Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1890-10-02
Baxter on the Lodge Bill.
From his Nashville Speech.

Baxter on the Lodge Bill.
From his Nashville Speech.
One Of the objections urged against me
Is that |, and the party I have the honor
to represent, favor the Lodge bill, or what
Is commonly known as the force bill.
Now, 1t is well known, even to those who
assert the contrary, that l am not now or
have I ever been In favor of that meas
ure. Nor can 1t be affirmed with truth
that the republican party is committed 10
1t. As SO much importance seems to be
attached to this matter and as the organs
and speakers of the democratic party are
with historical energy pushing it TO the
front as the prime question of the pres
ent canvass. l deem 1t quite proper to
frankly and u~nequivocaliy state my own
views and define my own position. l ad-
here to the principle that every qualified
citizen should he free TO vote, and when
his vote was cast that It should be hon.
estly counted. 1t Is not denied that by
connivance and fraud, and oitentimes by
violence, the republican vote In some of
the southern states, notably In Florida,
Mississippi, Arkansas, South Carolina,
and 10 the tenth congressional district of
Tennessee, has been suppressed, and for
years there has not been in either of those
states q fair expression OF political senti-
ment at the ballot box. To such methods
am unulterably opposed. The integrity
of the national and state governments
and the moral tone Of the people are
largely affected and influenced by such
corrupt practices.
But great as the evil undoubtedly Is,
the pracicalquestioa with me is whether
the pending federal election bill will &C.
complish the publication Of elections
without, at the same time. generating
troubles of greater magnitude. My de.
liberate conviction is that it will not. As
has been shown by Mr.. Ewart. of North
Carolina, and other eminent republicans.
the compact organization Of the demo-
cratic party In those states where the ne.
gro vote is In the majority will be
brought about. and every method that
ingenuity and partisan hate can devise
will be resorted to and cause the repe-
tition Of the same story with which the
country has been familiar for fifteen years
past.
One Of the worst consequences of the
passage of this bill will be the irritation
produced In the south and the cOnse-
quent ~retardation Of the fraternal feelings
between the two sections of this union.
now slowly but surely being cemented.
Anything which hinders or delays or pre-
vents the reconciliation Of the people OF
the north and south. is to be deeply de:
plored. hope and believe that a sense
of justice and fairness in The white people
OF The south will eventually bring about
a settlement Of this question. and that
the Shotgun and "tissue ballot
methods in a few years will be looked
upon as a barbarous relict Of the past.
My position on this question, ! am glad
to say, is in harmony with the views Of
many of the leading republicans Of the
nation. Senator Paddock. Of Nebraska, a
republican, emphasized his opposition to
this bill In a speech in the senate, by re-
ferring to the recent republican conven.
ton held In Nebraska. which not only
refused 10 sanction the measure, but
altogether ignored 1t. So also the repub-
licans In Wisconsin In their recent
convention significantly ignored this bill.
The leading papers of the west have
taken pronounced positions on the sub.
ject. The Milwaukee Sentinel, In q late
issue, reafirmed Its opposition to the bill
in these words: at will not be effective
to assure honest elections, while 1t will
be used, as It is already being used by
political demagogues to perpetuate un.
just animosities against the republican
party, and open still wider the fountains
oftsectional distrust and hatred in the
southy' The St. Paul Pioneer Press has
made an earnest fight against the bill,
and the st. tcais Globe Democrat, whose
r~epublicanism no one will doubt, de.
oiares that ''the masses of the party in
the west are turning against it," and
again. THE election bill must be drop.
ded not merely for this session. but for
all time" So this bill cannot longer be
made to serve the democrats as q raw
head and bloody bones to frighten the
timid and excite prejudice and passion.
II Is dead and in my opinion will never
be resurrected.