The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1890-10-30
RORCE BILL.

EDITORS JoURNAL--I want to
thank you for permitting your read
ers to find in the Journal so choice
bit OF political morality as you gave
US in the extract from DR.. Felton's
speech rrade at Augusta in 1882.
Your correspondents claim that
this speech made in 1882 advocates
the force bill'' so-called, which bill
was not introduced in Congress un-
til 1890, sa7ors little Of expost
facto proceedings; but no matter;
We can take the sentiments express
ed IN their merits, and can rejoice
that one of the strong men of the
South had the courage then to utter
views so noble and statesmanlike.
His words have the ring of the old
days of jefferson and Madison, and
if the people of our whole country
had acted in accord with these SEM
timents tor the last fifteen years we
should see very different state of
things from that which how exists
in large parts of the nation.
SUBSCRIBER.
| The above, endorsing DIR. Felton's
''force bill' ideas, is from a highly
respected Republican, who has lived
South and in Marietta number of
years, but evidently entertains SEN
timents in keeping with those of
extreme Republicans Of the Tom
Reed, Lodge, and Mckinley stripe.
DR.. FELTON,, when he made the
speech referred TO, was smarting
under defeat, and doubtless repudi-
ates those sentiments to day. What
our "Republican" correspondent
means by saying sit the people of
our whole country had acted in ac-
cord with these sentiments for the
last fifteen years, we should see
very different state Of things from
that which now exists in large pal IS
OF the nation" We DO not under
stand, unless be thinks Cleveland
would have been counted out by
fraudulent returning boards, like
Tilden was, and that the ''force bill''
if had been in existence for "fifteen
year," wodld have counted out duly
elected Democratic Congressman
and seated negro contestants in
their place, and by such fraud and
force seek to terrorize and Repubii.
canize the South. "Force bills
In their very nature inimical to our
republican form Of government, can
create trouble, but cannot negroize
and Republicanize the South, no
matter how many are passed. We
know Of nothing, that "now exists"
which is SO particularly detrimental
to the nation, as the Republican
party, party that is in the minori-
ty in the popular vote, but knowing
of It's waning power, would pass the
''force bill'' TO entrench themselves
in power by force and fraud.
Jefferson and Madison, if living,
would be found in opposition to all
such despotic and undemocratic
measures, for they hated tyranny
and usurpation, as the devil hates
holiness.
While we regret to see any man
who lives South, rejoice" over
such ultra sentiments, we verify be-
lieve the ''force bill,'' if it should
pass, the Mckinley high tariff bill,
and the unseating of Democratic
Congressman, through Tom Reeds
arbitrary rulings, will create q SEN
tlment so antagonistic throughout
the nation" as to result in the
righteous overthrow of the Repub-
llcan party and the gain OF sutfic-
lent majority in the next Congress
to make it Democratic. The feel
ing that would prompt such meas
ure is purely sectional and must
give away to a liberal and patriotic
spirit, as the young men of the
North and South come into the po-
litical control of affairs, and the old
South haters ''pass to that bourne
from whence no traveller returns"
rrrrnN-u-rnr,