The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-03-19
THE NEW FORCE BILL AGITATION

d TepGlllIOn VI Tie Olu lOICb Dlll llS III
and revival of the sectional bitterness
of reconstruction days" The motive for
bringing this matter to the front now,
says the Washington Post, is because of
certain Western representatives who
seek to solidify the negro voters in their
districts Speaking of the new scheme
the precursor of another Force Bill
David Bennett Hill says
ct indicates a desperation which is
ominouS. 1t will work the be
ginning of the end of Republican ma
tional rule
Senator German. who led the fight
which defeated the Force Bill and whose
views therefore are entitled to more
weight upon this question than any
other party leader, speaks truly and
wisely when he says:
THE Democrats must fight this prop
osition from now until the end of this
Congress. They must fight, and fight,
and fight"
at the extreme radical partisanship EN-
braced in the action taken. 1t is pro-
posed to stir up sectional animosities at
a time when all the thoughtful men of
every party in the country recognize
that the problem of the suffrage of the
South must be adjusted by the people
of the States where the great negro pop
ulation exists.
The business interests of this country
will resent this effort to create political
strife as they did when it was attempted
during the Speakership of Mr.. Blaine
and again in $780, when the whole coun-
try protested against the force bill:
This latest attempt can only be &C
counted for in one way. The Repubi-
cans fear the defeat of their party in
the next Congressional elections on the
issues which they have made, growing
cut of the Philippine question and the
enormous expenditures of the govern
ment Therefore, they have seen tit to
array the North against the South Bus
mess interests will resent this wauton
ana unnecessary agitation.
There is but one thing for the Demo-
Gratis to do They must fight this prop
osition from now until the end of Con-
gress. They must fight it upon every
occa sion. While it may be true that the
drastic rules of the House will prevent
the full exposure of the encrmity and in
justice of this endeavor 10 embarrass
the Southern people. nothing can prevent
the Democrats in the House from seek
ing every opportunity for discussion. or
from contesting every inch of progress
along which the Republicans may seek
to cary their proposed legislation.
1.-The results of the elections since 1864
have always been determined against the
party advocating extreme and radical
measures which would disturb the peace
good order, and prosperity of the coun-
try 1t may be fortunate, therefore. in
political point of view that the Demo-
Gratis will now have an opportunity to
place their party in the attitude that it
should naturally occupy, of making a
vigorous and manly contest against a
movement which would engender Sec
tioral bitterness and disturb every ma
terial industry in the land.
IF the Democrats in Congress- take
this stand, there can be but one result
They will be sustained and applauded
by the entire country, and will secure
the defeat of this radical of radical
measures"
Henry Watterson, being asked his views,
said:
i have thought and hoped the Repub-
hcans were done with the bloody shirt,
at least as far as the South is concerned.
1t has always done them more harm than
1t has done us. The only effect of its
revival now will be to unite the Demo-
Gratis and brighten the conservative ele-
ment of the North and East. Millions of
dollars have gone South the last five or
six years This movement will be re-
garded as a direct attack upon those mil
lions. Both sections yearned for peace
At last they have got it. This proposal
to rip open the old wound is an assault
urcn the peace of the country. And for
what? Under what pretext? Why, the
negro vote-a fungus vote-carrying no
moral weight. but, on the other hand the
occasion of incalculable corruption"
May they not count in the next House
by throwing out Southern districts?" ask
ed the reporter.
III by Such an agency the Republicans
undertake to have enough Southern dis
tricts made TO stand aside to enable them
to organize the next House, and then to
throw enough out to hold it, that will be
an act of revolution, and we shall sweep
the country in 1904
You think then that the Democrats
will welcome the new ruler
Beyond a doubt; and fight it. The Re
publicans have everything to lose and
nothing to gain by the scheme. The Dem
ocrats everything to gain and nothing to
lose. We shall fight it from start to fin
ish. All minor differences will disappear
And, with party once again united, we
shall probably. carry the fall elections by
such majorities as will make it impossi-
bic to count in Republican majority by
the standing aside and throwing out pro-
cess. The Republican leaders must re-
gard themselves in even a deeper hole
than the Democrats have thought them
in TO resort to a measure so degenerate. -
On its face the resolution will be di-
rected at 1.-The several States" but that
is d trick that ought to fool nobody. 1t
is a compromise, accepted by the men
who had bills to reduce Southern repre-
sentation, as the basis of a Force bill
next wear The resolution is only a House