The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1888-10-18
Issues in the Coming Election.

Issues in the Coming Election.
It is the common remark that the
tariff question is the principal issue
in the November election. It is true
this is the most talked about cues
ton, and is made the burden of nine
tenths of the platform speaking DUR
ing this campaign. But while it is a
subject Of vast importance to the
rights of labor and the industrial in
terests Of the country, still it falls be-
low in moral Importance matters
pertaining to human rights under our
form OF government. If the inalien-
able rights Of majorities, not only in
districts of country, but in whole
states, are trampled upon by brute
force, in open violation of law and
the constitution go UNPUBLISHED, how
can tariff, high or low, compensate
for the wrong The terrible war
through which the country passed.
succeeded in crushing out open re-
Ibellion, but did not secure to MANY
thousands of legal voters the exer-
else Of the elective franchise. Every
year since the war was declared
closed multitudes have been driven
from the polls by violence. Had
such cases occurred in the South in
isolated districts Of country in few
instances, it would not have been SO
reprehenslble. These violent and
murderous proceedings have occur
red yearly in different sections Of the
South, and in states where the Re-
publlcans by fair vote would be in
a majority In some states Repub-
llcans have found is useless to at
tempt an organization, because of
the danger Of mob violence. In
South Carolina where there is a pre-
ponderance of colored population,
the white Republicans in view of the
situation that there would be no pro-
lection for colored voters resolved
to make no state nominations this
year. In other states the Republican
vote has been thrown out and re-
fused count. The attention of
Congress has often been called to
election outrages in the South, and
at different times committees have
been chosen to investigate and take
testimony, but various obstacles have
been put into their way. It was diff
flcult to find witnesses who were will
ing to testify, from the fear of ill
treatment by the party in power
South, and courts for the same rea-
son were unwilling to convict for
these offenses. Another hindrance
has been in Congress; the two
branches are antagonistic: the
House being Democratic, does not
wish to incur the displeasure of a
large voting element: and the Sen
ate with Republican majority too
small for decisive action, has moved
to disadvantage in attempts to bring
to punishment the criminals.
How long shall these national
abuses continue? This is for the
people to answer. A Democratic
administration will not apply the
corrective, but the reply will be as
heretofore, this is matter for the
states of the south to regulate them
selves. With a Republican admin
istration seconded by good Repub-
lican majority in Congress, these out
RACES can be arrested, and probably
IN no other way. The constitution
does give Congress the power of a
voice in the regulation Of national
elections. If encroachments like
these on the constitutional rights of
the people were practiced under any
civilized government of Europe, they
would not be allowed to go without
redress, or revolution would follow.
The election Of members of the
right stamp to Congress ought not to
be overlooked in the general excite
ment on the tariff issue: it should be
regarded one Of the vital issues now
before the people.