The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-12-13
The Democratic Leader Declares
Himself Heartily in Favor of
Ballot Reform
The Fight for Pure Elections 70
End in a Great and Speedy
Victory
The Injustice Of the Protective Tarih
Dangers which Threaten the Ma
ton From Intimidation.

BosroN, Dec. i2.-Oyer 400 prominent
business men'of Boston and New England
crowded the apartments of the Hotel Ven
dome this evening on the occasion of the
annual banquet OF the Boston Merchants
association. Around the table in the cen
ter sat Hon. Jonathan A. Lane, president of
the association; at his right were ex-Presi-
dent Cleveland and Ii. W. Grady, W. l..
Putnam, Z. A. Collins, John Lowell, Wm. T..
Russell and Leopold Morse, while ON the
left were seated Gov. Oliver Ames Andrew
Carnegie, Gen. Clinton B. Fiske and
Collector Saltonstall, all guests of the nsso-
citation. After reading a letter of regret
from James Russell Lowell, President Lane
proceeded in a brief speech and introduced
Gov. AInes, who Welcomed the guests of the
occasion. President Lane then introduced
ex- President Cleveland. who WIS greeted
with long continued applause, shouts and
cheers.
Mr.. Cleveland dwelt on the injustice
Of fostering certain branches OF trade
at the expense Of others by the means
of protective tariff, with the accompany
ING evils of intimidation of labor 10y aggre-
gate capital. From this he turned TO the
question of the dangers which threaten the
nation from the intimidation and corrup-
ton of the voter. On this subject be said:
1--WE need not stifle our scorn and contempt
for the wretch who basely sells his vote.
and who for brlbe betrays his trust of citi-
, zenshlp: and yet the thought will ntrude
itself that he but follows IN low and yul-
gar fashion the example of those who pro-
coed upon the theory that political action
may he turned to private gain. But we
know that when political seltishness
is destroyed, our dangers will disappear.
and though the way to its stronghold may
be long aud weary. we will follow
II, fighting as we go. There will
be no surrender. nor will there be de-
sertions from our ranks. This hope has
risen like n star in the east, has fixed ON il
the gaze az our patiOtic fellow ccuntryneti, 4,
7 and everywhere in our busy marts of trade
and ON our farms. in our cities and in the
homes of the poor. IN our universities and
IN our workshops. in our banking houses
and IN the ranks of iueNorable toll, they
greet with enthusiastic ncclaim the advent
of ballot reform. | remember the inaugura-
, tion of another reform, and have
seen IL grow and extend until IL
has become firmly established in our
] law and practice-it is to-day our greatest
safeguard against the complete and dis
, graceful degradation of our public service.
IL has its enemies. and all of them are not
yet silenced. But its victory came. wrought
: by the force of enlightened public senii-
ment, and upon its triul every objection
, which had been urged against IL was COM
pleteiy discredited. As II has been with
MY ha bul 4.
reform, except that the coming victory will
be more speedily achieved and more com
plete."
Following Cleveland came Henry w.
Grndy, of Georgia, who was warmly re-
ceyed
MIR. Grady said he WAS invited to discuss
the race problem. He sRid the south, the
fnirest aud richest domain on the enrth, is
so scantily peopled that but IL per cent of
its lands are cultivated. The sons Of New
England seek with troubled eye some new
colorado. yet since 1860 the imInigra-
tion Of nprtheners 10 the south
, has been decreasing because of the
race problem and the suspicious IL
breeds. SOutherners are SO bcset with
this problem that their very existence de-
pends on its right solution Replying TO
, the Imputatlon that the south treated the
negroes uninstlN, the speaker said th year
the south raised 10000 bales of cotton.
which enormous crop could not have come
from the hands of diseontcnted labor. The
negroes of Georgia. who twenty-five years
ago were slaves, now possess twenty million
dollars worth of property. For every Afro
American agitator stirring strife, he could
show "A thousand negroes huppy in
their cabin homes. and with chill
dren in school, IL il admitted
that there il disorder and violence. but il is
} misiudged. Lawlessness in lowR is accept
ed hs am accident. while that IN the south il
ascribed TO race causes. The black will
cast free ballot when ignorance anywhere
is not dominated by the will of the inteli-
gent. The whites are banded, not in preju-
dice, but of necessity The negro vote re
mains AN ignorant and credulOus faction.
the prey of the unscrupulousness of both
parties, and plays part IN campaign in
which every interest of society is ieopar.
died and every approach 20 the ballot box
debauched. Against such a campaign as
this the southern whites ARE banded, as the
Massachusetts whites would he in
similar circumstances. ln reply 10
cha allenee as TO tine alleged smallnoss of the
southern VOTE 8lr. Grady said the sixteen
southern states in 1883 cast G7 per cent of
their total vote and the New England
states but 6I per cent Of theirs. The negro
has learned that the ballot box, which
promised him most, has yielded him least,
and at last has realized that his best friends
are his Bighbors, with whose prosperity his
own is bound up. II would be we'll for
northern pdItisans 10 understand that the
negro vote can never again control
the south. II there be any human
force which cannot be withstood, IL is that
OF the banded intelligence and responsible
ity Of free community. Upon that the
south relies not upon the cowardly menace
OF the mask or shotgun. Force bills will
not avail. The north may surrender its
liberties 20 federal election law. hut never
AGAIN will a single state, north OF south be
delivered 10 the control of an ignorant
and inferior race. Time alone can tell how
the problem presented will be solved. The
speaker believed II would be solved by the
people most bound in honor 20 its solution.
He asked; First. pntienee out of this
alone can come perfect work; second,
confidence; in this alone can you Judge
fairly. Third. sympathy; in this you can
help us best. Fourth, give us your sons as
hostages that they may help 10 swell the
Anglo-SaNOn current until il can carry with
out danger this blnck infusion. Fifth, 10y
atty 10 the republics for there is IA sectional
ism In loyalty AS in estrangcment. Give us
the broad and perfect loyalty, that loves and
trusts Georgia alike with Massachusetts,,
that knows no south, no north, no east, no