The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-09-13
THE .FoRoEn RILL ISSUE.
President Harrison Knocks the Life On
of 1t In Hts Letter

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The Democratic clamor, in which
Grover Cleveland, Adlai Stevenson and
Charles A. Dana have been conspicuous
ly vociferous, that the President would
advocate the imposition Of ragid force
bill on the South is silenced by the lat
ter's recommendation in his letter OF
acceptance. He advocates no legisla.
ton OF any kind, and goes no further
than to suggest the appointment OF q
nom partisan commission to consider
the question and report upon the most
judicious action to be takon under the
circumstances.
1t will be observed by anyone who
carefully reads this part OF the Presi-
dents letter that there is no talk of tax
ing away home rule from the South.
At the same time it is clearly apparent
that il there were some law in force in
the South which would enable every
voter, irrespective OF color, which
would include the colored Republicans,
to cast his ballot for presidential cleo
tors and congressman without, how
ever, permitting him, II Republican,
to vote for state and local oificersl; il,
in other words, voting for President
and congressman were as free in Ala
bama as it is in Illinois, in Missis-
sippi as it is in Massachusetts,
in South Carolina as in Ohio,
the result would have been that
Mr.. Blaine in 1884, Mr.. Harrison in 1888
and again in 1892 would have carried
South Carolina, Florida, Alabama,
Louisiana and Mississippi, and that the
contest would have been exceedingly
close insNirginia, Tennessee and Arkan-
sas With fair vote in Virginia as in
Massachusetts and in Georgia and
North Carolina as in Illinois and Iowa
no one could have foretold the result in
those states with certainty. They
would have been doubtful states. 1t
may be said that since the days OF re-
construction in 1S66-67 five OF the
southern states would have voted
q steady majority for the Re-
publican candidates for the Presi-
dency and would have elected large
number OF Republican Congressman.
Furthermore, il the vote had been free
and fair and every voter could have
voted in the South as freely as in the
North, we should have heard nothing
Of this Democratic blather about Cleye-
lands popular majority. If the color
cd Republicans could have freely ex-
pressed their sentiments with the bal
lot Harrison would have received four
wears ago 125, 900 instead OF 5ol97 votes
in Alabama; $4,000 instead OF 5S,752 in
Arkansas; $4,000 in Florida instead OF
26,657 100000 in Georgia instead Of 40
1876; 100000 in Louisiana instead OF 49,
SOP; 100000 in Mississippi instead of
3O,966; and 100000 in North Carolina
instead OF 1875.
The Cleveland majorities would have
been swept away, and, roughly speak
ing, 100000 votes would have been
added to Mr.. Harrison's total in the
southern states, and he would have had
a popular majority OF over 100000 over
the "stufed Prophet"
All that ever has been contemplated
by republicans is to recure fair ex-
preston in the south from republican
voters as to congressman and Presi-
dental electors. That is their right
and it is the right OF the north in
national matters. So far as home
rule" is concerned there is nothing in
the constitution which warrants con-
gressional interference with the sup
preston of the negro vote in local cleo
lions. In this outrageously unjust con-
dition OF things the President has
mildly and wisely suggested the APP
pointment of nonpartisan commission
to consider what is best to be done and
what course it is judicious to pursue.