Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-08-28
SUNDAY. AUGUST IS. 1892.
Mr.. stevenson's Bloomington Speech.

Hon. ADLuE =. STEVENSON opened the cam
paIgn az HIS home in Bloomington. Ill.
yesterday In q speech which we publish in
full this morning. We commend it TO
careful perusal. 1t bristles with facts that
constitute crushing indictment of the
Republican party, and is strong presen-
tation of the issues of the canvass. Mr..
STEVENSON gives the tariff precedence os
the great question in It's bearing upon the
country at large, but when he comes to
speak OF the South he recognizes that the
force bin is the vital and all-absorbing
issue. Comparatively speaking, he does
not devote many words 70 this measure,
but he says enough 10 show that he grasps
50 all its length and breadth the iniqulty
and what ii is designed TO accomplish.
After stating that the force bill may mean
the control of the election OF representa-
tiyes by the bayonet Mr.. STEVENSON de-
clares
"The Republican party by its acts in the
Fifty-frst Congress and by its platform In its
late national convention stands pledged TO tho
passage Of the force bill. That IL viii pass this
lin when Il has the power no sane man can
doubt. To ell OF the people-an who desire the
peace and prosperity OF our common country
this question Is important To the people OF the
southern States Il Is one OF transcendent Inn
poriance. shan they still have peace and the
protection of the law, or shall the horrors with
which they are menAced End their counterpart
only ia those OF the darkest hours Of tho recon
struction period7"
Indeed. no sane man can doubt that the
Republican party if given the power will
enact the monstrosity into a law and rem
der mockery the very first affirmation in
Mr.. S1EvsEsoS'sspeech,t that ours is gov
ernment of the people," The truth is that
IN declaring In the Minneapolis platform
In favor of the force bill the Republican
party insuguIated o desperate game. 1t
ttaked to win all OF lose all. 1t saw that
through just such legislation on ITS part
as Mr.. STEVENSON animsdverts upon 1t had
wrecked the confidence of the northern
people It's only hope was TO again wave
the bloody shirt, fan the embers of sec
fionalism into blaze. start crusade for
the rescue of the poor. down-trodden No
Fro," and by these means fasten It's fangs
upon the South and draw nourishmept
from the life-blood of its victim. II
Knew if il could break the solid South
md pass the force bill, the way would be
opened for prolonging Republican power
indefinitely. Some of the Republican
leaders and journals. seeing that the curse
their party would put upon the South
threatens to come home 10 roost before
the campaign is over. are making strenuous
efforts 10 unload the force bill. But this
subterfuge Of these leaders aud journals
affords tho best of reasons why the Re-
publicans should be made to carry
the burden. II affords the best OF
reasons why the Republican party
should be driven back upon the
force-oill plank in the Minneapolis
platform at every point. IL MIR. STEVEN
soS sees the wisdom of pressing the issue
vigorously at the North, in which section
The force bill cannot be expected to repre-
sent TO the voters anything like the hor-
rors it involves for the people of the
South. how much more vigorously should
il be pressed here? To our people the fate
of this proposition to put bayonet be-
hind every ballot carries with 1t political
life or death. It's defeat means continu-
nnce of good and economical State gov
ernments and guarantees the integrity of
our social institutions. Its triumph means
looted treasures. demoralized social and
labor system, travesty upon liberty, and
the domination of ignorance and vice. 1t
means, in short, negro supremacy, and all
that that implies; and II would be crimi-
nal TO allow ourselves to be diverted from
recognition of the fact. Even should Mr..
HARRISON. in his letter of acceptance,
essay TO dodge the force bil-and we have
no idea that he will--our speakers should
not let the people forget Tor one moment
that he inspired the iniquity; that be IS
pledged TO a force bill in his inaugural adj
dress and in his annual messages 10 Con-
gress; that he is a disciple of the most vim
dictIve school Of South-haters. and that
should he be reelected and the measure
be passed be would enforce 1t to the ut
most limit Of his power. This is the safe
course. and by adopting it the Democracy
can make the force bill prove veritable
shirt OF NEssUs to the Republican party.