Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-11-16
FRIDAY.....,...N NOVEMBER IS, 1894.
Idle Threat-The Sou tn.

An Idle Threat-The South.
During the recent campaign we had oc'
caaion several times TO say that the ma
Y,enant Republicans OF the North now re-
rretted that they did not In reconstruc
ton days pass such national election law
M would insure their continuance IN
office for an indefinite period 81 time. Inc
election laws which Congress repealed al
its last session did in some sort recog-
pize-or nj any rate were supposed TO re-
cognize-the right Of the southern people
10 have n hand in the conduct OF the'i
own elections We do not credit the ke'
publicans of twenty-five years ago WIFI
being any better than those OF to-day. AL
we mean 10 say in this connection Is ina
Beast Butler. Thad Stevens John Sner'
man. Tack Chandler. and the est OF tha'
gang, congratulated themselves when tne'
passed the election laws which were ias'
winter expunged from the Federal stat
ute-book that they had provided the
means Of keeping themselves IN once
Indefinitely. and Of electing fspublcan
Presidents and Republican Congresses
tended to be held. for President eni con-
gressmen.
These discarded election laws OF the
days when the South-haters held high Car
niyal In the Capitol Of the country CON
famed features so Objectionable that 1t
was really most fortunate for the south
ern people that the men selected TO carry
them out did not take II upon themselves
10 control all the Federal elections. Tie
numerous supervisors Of elections ana
deputy marshals provided for might have
80 demeancd themselves as % have pre-
vented any real elections from being
Reid. Indeed. in this city of Rich
mond the ballot-box at one OF the pre-
cincts was at one of the elections closed
70 the voters for hours whilst Federal OFF,
Gals debated as to whether they should
hermit voting TO be resumed. The same
outrage might have been perpetrated un-
der color Of law at every voting-place
where these Federal Cor Republican, OIL
Gals were authorized or allowed to carry
out the provisions OF the laws we are
speaking of.
That the northern Republicans regret
now that they failed TO entrench them
selves In Office in reconstruction days is
ms good as confessed by the New York
Tribune. the leading Republican organ in
the United States. in the very last issue
Of that paper. After indulging In bitter
TRADE against the southern people, charg-
Ing them with intimidation of negroes
riots In which the blacks were killed. in
cendiary rumors intended to excite race
snimosites. and the most unblushing cleo
ton frauds in every part of the sugar dis
trict-ail these charges being based upon
the elections Of last week-the Tribune
consoles itself as follows:
AFTER twenty years Of bitter expert
ence the Republican party viii not again
sacrifice It's opportunity to faint-hearted
Cowardice."
The opportunity" which the Republ.
can party will not again sacrifice was
the opportunity which Thad Stevens and
his gang sacrificed to "faint-hearted cow
ardce" in reconstruction days.
This utterance Is what we have denomi-
mated an idle threat" With a Demo-
cratic President In Office the Republicans
can carry out no scheme for the oppres-
sion of the South. Mr. Cleveland will
veto any bills which may be passed by
Congress TO authorize Federal officials 10
interfere in our elections. But, still better,
with Senate Democratic, by the aid of
Jones. Stewart, and other western men,
no such bills can be forced through Con-
gress.