The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-08-02
THE LODGE CONSPIRACY.

| The statement Is Illdut lTOHl WASH
ingtOn, in way to leave no doubt OF
| its truth, that previous to deciding
upon forcing the Lodge elections bill
through the house, conference OF
radical republicans was held, under
the leadership Of Reed, Dudley and
Quay. at which it was plainly stated
that there was no hope Of carrying
enough congressional districts in the
northern states to secure control OF
the next house, Dudley asserting that
there was not salt enough IN the ocean
to make Indiana republican this year;
that the only salvation of the party
therefore depended upon gaining con-
troll Of some Of the southern states.
and it was determined that the states
of South Carolina, Mississippi and
| Louisiana must be made available for
this purpose by means OF such force
| legislation as was involved in the
| Lodge bill and the bill, in consc-
uuence of this decision, was forced
through the house and every device OF
party discipline is being concentrated
upon the senate to force it through
that body
Up to the PRONUNCIATION of this state
ment from Washington, the south had
rested comparatively quiet under the
threatened passage Of the Lodge bill,
relying upon their ability by quiet
means TO defeat its main purpose.
This report, however, specifying these
states as the intended victims, and
implying, as it necessarily does, the
intention to use force in their sub
jugaton to negro rule, thus reviving
all the horrors and infamieS Of the ''re-
construction period" has suddenly
thrown the south into a state OF intense
excitement. Charles n. Dave, whose
home is in South Carolina, and known
in Charleston as wealthy shipowner,
stated at Chicago on Saturday, that in
coming north by way Of Atlanta, he
was startled at the sudden intense
feeling that prevailed all along the
route. All the southern states are
making common cause with the in
tended victims, feeling that the entire
south is outraged and insulted by a
government in whose defense they
had stood ready to spring to arms.
The south, it is further stated, does
not den> the power of congress to reg
ulate the time, place and manner OF
holding elections for congressman.
That power was given to congress be-
cause under the old confederation the
states frequently neglected to send
members to the continental con-
gress," so that 1t was often impossible
to get a quorum in that body: but the
power was to be exercised only If the
states neglected to perform their duty
in that respect, and it was never in
tended to exercise it otherwise. But
the Lodge bill not only exercises this
power when there is no call for it, but
it goes beyond the constitutional grant
by interfering with the state ticket
and state officers. 1t authorizes the
election officers appointed by the gen,
eral government to canvass the vote
for state officers, and to investigate,
interfere with and spy upon voters.
1t utilities many provisions OF the
state election laws, and finally author
ICES the use Of troops at the polls.
These are the features In which the
south sees reproduced all the worst
characteristics of the reconstruction
laws OF infamous memory and that
they justly look upon As so threaten
ing to the independence Of the states.
There will be no new rebellion il this
law Is enforced: but though the states
selected as victims may be turned over
to the negroes at the point of the bay
onet, there will, when the day comes
be either no negroes there to rule, OF
no whites to be ruled.
| |
b 4. %. ID.