The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-05-31
THE OVERTHROW OF POPULAR GOV
ERNMENT IN THE SOUTH.


The Argus and Patriot has done little
since the Democratic State Convention
but explain the action there taken, apol-
ogize tor the office-holders it contained
and answer the press comments there
on. In tackling Colonel Clarke of the
Rutland Herald, Brother Atkins has
Caught a Tartar" and that portion OF
the controversy relating to the usurpa-
ton of popular government in the solid
South has a far-reaching importance to
every Northern voter. The suppression
of the popular voice in the South is not
disputed by General Wade Hampton,
and is boosted of in Congress, as we
showed recently. The Herald's figures
and statistics are herewith submitted:
In the eight districts of Alabama.
where there are lis, 423 cOlored voters,
there were only "a, 459 votes against the
Democratic ticket. In the Fifth district,
where the Republican vote in 1869 was
4, 1893, it had dwindled to IT'S, most of
which votes probably were cast by
whites. In the First, Second and Third
districts, where the Republican vote in
1869 was 39,0l9, there was in 1856 not a
single vote in opposition to the Demo-
cratic members.
In the six districts Of Louisiana,
where the white voters number lOS,OO0
and the colored voters 10000 Tin round
numbers), there were in 1886 only 81 ,45O
votes against the Democratic members.
In the Fourth district, where the Repub-
lican vote in 1870 was ll,7S6, there was
in 1856 not single Republican vote
cast. And after the election in that
State this spring, when a Democratic
division in the southern part was
thought to endanger that party, more
votes were counted in for it in the
northern parishes than there were regis
tered voters OF both parties.
In the seven districts of Mississippi,
where there were los, 900 white voters
and l3O, 900 colored voters. there were
in 1886 only lO,624 Republican votes
cast, and in three of the districts there
was not one.
In the ten districts of Georgia, where
there are $4,000 white voters and 49,
900 colored voters, there were in 1886
only 1850 Republican votes cast. and in
six districts there was not one.
In South Carolina, where there are
Sc, 900 white voters and $4,000 cOlored
voters, there were in 1885 only 1851 Re
publican votes cast, and in six of the
seven districts there was not one, And
yet in 1870 the Republican vote in three
Of the districts had exceeded the Demo
cratic vote. The shotgun policy has
reduced the total vote of the State from
l21 900 in 1882 to 80, 900 in 1886, thus
showing that force has overthrown the |
elective franchise, and that an oligarchy |
Of caste usurps the powers of the peo-
pie.
Many more facts might be given, but
.hese are sufficient to prove-what, in
Iced, everybody knows and few deny
hat since the present Democratic ma
ority IN Congress is very narrow, and
Iince the President received majority
If only thirty-seven electoral votes, if
he Republican majorities which actual
y exist in Alabama, Florida, North Car
,lina, South Carolina, Virginia and
1ote and honest count, every branch OF
he national government would be Re-
publican to-day by good majorities.
The Southern States last named in
.872 gave General Grant forty-seven
electoral votes. This number trans
erred from Mr.. Cleveland to Mr.. Blaine
n the Is st election-as they would have
,een but for intimidation and fraud
would have made Mr.. Blaine's vote
tand 800 and Mr.. Cleveland's 172.
These facts doubtless look very NASTY"
o the editor Of the Argus, but they
rove what a great overthrow of popu.
ar government there has been, not only
n several States, but in the nation, by
he very means which we stated,