Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1898-11-16
FOR A NEW FORCE BILL.

S'"SNN W H"J buHb tuJ SOuCluSlOuS VI
the administration with reference t.
the race trouble in the Carolinas 10 *
to a passive attitude unless there should
be new and serious disturbanc pre-
senting other phases.
The President contemplates advert
ing to this subject in his annual mes
sage, coupling what he says with re-
commentators or suggestions as to
the expediency Of Legislation. In the
discussion over this matter in TIE cab
met on Friday there wos more or less
talk on the ad'isability of another fell
eral election law, the statutes covering
such sections having all been repealed
during the second administration of
Mr.. Cleveland. One OF the members
Of the cabinet, said to be Secretary
Gage, is under TODD 10 have declared
very strongly in favor of force bill
similar to the one which, after passing
the House, was sidetracked in the
Senate some years since.
l. has not transpired whether Mr..
Gage had anything to say about the
wrongs aud outrages committed upon
the "downtrodden negro" in Illinois.
However, Mr.. Gage has struck the
keynote Of Republican policy toward
lie South. If the radical element Of
hat party can succeed in fastening q
lew batch of political legislation upon
he South it will be apt to remain for
| long period, as under any but the
most unusual and the most unlikely
circumstances the enormous Republi-
AN majority in the Senate after March
cannot melt away under eight or ten
ears.
Movements IN this direction are
lr eady in active pr gress. Several OF
he Southern memters Of the national
Republican committee have arrived and
re taking il up y 10 politicians,
ingly and in delogations!>re coming
0 besiege the White and the
Department Of Justice. c ress Will
'e deluged With petit O. anufac-
ured and genuine, and tort will
'e determined ard uuren -. r.
1t is not hoped to g. IN such
egislation through this ". ~. IS the
senate as now constit't i would
brow it ont. But the worl; will begin
Immediately after the meeting # the |
ew Congress, which there is a slong
reliability will be called together in |
he spring.
There is no question it will be q
reat temptation to the Republicans to
nact legislation calculated to again
AXE the South solid for that party.
he Republican Senators from the
Orthwest have for many years helped
aterally to avert repressive Southern
gislation, as thei, sympsthies on the
nos involved have been with the
'utheln whites. But now, when
e Democrats will no longer have
y Senators of their own from any Of
e great Middle and Northwestern |
ates to 5! eak tor them, whatever
mpathy or good feeling there might
on the other side of the chamber
Il be borne down by the oyerwhelm-
3 numbers.
The New England Senators have
yer to this day "let up" on the
nth. They Will lead the new cru
Ie IN solid body. 1t would not be 7
.prising should Senator Lodge rein
duce his force bill Immediately, so
to have it IN shape when the J
Congress convenes. The Eastern d
lators, reinforced by the new re-
It's from the far West, would be
e in all probability to overcome the Ii
seryatiye influence of the Central 7
invest jju
me of the arguments which has 10
u Used with the President in the v,
eayor to commit him to the support he
he project is the material assis- by
'e contributed t o his nomination by be
Write and black Republicans from ed
South st the st. Louis convention. o.
sense of'gratitude is appealed to tn
ell as his sense of favors to come. tn
he President, it was said, could by Cc
stroke of his pen gather under his Pc
Ter the bulk, if not all, OF the ~ ~.
hern delegates to the next Re-
lean convention. SO,
erhaps if tranquility prevails in the /
h from now on and there are no res
race troubles growing out of say
les, this fOrce-bill agitation may wei
de and public sentiment in the -
b may not be disposed to favor it. w
lerwise, the South may have to ~ ',
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