Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1892-04-29
A Vital Issue still.

. The action Of the Republican State Con-
yentions in demanding fair vote and an
honest count at every ballot box IN the
country shows that this question Is consid-
cred a. vital an issue to-day as it ever was
Every Republican State platform adopted
40 far this year has, We believe, contained
a plank on this subject The language is
as strong and decisive as any ever used by
a political convention On this question, and
the determination of the Republican party
is made as clear as ever never to drop this
subject until the colossal wrong under
which the party suffers is righted and the
monstrous crimes committed BY the Demo
cratic party on the suffrage in the South
are atoned for.
The democrats doubtless imagined that
the Republicans would abandon this issu
when the elections bill was defeated IN 1871
through the treacbery Of few Repuohcan
Senators. They never made worse mis-
calculation in their lives. The kepubhcan
marty viii never abandon this question 80
foncas IL remains true to its principles.
n might As well have been claimed that
The marty would abandon its opposition 20
slavery or its support Of the Government
in the War OF the Rebellion, its advocacy
of an honest dollar when the triumph OF
preeuback imitation seemed almost assured.
The Democratic party was as soiio ID
support of every one of these heresies as II
il now in support of the monstrous crimes
ON the ballot box, but the Republican
nsrtv never ceased to battle with them
nntif IL left them conquered and dead on
the field.
when Governor Mckinley made speech
before the Ohio Society in Washington %
few months ago he declared thst.no Repub-
Iican ought to deliver speech without re-
ferring to the condition OF the ballot In tne
South until every citizen In that secuon
engaged the right of freely casting Ms
vote and having it honestly counted. Inc
Cleveland Leader says that IN all governor
HcK;nlev's speeches in the Ohio campaign
last wear he dwelt with effective emphasis
on this important subject In this respect,
AZ In many others, Mr.. Mckinley sets an
example that other Republicans may well
follow. They should never cease, IN season
and ont of season, to press this question
upon the public, TO expose the crimes OF
the Democratic party on the suffrage, and
TO demonstrate the demoralizing effect oil
permitting this wrong to 60 uncorrected.
The Democrats are themselves resping
today the fruit of their crimes on the bal
lot box in the South. In the recent election
In Louisiana the vote itself and the reports
indicate that the Foster faction OF the
Democracy used its complete control OF
the ballot boxes TO defeat its rivai, tne
NcEnery faction of the Democracy, IN the
same way that the united Democracy had
in the past used its power to defeat the
Republicans. Voters were bull-dozed, bal
lot boxes robbed, and false returns were
made. In Alabama, also, where struggle
for the control of the Democratic State
Convention ia proceeding, one faction OF
the Democracy il denouncing the other
faction for obtaining an unfair number OF
delegates from the black belt counties.
based on the fraudulent vote returned
from that neighborhood in order to over
come the colored majority. =.
This question will never be setted until
Il is settled right 1t admits OF no more
compromise than the slavery question did.
II rises above partisanship into the domain
of morals, and would be just az vital an
issue whether the Republican party de-
mapded its settlement or not. Like every
other question which has been before the
public during the present generation, the
Republican party has planted itself on tue
right side, and IL will never abandon us
attitude or cease to maintain its con-
yictions until every man is given the
political rights which the law and tne
Constitution accord him.-Philadeiphls
Press.