New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-30
AN APPEAL TO ANTI-SLAvERY VOTERS.
ONE WAR ISSUE STILL UNsETTLED-A LETTER
FROM MR.. OLIVER JOHNSON.

FROM MR.. OLIVER JOHNSON.
Tothe Editor of The Tribune
SIR The day of election is close at hand put
hope It is not too late for few earnest words ad
dressed TO class of men who are tempted TO vote
with the Democratic party upon the plea that, all
the questions at issue in the Civil War being setco
II makes no difference antislavery grounds, which
party has control in the National Government Deg
leave TO remind such men that there Is sun one
question growing out Of the war which IS not yer
settled and which demands the graves consideration
of every friend of the Republic 1t is the question
of the right OF the Southern negro to vote ana nave
his vote honestly counted. The Republicans meant
10 secure this right by the amendments to the Const
tuition which were made conditions of Reconstrucuoh
but the construction put upon these amendments ny
the Supreme Court makes them, at the last pinch, In
eectual for that purpose and renders u possible Ior
the Southern States while counting the negro popua
lion I'm fixing the number Of their representatives III
Congress and in the Electoral College, to keep vast
numbers of negro voters from the polls by Intimidation
or violence or TO refuse to count their ballots when
cast 1t is not in the power Of the Nationai ooVcrn
ment to remedy this evil by statute, ana Oh 'his
account 1t became necessary for President hayes 70
withdraw the troops that had been sent 10 the sou'h
to enforce the negro's right.
What then? Shall we, because of the careiessness
of the Republican party in leaving door open 10
sucb frauds and outrages abandon those moral
remedies that are left IN hands for the cure Oh
this gigantic evill Such course would De INC very
acme Of folly ingratitude and injustice Does any
one ask what the loyal and liberty-loving people
of the North can do by way of resistance 10 the CRIME
by which the black voters Of the South are deprived
of their rights? / answer that they can say 10 the
cx-slavehoders So long az you persist Ill such
yIckedness and seek to protect yourselves ID IL Dy
Solid South in combination with Northern Coppcrheads
and the denizens o. the Northern Sums, all III 'he
name of Democracy. VIC shall confront you Win
North as solid as adamant, keeping you, so lar as
NAV Re legally and honorably possible Out Oh power
I'm the National Government, and conining you no 10
hack seats on all occasions We will prevent me
eIecfion of any man for President who cOnnlVee q,
the outraCes we seek to suppress, or VINO WouIu
nominate for Judges OF courts Cabinet ofcers loree
ministers etc, men who are not pledged 10 40 every
thing ir their power TO MAINTAIN the fgn' Vi 'n0
blacks as well as the whites 10 the suffrage .
So much we have a legal and legitimate rght 10
do and II we fail 10 do Ii we shali lai OF ouI uuh
10 the Republic. Shall the North tamely submit
TO let South Carolina have reprcsehtaiiNe III e,
gress and I'm the Electoral College for every ooo-
votes that she polls, while Massachuse,,s easrs e
average of over 10000 votes TO obtain such iTpsc
sentative9 If this Is what our friends, the dnue
pendents think shall submit TO in order 10 escape
The charge of "shaling the bloody shirt they VIII
find themselves mistaken. For the sake OF fee tiaae
they NAV be wiling TO see the negroes trampisea
under tho feet OF their old masters and to let me
National Govrnment pass permanently under ,no
control of men who so lately sought It's 9esuucton,
but believe that the majority OF Northern vo'eIe
will fnterpOse TO prevent such an inquiry ana 10
make il sure that tie official representatives Oh the
National Government in the Southern states are mcii
who will at least exert moral lnnuvhcg III S "
equal rights Ol-iS n" ~ o1 Iseo
Nh ~ Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, Oct -, 1888.