Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-07-21
THEFORCEBILLISSUE
THE SOUTH ALARMED At THE PROS
PEcT OF NEGRO DOMINATION.

The Safety and Political Freedom OF the
South Depends Upon the Success of the
Democratic Party-Defeat Means PO-
Iitical Thraldom, Slavery and Ruin.
1--WE are not worrying ourselves over
the threat of such a measure" says the
Charleston News and Courier, referring
to the force bill. Yet who will worry
over the threat of such a measure If the
southern people do not? Manifestly,
The News and Courier is not speaking
for the people of South Carolina, and it
certainly is not speaking for the Demo
cratic party of that state. There is no
commonwealth in the south that has
more to fear from federal control of
elections by the Republicans in behalf
of the negro party.
We are not discussing the matter with
the Charleston paper. There is no room
for discussion. We are merely quoting
the remark of The News and Courier to
show how exceptional it is-how it flies
in the face of the facts-how it misre-
presents the situation. The Republic
ans have made the threat of force bill
legislation the chief issue in their plat
form, and the south will have to accept
it as such, however anxious they may
be to avoid it. In Georgia, as in South
Carolina and all over the south, circum-
stances will make the force bill the alb
sorbing issue for the reason that the in
terests at stake are incomparably more
important than those affected by any
other issue.
The tariff is important and interesting
as subject of discussion, but to make it
an issue at the south with the force bill
impending would be nonsense. Tariff re-
form cannot be an issue here where it
has no opponents. The minds of the
voters are made up on it. They indorse
the Democratic declarations in favor Of
tariff for revenue only, and that is suf-
fcent.
The threat of force bill legislation is
the chief, the absorbing issue in the
south because it is the first challenge Of
the people in the Republican platform;
because the reply to this challenge holds
the first place in the Democratic plat.
form, and because it is the one issue
which, on account of the tremendous in
terests involved, will keep the Demo
cratic party of the south together.
In this all Democratic leaders and rep
resentative Democratic editors agree.
We have not seen the gist of this great
issue more pithily put than in the fol.
lowing extract from a resolution pre-
sented to the convention of Democrats in
Bibb county and unanimously adopted:
Realizing that the safety and political free
| dom Of this section depend upon the success
of the Democratic party in November next;
that the CHIEF plank of the platform of the
Republican party is hostility to the south and
her people; that the political battle of 1892 is
| to be waged b. the Republicans under the same
| battle cry, and under the banner of leader
| ship, which for a quarter of century has
been made against the liberties, property and
| happiness of the southern people, we urge all
true Democrats to sink all local differences out
OF sight, forget everything else except that
their own safety and the safety of their homes
and institutions depend upon freedom from the
| interference Of federal marshals and federal
bayonets, as well as upon the overthrow Of tho
Republican party in the coming contest. To bt
united Is to win success; to be divided Is t.
court failure. Success means prosperity fol
this section, political freedom and control o.
our own affairs. Defeat means political thral
dom, slavery and ruin.
This covers the whole ground briefly
and clearly. It outlines the situation
and points to the responsibility which
rests on all Democrats-the duty they
owe to themselves, their neighbors, theil
state and their coantry.-Atlanta Con
|