The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1909-09-10

by the people. Adventures and AL
tators, such as We're described Nv
Mayor Wailach, massed large bodies
Of ignorant negroes, imported them
in camps from Virginia and Maryland
ostensibly as laborerg, but really az
voters, and carried elections by their
ballots Within less than a year an
investigation was demanded of "the
worst government in the United
States" But the investigation result
ed In nothing.
Two years later, in 1874, Messrg.
Corcoran, Alexander, Riggs and as
sociates, demanded another investiga-
ton. The committee was composed
of Senators Allison, Thurman and
Stewart, Representatives Wilson.
Hubbell, Bass, Jewett and Hamilton.
Volumes OF testimony were taken
which related chiefly to the enormous
amounts Of money spent in improving
the national capital the methods OF
graft and favoritism by which public
contracts were let, and the manner
In which elections had been conduct
ed.
Elections were something like cleo
lions in those days--univeTsal man
hood suffrage and no questions asked.
THE committee had lived in Wash
ington and knew many facts that were
never publicly developed. For once
there was no wrangle between the
Democrats and Republicans, for they
unanimously reported that THE ex-
listing form OF government Is failure,
II is too cRmbrous and expensive--no
remedy short OF IT'S abolition and the
substitution of simpler, more re-
strlcted, and economical government
will suffice
'Thereupon the territorial govern
ment OF tho District OF Columbia pasa-
ed away unwept, unhonured and UNI
sung. And with II passed the right
OF suffrage which lts whites had en-
joyed for three quarters of q century
Throughout this debate both Dem
ocrats and Republicans concealed the
paramount reason for this wholesale
Acknowledgement IL was q ticklish
situation tn Republicans were
then engaged In dosing the South with
negro suffrage. Southerners In Con-
gress Bwore that their home folks
were taking their medicine according
to directions--and relishing IT, II
would never do for the Republicans
to admit that their ''favorite pTesofip-
ton" was bad medicine for the Dis
trict OF Columbia. The Democrats.
on the other hand. could not afford 10
rise up howl. because that would
drag their own election methods into
the imelight--bulldnzin ballot box
BtufiinE and the like. But everybody
knew and nobody denied that the
menace Of the negro'a presence con-
aututed the sole reason for the aholI-
ton Of suffrage In tho District OF Co
lumbia
THE nation. through ita Congress.
set the example OF diefranchising the
negro. State by State. almost the en-
tire South. has followed that pYcce.
dent The reaHoua OF the States
were identical with those Of the Ma
nonal Government, but their methods
we're different The States were re-
stricted by the Federal Constitution,
whAe Congress- exercised untrAmmeI-
ed Jurisdiction over the District Of Coz
iumhia Washington had uniy three
years OF this nightmare which lasted
for eight years 10 the South.
III has been asserted that these
eight years Of negro rule cost the
South more Ia dollars and cents than
the enormous expenses Of The war,
added to the money value Of 1000 600
of liberated slaves This takes into
account only the obvious items Of the
Increased public debt. ignoring the
stupendoas amount Of private pliInRe
This statement has been denied. and
the truth can never be- accurately
known"