The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1890-07-24

For The Democrat.

SASIaLAhCIOu VI tue 1hOhdu L OHt4I
with regard to some high-handed
measure which he had undertaken
II am not able to do this by law, but
by the greatness of my power / will
do it," These words might well be ap-
piled to the Republican majority in
Congress, who recently passed the
Lodge Election Law in defiance of
right and justice and in the teeth of
every principle of the Constitution.
The purpose Of the bill, as alleged
by is supporters, is laudable enough,
to be sure. They say that the eleC~
tions at the South are mere farces
aud they introduce this measure TO
remedy long standing evil. Such
a clam, coming from such q source,
is Ridiculous in the extreme. In the
first place the elections in the South
are as fair as they are in the North
or iG any other part of the country,
for that matter. In the second place,
though they were not, tue Repu blic>
an party is about as well qualified to
institute reform in any department
of the government, as Robert 6. In
gersoll is to become a missionary to
China. In the third place, If their
own record was little less spotted
in every particular, they can find
enough to do for the next twenty>
five years in fumigating their own
ranks. For instance they might
turn their attention to Mr.. Dudley Of
''blocks of five fame," who shortly
after the recent election found it
convenient to absent himself coDsld-
erably more than five blocks from
his native State, in order to avoid
the clutches Of the law. Or they
might give q share Of their notice to
that devout black-leg, John Wanna
maker.
The truth is they discern objects
better at a distance. The fraud ex-
isting in the far South is plainly
within the range of their vision but
the crimes committed at their own
doors pass unnoticed. They prefer
q telescope to a microscope. With
the former instrument they sweep
the horizon and discover spot upon
the sun Of Southern righteousness
and 10 bowl goes up from all
quarters. In the meantime they are
blind to the microbes of moral dis
ease that are preylng upon their own
political system.
The time has gone by when the
public placed any confidence their
pledges of reform. BY some means
or other the opinion has become cur
rent that a Republican returning
board is not the mightiest engine of
purity known IN this free govern
ment. Possibly the iniluitous pro-
ceedings of 1876 have something to
do with the prevalence Of such an
opinion. Moreover there is some
thing strikingly anomalous in the
sight of party which has stolen one
presidency and successfully negotiat-
ed the purchase of two more, crying
aloud for a free ballot and q fair
coupt.
There is no one to be deceived by
this hue and cry of political crime in
the South. There is no one who be.
ljeves that the administration would
care straw whether the elections
were fair or not, If the Southern
States returned Republican major
ity. The pretense Of moral issue
involved is merely an attempt to
conceal tteir own nefarious purposes
beneath the veil of hypocrisy An
effort to make gain Of godli ess.
Beneath it all, PLAIN and patent, is
the determination to keep themselves
in power, though the rights and lib
critics Of twenty millions o. people
are violated thereby. Their action
shows that they inte I'd to turn over
the South, body and soul, to the
most corrupt and abandoned party
tuat ever cursed free country with
It's vile legislation. They have but
1iven a new version of the old storY
about the miser who said t. his son :
My son, get money. Honestly If
you car; but, NY son, get money"
The people are given to understand
that henceforth this government is to
be of the Republican party, for the
Republican party and by the Re
publican party.
:, AS to the result Of the election
bllI-that can not be doubtful. Riot
and blood-shed NAV abound the