter of q century after it is over. a free
ballot shall not be denied to the Republicans in
these States where rebels have been rehAbilitat-
ed with full citizenship. Applause. Every
question waits the settlement of this. The
tariff question would be settled already if the
5000 600 black laborers in the South had their
due representation in the House Of Representa-
tives. Applause.
And my soldier friends. interested that liberal
provisions should be made for the care of the
disabled soldier-are they willing that this cues.
ton should be settled without the presence in
the House of Representatives of the power and
influence of those faithful black men in the
South. who were always their ,friendsl Jap
plause.l The dependent pension bill would pass
over the Presidents veto il these black friends
of the Union soldier had their fair representa-
ton in Congress. fApplause. The question of
free and equal ballot is the dominant question;
it lies at the foundation of our government