Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-02-28
THURSDAY. FEBRUARY %. 1889,
The payonet and Free Government

The Bayonet and Free Government
Mr.. LopeE, OF Massachusetts,, who re-
Gently committed the objectionable biunder,
not to say crime, Of saying In the United
States House OF Representatives. that he was
willing to have ile OF soldiers stationed OF
every yoting.place In his district TO see that
the congressional election was fairly con-
Quoted, has found M endorse. in the Boston
Traveller, which says:
ali the bayouet alone can keen the ballot
box inyioate TO the citizen. put the bayonet
right there. That Is not only Republicanism
but Americanism.
Thoughtless Traveller. When the bsyonet
guards the ballot-box the voting IL all done
by tyrant. As matters now stand there
need be no fear that fraud, force, iiregula.
rifles, or corruption, will last long. The
voters will soon divide upon new issues, and
the cleavage will be along new lines. The
voters will thus be posted as to the tricks Of
the party managers, aud will not allow such
10 be practieed on them.
This is an immense coustry. Home rule
Is feature wherein our system OF Govern
ment differs from any other which the world
has ever seen. The States are the indie
structable parts that go TO make uD an indis>
soluble whole; or, rs it used TO be phrased
in sDte-bellum days, they are as distinct
as the pillows yet one as the sea- When
ever they lose their true character and be-
come nero sstrspies, the end Of free govern
neut will have come for us.
oil nv
this wide-exteDded land they will eventually
be righted. II the Democrats commit frauds
10 Kentucky, these frauds are neutralized or
Offset by frauds in OHIO. IL one state is ger
rymandered in the interest OF the Repu6li.
can party, some other State Is eerryman.
dered In the interest Of the Democratic party.
IL Republican votes are suppressed in some
few localities IN South Carolina, Democratic
votes are suppressed in New York state,
where Democratic majority often TO twenty
or thirty thousand has been so treated as TO
insure for years Republican matorties In the
State Legislature. and consequently two Re-
publican United States senators who repre-
sent minority. II a republican form OF gov
eminent cannot be discerned in Louisiana
by the technical Republicans In the United
States Senate, n republican form OF govern
ment cannot be discerned in New York State
BY the Democrats IN that body.
But suppose that instead OF allowing the
several States to regulate these matters to
suit themselves the Federal Government
were 10 undertake TO legislate for all the
- autt oh
confusion worse confounded would prevail.
The man on horseback would soon ride into
the arena. The bayonet would execute the
tyranps will where now the ballot executes
the freeman's.
Senster DANIEL last week made speech
which we must think had some effect upon
the New England Senators. lie reminded
those Senators that the six New England
States, with population less by more than
n million OF souls than that OF New York
State. had six times as many members OF tue
United States Senate. The Traveller should
ponder this fact. II should also ponder the
fact that HARRISON will he a minority Presl-
dent. And above all, aud more significant
than anything else, is the fact that Mr..
CLEVELAND was honored with the votes Of a
majority OF more than million OF the white
voters OF this land OF the free.
"Put up the sword" says RIcHELIEU;
estates may be ruled without IT." Tue
bsyopet and the sword are the same; and II
our national rulers were unwIse enough to
station soldiers at every voting-place in the
Union the ballots would soon come TO repre-
sent nothing but force, and the foolish voters
who would thus have lost their liberties
would have reason TO clothe themselves In
sackcloth and ashes.