Year: 1876

q colored man may be controlled other than
by reason or fair argument, and the white
Republicans by all the same means. and the
additional means of business and social
prescription, and all manner of frauds that
could be devised.


The excuse for these acts heretofore has
been ilainly the character of the candidates
of the Republican party, who have been
alleged to be mainly carpet-baggers with
out permanent interest in the country, and
whose characters tor honesty, integrity and
ability was alleged to be bad.


With similar candidates at the approach
ing election we may expect the same means
to be resorted to to defeat them, and with
the example of the success in Mississippi
and other Southern States the Democrats
have met with in pursung this line OF
policy, we may expect the same to Dc
pushed in this State to the same extremes
to guaraDt. them success.


This convention should shape its action
so, at least, to take from the Democrats the
cause for which they sllege they feel justi-
fed in pursuing this course OF intimidation
and fraud by the selection of candidates
not obnoxious to these objections. II the
convention acts wisely, and as they are ex
pected by their constituents to do, they Will
silence this cause of dissatisfaction both to
their own party friends and the Democratic
party, and will in a great measure, 1T Is
confidently believed, prevent the frauds
and violence heretofore resorted to by the
Democratic party to defeat the Repubii-
cans. Such a course would, at all events,
silence any dissatisfaction in the Republ--
can rs nks and consolidate aud encourage
the Republicans to do their whCle duty at
the election.


A pc, sistent eff,rt has been, and is still
being made by the Democratic party
throughout the United States to bring the
Republican party into odium by alleging
corruption against the leaders Of the party
in the administration of the governments OF
the United States and of the States. and
particularly in this State this charge has
been so persistently urged. which, with the
aid of facts of this kind being established
against some of the Republican officials,
has created the impression on the mass of
the people throughout the United States
that change of officials was absolutely
necessary to secure pure government.


Il will be noticed that the principles OF
the Republican party, as enunciated in their
national and State platforms and by their
party leaders, are hardly objected to by the
Democracy. The principles of the Repnb
lcan party are progressive and onward,
and those Of the Democracy stationary and
retrogressive. The Democratic party makes
little or no effort to carry the election on
points of political principle, but bases its
entire hopes of success On the allegations OF
the corruption of the Republican leaders.
The national Republican Convention at
Cincinnati, fully approaching the present
political condition, wisely and patriotically
mada their nominations to avoid this
charge against their candidates, By drop
ping those who had been lately connected
with the national administration, so as
to be liable to any imputation Of corrup
ton or mismanagement, and selected candi-
dates of the highest character for honesty
and capacity. and agains. whom no charge
of corruption or misgovernment could be
made. This was done in accordance
to the demand of public sentiment and
to silence opposition, and We think we
may safely say that no candidates were
ever nominated for these high offices since
the organization of the government that
gave greater satisfaction to their party
friends and who were less Objectionable to
their opponents. We have even heard it
eaid, by earnest Democrats, that the Demo
cratic convention to assemble at st. Louis
| on the twenty seventh instant could not do
a better thing than to adopt these nomina-
tions and make the election in this centen.
NAL year unanimous.


Now, if our State convention will learn
! wisdom from the action of the national
convention. and drop the present party
| leaders in this State who are charged with
| corruption and misgovernment, whether
! true or false it makes no difference, and Sc
| lect true and we'll tried Republicans, in


whom the people have confidence that il


elected will honestly and faithfully carry
| out the Republican platform and policy and
| insure obedience TO the laws and economy
| in the State expenditures, We would fnC
! about the same satisfaction expressed by
| the people of the State toward such State


nominees as is expressed at the nationa


nominees OF the Republican party.


The Republican party has as good ma
| terial for all State offices az any party eve


had IN this State 1t only remains for tn


convention to bring them forth. If they d.


80. as we have recommended, the success


of the party is assured in this State at tn


fall election for both national and Stat


tickets.


May we not reasonably expect the cor


vention to pursue this course. If it does, al


will be well; but if it pursues the opposit


course and attempts to foist on the part


new fledged or fshy Republicans, or tn


old party leaders against whom the charg


of corruption and bad government


charged, both the national and State ticket


will be certain to be defeated and tn


party disgraced and dsfranchised in thi


State, and it will be many long years bs


fore it will get the control of the State


In the meantime we may look at the COZ


dition of the Republican party in Georgis


Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas and Texa


as typical of what it will be in this State
L