New-York tribune., 1891-04-24
MR. GARRISON AND THE LEAGUE.

General Clarkson's election to the presidency
Of the National Republican League is the best
proof the League could furnish of its detelmna-
ton to do a work of real value to the Nation.
No political captain in this country possesses so
great measure of confidence. respect and aifec-
ton from so large body of the public as Mr..
CIarkson and the reason of it is that he is known
TO be not merely SagaciouS and resOue, but
pure, high-minded. gOOd-heaIted and sincere.
lie has the qualities OF great commander, ana
with them those of a patriotic citizen. lie pro-
poses to win success but with even greater
ardency to deserve success. Nothing Is more
difficult in politics than the selection OF cam
paign leader I'm choosing Mr.. ClarkSon as Its
executive officer the League has done something
| TO boast Of for it has secured the services OF
| one who has the respect of the people as well
as the warm regard of the political workers.
! Ills laborS will be diigent, aggressive, full OF
intelligent purpose, and they will include moth
! inc that the party need be ashamed of or that
political malice can use to its disadvantage.
| Mr.. Clarkson wrote 4 splendid letter to the
| League. 1t displayed courage, conscience and
thought. lie touched the American people in
sensitive spot when he proclaimed the doctrine
that the security, peace and equality of all
citizens whether they live in humble hutS along
the Iazoo or in freSCoed palaces along the llud-
son. were Of more importance than the price of
tin cup If this is not true, if the prime pur
pose of our scheme of government is not to hold
the scales of justice even, if it is not still the
theory of the American system that the pros
peritv of all is more surely to be obtained
through the principle of equal rights, GER
| tainIy have departed from the faith of the
fathers 10 call a measure which restraints men
from violently suppreSSng the rights of their
ncichbors a Force bill =" to claim that it checks
the commercial prosperity of a community To
require that its citizens shall respect law is to
argue that crime is essential to progress, and
that material welfare is only to he had by de-
stroying the aspirations OF the lowly and by
lodging all power and all opportunity in the
hands of a small arStocracy. This has never
been the view Of the American people in the
past. We do not believe it is their view to-day
If it is the sooner we know it the better
The situation now is that 1,500, 600 adult cit
izenS who by law entitled to all the political
rights which their fellOw-citizenS possess are
disfranchised cOmpletely and that the section
of country where they live holds in the coun-
ellis Of the Nation power far greater than it
would have were they without the rights in law
which they without in fact. In other words
those who commit the crime Of denying these
citizens their rights not only cheat them, but
every other community as well They earn
double criminal reward. They not only obtain
seats in Congress which do not belong TO them
but about twenty more seats than their section
Of country would have were the apportionment
based according to their number and not ac-
cording to the number of the whole pOpua-
ton, including those they defraud.
People may differ perhaps conscien'ou>ly,
about the means which should be taken to right
this wrong, bUi nobody can deny that the wrong
exists and thai it is great. Beyond all doubt
tho coorcd man should be defended in his right
to vote or if the country does not wish him to
vote it should de>poil him by law and not stand
by with averted eyes while he is being de-
spoiled by violence The Constitution should
not be mocked 1t should not be turned into a
farce The south is entitled 10 representation
in Congress upon no other basis than applies
10 the rest Of the country, and if it is to be per-
mitted 10 reduce the negro TO his former station
in the matter of civil rights it should be re-
duced to it's former station in the matter of
representation. Now is the time 10 settle this
question. 80 long as there exists numerous
body of Americans with conscience and sense