New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-11
DEMOCRATIC Defence OF FRAUD.

70 the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The Democrats are Just now raising the
stop thief cry over what they are pleased to call
| the Force BILL Every sensible man engaged In
this cry knows It to be hollow and hypocrticai IL
Is simply an ingenious effort to conceal great crime
| under two derislve words. II means that lot Of
nulihers and revout onsts In few Southern States
have erectualy suppressed the votes Of 5ooooo
voters. II means that these nullihers intend
TO continue TO do II means that thy intend
openly to resist any laws which may be enacted.
looanS the protection OF these legal voters In the
eight to and have their votes counted and re-
turned as cast II means that they intend. II posi-
bic 10 ntmidate the people of this Nation to submit
to this fragrant violation Of the Constitution rather
than resort again TO open TO correct II. II
means In short II these hreeaters not allowed
control In these Southern states, that they VIII got
M trouble and disturb the business interests of the
whole country. II means. Y they are not allowed
20 suppress the ballot by fraud that they viii ogain
resort to intimidation and murder to accomplish their
purposes
The only which they urge for this taerant
notification OF the Constitution Is that the colored
people In these states morally and educationaiy
unfit TO exercise the right OF suffrage. and that being
in the majority in some Of those states. they would
control In the elections and perchance eject some
OF their own mcc 10 Office This open suppression
n the ballot OF the colo-cd people has been effected
;he colorcd man was given the ballot The methods
which have ben employed to effect this. form the
darkest blot upon modern American cViHIhuoh'
Grant. for the sake OF argument that MANI OF the
coored peOprs are moraly and educaOnally unfit to
exercise the elective franchise and that by free ana
lair elections they might obtain controlling IN
Gucnce in some OF the southern states, can the people
u this Nation allow them to be dsiranchised by an
open notification OF the Constitution VIII the most
raid OF all the re-caters the southern States clnln
this Will the widest hOwler over the Force Dir
claim this VII any man who entertains one spark
Of loyalty to the Constitution claim thlsl Wonld
Grover Cleveland dare openly to claim this right J
VIII patriotic people in the North be mtimdated By
this inscnsate howl in regard TO the Force bill'
VIII the veterans who fought for four long bloody
years 10 uphold the Constitution, tamcly submit TO
this great outrage! Will the patriotic men who too1
an active part In the work Of enfrnnchisng the
colorcd men be intimdated by this false pretence
VIII the colorcd In tho North who have been
given the right to vote boy the constitutional amend
cns, not sympathize with their downtr dden brethren
in these southern States Let these questions be
answered in the light OF They cannot be
answered by simply shouting Force bill! Force
Du!7
The Republicans simply ask that every lawful
v0t9r shall be allowed to cast one free and unre-
,ricted ballot, that that ballot shall be counted
| and returned cast. They ask no Force DILL
They only ask that these men VINO deprive HWlul
voters OF their light OF suffrage shall cease 10 do 50.
The Democrats openly and dehantly suppress over
100000 white and colored votes, in some five or SIX
IT the southern states. AT every general election
They d. deny ths but seek to excuse this great
wrong on he ground OF selfpreservation. The Gov
crnor, Of these southern states take an oath 10 sup
port thc Constitution Of the Unied states ana yet
when that Constitution Is openly violated. they not
only do take any steps TO punish tho VlOatOrs'
but they encourage them 10 do so, and In TACT
ihcy hold thor Offices rs the fruits Of such violation
Of the Constitution. II these hOwlors were sincere
about the cOlOrrd controlling In State affairs.
why do they suppress his In ali National cleo
lions Cleveland was declared President Of these
n!ted States and held that high ONCE for four
years by he actual suppression Of legal votes In
Every Intelligent at all acquainted with these
matters knows this. These men, whose votes are
thus suppressed. being afforded ~ protection under
the laws " their states. appeal TO the fedeTnl
Government TO protect them. and when II Is sought
10 enact law looking to thor protection. Demo
CRITIC hOwlers cry out Force BILL Does ulis
stop thief" cry deceive anybody Will not every
man who ever had drop OF Republican blood In
MS veins rise up and demand that these nulnhers
-hnll be fOrcedh 20 respect ard obey the Constin
on Of tho United 5tato, well Ms all necessar,
tx FEDERAL SOLDIER.
IonesborO Tenn. July 4, 1892.