The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-06-12

Speech at Detroit. Feb. %. 1885
The bottom prnciple-eometimes it is called
the corner-stone. sometimes the foundation Of
our sfructure IF eosernmsnt-is the principle Of
control by the majority. 1t il more than the
cornerstone or foundation. The structure 10 .
monolith, one from foundation to apex and that
monolith stands for and 10 this principle Of gov
eminent by majorities. legally ascertained by
constitutional methods Everything else about
our government il appendaee, is ornamentation.
This 10 the olit bic column that was reared by
Washington and his associates. For this the
war of the revolution Was fought; for this aud
its moro perfect security theConstituuon was
formed; for this the war of the rebellion WAS
fought. and when the principle perishes the
structure which Washington and his com patriots
reared lies dishonored In the dust. The equality
OF the ballot demands that our apportionments
in the States for legislative and congressional
purposes shall be 80 adjusted that there shall be
equality in the influence and the power Of every
el-ctor. so that it shall not BE- true anywhere
that one man counts two or one and half and
some other man counts only one-half.
The question of a free aud equal ballot
10 the dominant question; it lies at the
foundation OF our government. embracing all
others. because it involves the question Of afree
and fair tribunal to which every question shall
be submitted for arbitrament and final determi-
nation.
The truth to-day is that the colored Re-
by consequence. the white Republican vote of
the South. is deprived Of all effective influence
In the administration OF this government The
additional power given by the colored popula-
ton Of the South in the Electoral College,. and
In Congress. was more'than enough to turn the
last election for President. and more than
enough to reverse. yes. largely more than re-
verse, the present Democratic majority of thu
House of Representatives Have We the spirit
to insist that everywhere, North and South in
IN m ~ al
OF his bafot by reason OF his politics2 There is
not In all this land place where any rebel sol
der Is subject to any restraint, or 10 denied the
fullest exercise of the elective franchise Shall
We not insist that what is true of those VINO
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, that to belong
to Abraham Lincolns party ehall be respectable
and reputable every where in America
Speech at Chicago. March IN. 1855:
We cannot quietly submit to the fact, while
it is true everywhere IN the United States, that
the man who fought four years against his coun-
try is allowed the full. free unrestricted exer-
cisss OF his new citizenship it shall not also be
true every where that every man who followed
Lincoln 10 his political views. and every soldier
who fought to uphold the flag, shall in the same
full, ample manner DO secured in his political
rights.
Some Of these independent journalists
call this tho bloody shirt" They say We
are trying to revive thes:rifs of the war; to rake
over the extinct embers to kindle the Ere
again. want it understood that for one have
no quarrel with the South for what took place
between 1861 and 1865. am willing to forget
that they were rebels, at least ~ soon % they
ara willing to forget il themselves, and that
time does not seem to have come yet to thsm-
But our complaint is against what WAS done in
1884. not against what was done during the war;
Our complaint is against what will DO done this
year; not what was done between 1861 and 1865
terrors for me- believe We greatly underesti-
mate the Importance of bringing the issue to the
front. and with that oft-time Republican courage
aud outspoken fidelity 20 truth denouncine it the
land over. If We cannot do anything else We
can either mako these people ashamed of this
outrage against the ballot or make the world
ashamed of them.