The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-09-10
HAK Lon AND EORCE.

In all likelihood the delay of Mr.. Harrison
in sending in his letter OF acceptance was
due to the fact that he could not find way
in which to discuss the Force bill so az to
satisfactorily straddle both sides OF the
fence. He no doubt spent days aud weeks
cudgeling bis brains how he might advo-
cate that Infamous measure without SEEM
ing to do 30 in order that he might claim in
the North that be favored it. but In the
South that he was opposed to 1t.
The result Of all this "thinkin' and fig
GERM was the following sage CD utter
ance
There is no security for the personal or
political rights of any man in community
where any other man is deprived of his
personal or political rights. The power OF
the States over the question of the Qualiti-
cation of electors is ample to protect them
against the dangers Of an ignorant OF de-
PRAYED suffrage, and the demand that every
man fou1d to be qualified under the law
shall he made secure In the right to cast a
free ballot and TO have that ballot honestly
counted cannot be abated.
Our old Republican battle cry. a free
ballot and a fair count comes back to us
not only from Alabama. but from other
States. and from men who, differing with
AS widely in opinions have come TO see
that parties and political debates are but q
mockery if. when the debate Is ended. the
judgment of honest majoritiss is to be re-
versed by bGllot-b box frauds and tally sheet
manipulatons in the interest of the party
or party faction in power"
Stripped of its veroiage and characteristic
hypocrisy this means nothing more nor
less than the Force bill pure and simple.
Mr.. Harrison merely says in plain English,
that the laws of the Southern States
q free ballot and fair count, but that
these laws are not enforced and there
fore we should have a law which will
compel the enforcement of these State
laws. He assuming that every negro
vote is Republican vote. not only virtually
reiterates the old ISLANDERS about the South.
but suggests that steps be taken to compel
the South to vote as the Northern Republi-
cans wish. And although he suggests that
provision be made for the appointment of
u non-partisan commission to consider the
subject OF appointments and elections in
their relation to the choice of Federal off,
GERS" he knows that he is making a sugges-
ton wholly impracticable. Besides this,
we all know what kind of
non partisan" commission q Repubh-
can Congress would give US. It would
be composed of United States mar
shals aud soldiers instructed TO see that only
Republican candidates were returned, and
would be non partisan" with a vengeance.
There is no use OF Mr. Harrison trying to
dodge this Force bill issue. Say what he
will, the Republican party is in favor of
the law OF Force in Southern elections. and
restoration Of the old negro. csrpet-bsg and
scalswag supremacy. while the Democrats are
for home rule and freedom Of the ballot-box.
his is the plain difference between the
Democratic and Republican parties, and
they are the only two parties for the voters
of the country TO decide between. We may
talk about Third parties, PrOhib,tionists,
Union Labor or any other side show. They
are all opponents of the Democracy, and
whoever is not for the Democratic party is
against il and to all intents and purposes
il only Republican. One or the other of
the two great parties OF the country must
win. and he who, in the South, votes
against the Democracy casts Il vote for the
party of Force and Southern hate. Let the
Third partyites bear that we'll in mind.