Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 November 1884 — TUB FREE BALLOT. [ARTICLE]

TUB FREE BALLOT.

The Vpdischurged Duty ofthe Republican Party Toward the Frerdmeu, I ■—— —» Greencastle Banner. The Whig party went down because it failed to grapple with the slavery question when the time came, and the Republican party has now met with disaster because it has failed in its duty toward the liberated blacks, and by not insisting upon a free and equable government in the South; For years the affairs of the party have been in the hands of small politicians, who could not comprehend any question involved beyond the mere sordid one of temporary success, Underlying and far-reaching principles'that create conditions which move and control a people in spite of money, falsehood or the blandishment of demairocues, because they involve their liberty, their welfare and vheir highest aspirations, are things which never enter into the calculations of such men. We freed the negro, gave him the ballott, and then turned him over, helpless in his ignorance and inexperience, to be bulldozd. beaten do#n and disfranchised by his old master. It was our duty to extend him a parental protection until he could take care of himself. On such an issue we would have won. Our experience with the- exodus question, which, more than all things else, gave us the victory in 1880, proves this. It involved tlio same principles which suppressed the rebellion and liberated the slaves. We subjugated the confederacy and readmitted its States into the Union. In doing this we took upon ourselves the task, imposed by the Constitution and a due regard for our own future safety, of seeing that thos ; States had, republican governments, and that their citizens were free iu fact as well as in name, On such an issue we would have always been victorious. But it has been ignored. Attempts to bring either of these questions forward have been treated with contempt and disdain. They were above and beyond the vision of little men. Instead, petty spites and ambitions have ruled the day. Tffp question ot protection might have brought us victory, but no decisive position was taken in its favor until circumstances compelled it, and then it was too late. A so-called civil service reform has occupied the gigantic intellects of our statesmen who have not the manhood to discharge the function which there predecessors of other days assumed without fear, and which made them a strength to their party and the government, instead of a weakness. And instead of seeking to make the ballot—that palladium of our liberties pure, if has been an effort in each campaign to rival the Democracy in debauching the voters with whisky and money. The time has come to turn over a new leaf if this Republic is to endure- - . .