The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-06

very city through the forms of law, without
the same provocation or extenuaton. The
inviolability of negro suffrage and the right
of the majority 20 rule are recognized by all
parties here; but sir is the regard Of the
Republican party for negro suffrage as
sacred rs it is claimed TO be? II so, let me
ask, why did Republican Congress abolish
II in the District OF Columbia
Why did they strike down the right OF the
majority 10 rule right here in the shadow
OF the national capitol? The experiment Of
negro suffrage was tried in this district
under more favorable circumstances TO its
complete success than Is possible anywhere
else on earth. Here the blacks occupy n
higher plane of civilization than in any Of
the southern States. There are more men
Of intelligence and moral character, moro
rich men among them here than In any
other community on the continent OF Amer
ica- There were more safeguards against
mistakes in the exercise OF the right OF sui-
fragC and the legislation which might follow
in the power of Congress TO revise and con
troll such legislation There were advantages
and assurances against any cyil TO result
from the negroes voting here which no State
could possess. Yet, sir the Congress Of
the United Statcs-a Republican Con.
prcss-with a single blow abrogated No
gro suffrage and destroyed the very ex.
isiencc OF local sclf-goyernmcnt here In the
District Of Columbia. IL may have been
neccssary-l am not discussing thnt-but 10
shows that there are interests of property
and society which Republicans hold higher
than the ncgro's right 10 vote or the major
ity's right 20 rule And here | desire TO
call attention 10 the fact, and emphasize IL.
that the only reactionary measure on the
subject of negro suilrage-thc only govern
ment action depriying the black man Of his
right TO vote already vested in his race
was the measure Of Congress OF which the
Senate and the House, rs well as the Presi-
dent were Republican.
No sacred regard for the inviulabilty Of
suffrage and the rule OF the majority can
explain the investigations aud the whole.
sale denunciations which we sometimes hear
Of alleged election wrongs Ia Democratic
States In the south when great crimes
against the ballot-if we are 90 believe all
we hear which comes to as with the appear
hnce OF truth-arc committed IN Republican
States of the north and pass unnoticcd here.
Those who feel able TO do 81 should inform
the people Of this country why IL Is that an
election fraud committed upon a negro in n
Democratic State in the south is dealt with
by Republicans here us more damning
crime than such a fraud committed upon a
white man in n Republican State In the
northY Is the intimidation which has been
charged against the south more dangerous a.
public liberty than the corruption aud
tisans and shrcwdor political managers la
some other quarters OF the Unior2 il not
Its influence less lasting aud less fatal than
the purchase Of Legislature by a rich
monopoly or the control Of elections hy the
financial contributions of wealthy aud UNI
scnpulous mcn2
On the 30th Of April last the senator from
Ohio tMr Sherman) said on this floor that
great election frauds had been committed In
his own state In 1880 and that
II l. now conceded by men NJ all parties that
those Wrtc shameless, scauduluuN muustrptis
imuds. q bad as auy that wcrc ever committed In
the south.
lie charged that they wcrc--
furcly the work NJ the Democratic party
But IL j. the Same party whose conduct In !
Copinh he made the prctcyt Tor his rc,olu. |
ton a. investigate the Mississippi election
In iSSl Why when lac was able 10
prefer ~ grave charge on his own
responsibility could lac not have
senatorial committee organized Ia in
wade Ohio anl look into the internal aiIairs
Of that State he 1850. ~ De- had done upun /
kindred accusations based upon mere hear.
cay In the case OF Mississippi but three years
bciorc'
What il there that give. the Conrrc,, Of
the United States power over n sovereign |
State In the south, which mo- statesman il ,
nudacious enough 90 claim for IL. when a
]
front the intelligence oi the American t,on
pc 10y ayoWing The rrai ground uf such dis.
elimination a. he that Mississippi is q south. |
orn State and Democratic. and Ohio isa r..
Uu'ficau State in The NORTH Aud. Mr. prr-. !
idcnt how does 10 llppru that the taking II .
human lie 10y body ui armed men, in VIC.
lauon oi State laws When 10 orgurs ina
southern State and ncrru-s are the victims |
gives rice o. the introduction uf u measure |
AL al. tfNt Us. D.
lntiyo history 1T America II d Doe the
province II tuurr~, a. deal with mohs
why WIS not b. power turned upon the pyu.
pie ~ Cincinnati 70 few year. net when good
order was suhyyrt,l, and tlr Foundations ui
society were shaken hy u mob tu % d,a,,c
never known iu any southern State Whrrc
libraries wgrr sacrificed public rprurtlH |
burned. aud the hluulo OF white citiEous made p,
50 Tow like water iu thU streets 1T the city, |
How DID the people Of Chicago r-faI, /
senatorial investigation IN the springut iS.b |
when thc mayor, ina public proclamation. |
taid ticr, WAS
The oirn defiance 1T me guardians ~ the rr,o, /
" h.lY 30 lawl,Hs mon who uudur the ufririfs.,
81 siding ne lahufinE men, ar really uudyiyurur |
~ destroy u'I laws
Aud where, according 10 The mayor
Th"se mcu ~ The usapi weapons never tc,ofta.i /
o. ~ civilized lands, gNUepi iu times Ii war uf iuf
fc,olnii'naiy rurI.-'- o'usri rr'ai t'n1i'hoi
Woo scr cusaErl simply ia che IyHomautr II
But Mr. President these monsir,us
crimes and none such Wprg ever known n
amy southern state, were not committed
ur'n ncfrres and they cannot hy any in
Frnuiiy BE- associated with The political
rliurr NJ the uegro question. aud no fear
'Hn Hr plausihly pretended that possibly
lHHN WHN touch the exercise uf the elective |
franchise and deprive che Republican Marty