The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-08

been thrown upon you there
was apprehension and dread and
fear in the north Of the consequences
that might come from the act that
was contemplated; and it was only when
there waa deep-seated conviction that there
was purpose, on the part of those who had
boon master to practically nullify the ordi-
nance of freedom that the protest Of the
northern communities was overcome and
the ballot was conferred. 1t was in my
Judgment mistake.
This declaration was heartily applauded.
II think history has shown that it was a
mistake. IL was a mistake for the colored
man, for in his hand the ballot has been
neither shield nor sword. 1t was mistake
for the south, because IL has familiarized
them with the fatal idea that there can be
any safety under q republican system OF
self-goverumeut that is not based on the
equality Of every man before the law.
That is the foundation, that is the safe
guard, that is the security. Ii is upon that
alone that society can stand and its
fabric be maintained. | have said often
that the great danger to our institutions,
the menace most ominous and threatening,
was IN the corruption and adulteration of
the ballot, north and south. The north is
not blameless | am not here for the pur-
pose OF oondemning those to whom | speak
and giving honor to those l represent.
This is to-day the fatal. ominous and
most terrible menace and threat that is
IN the way of the success of republican
government; and we in the north see
that there is determination on the part of
the southern people to eliminate the colored
vote as an active voluntary factor in your
political affairs. That is the belief, and it is
founded on variety of circumstances. 1t
is no longer supposed that there is to be
violence, or intimidation or blood.
IL 30 h. ~
than that. l see my friend smile.
he knows it. There is a safer way found
than that, but l regret TO see also-because
L am talking in absolute candor-that, al
though that is the belief among northern
people, they have become to an alarming
extent entirely apethetlc about it. There
is an apathy which is alarming the poll
ticians in the north [laugnterl and
that accounts very largely for the
fate of what Col. Hemphin calls
the force blll-which is a misnomer. If you
want to kill dog give him bad name. 1t
was bill for the purpose Of securing fair
and honest electious, but the people of the
north had become so absolutely apathetic
that it disappeared.
And am afraid that apathy arose from
q feeling among the northern people that
II they were in the same circumstances,
they would do about the same thing"
Laughter and applausel
Here he referred to schemes of paternal-
ism for abolishing poverty. Suppose men
would buy what they want with paper
money as plenty as autumn leayes ia Val
lambrosa, and as valueless? Suppose taxes
were abolished and the government made
to buy everything which nobody else
wanted. Suppose the government
took charge of the railroads.
Do you not suppose there would be men
riding about in special cars and beside
them the disconnected laborer, with
everything bundled up in bandanna
trunk2 If everything we're equalized on
the LIST day of January. by the LIST of July
everything would be about as it is now.
Some would be riding in buggies, some on
horseback; some would be walking and
some would be sitting in the fence corner
looking at the procession pass by-[laugh-
terl-and over and above all would be heard
the voice Of the leather-lunged reformer
who makes an honorable livelihood by the
perspiration of his jaw rather than by the
sweat of his brow, by crying the injustice
of the division of the products of labor and
clamoring for another divide. Laughter