The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-07-15
Defeat of the FrankIng BIZ.

The AeU Era, q Ii puDIlcan paper
published at Savannah, Missouri,
contains the following article on the
defeat of the Franklng Bill in the
Senate of the United States. After
publishing what We give below, the
NeU Era charges the Republicans
IN the Senate with the responsible
I.y of defeating the Bill
"rhe defeat of the bill abolIshing
the Thanking privilege will surprise
and dIsappoint the country. The
mass of petitions for this reform,
ascribed by Senators who were an
xious to continue their free useo of the
mails to the devices ofthe Postmas-
ter General, did nevertheless a pre-
sent The honest and earnest desire
ola vast body of the people,
Whatever the Postmaster General
may haYe doue TO prompt petitions,
he did nothing TO influence tho press
all over the country, and members
of our Congress ought to know
by this time that IN these days
when the people really want any
thing done they ask it Though the
press. We do not remember a SIM
gle measure upon which Congress
has acted for years, which was de-
manded by the press with as much
unanimIty and earncstness as this
abolition of franking. Congress has
passed reconstruction bills, CLAIM
ing justly that public OPINION de-
manded them, when the whole De-
mocratic and a part of the Republi-
can press denounced them. 1t has
passed railroad swIDdles and land
grabs, claiming falsely that public
opinion desired them, when nine
out of the ten of the independent
and upright journals in tho country
denounced them. It has never be-
fore, within our remembrance dared
so defantly to resist public opinion
as in this instance. Not only all
the great city papers of either par
ty, but the smaller country Journals
with equal unanImity, demanded
this reform. Every M of them
knew that the reform would IN
volve some sacrifices on their part,
and It was not at all from personal
interest, but in obedience to a pop
ular feeling so strong and general
that no sensible newspaper cared 20
disregard it., that these appeals
were sent. A stronger proof of the
fidelity of the press 20 public inter.
est was never given than this unan-
Imous demand for the abolition Of
privileges in which the press itself
shared largely. But, we regret 10
say, a stronger proof was Fever CIV
en- of the iafidelity of Congress 10
the public will and interest than the
rejection of this demand.
1t was rejected, not only with OBJ
stinacy, but with corn and insult.
The press was told that it did not
know its own interests; the people
were told that they would be utter
Iy ignorant and unfit for self gov
eminent if not constantly enlIght-
ened by speeches and documents
from Washington, distributed free.
Nay more, the million men who
have signed petitions wore fatty
told by more than one Senator in
debate that they did not know
what they were signing, and had no
idea what the ranking privilege
was. Gentlemen, you mistake J.
That the people have SEM such
men as you to represent them is in
deed prima fdcne evidence that they
are fools, but nevertheless they are
not. You will find that they know
what they want, and know how to
choose men who will honestly obey
their Will.
You think, gentlemen of the SEN
ate, that yea constitute a privlleg-
ed aristocracy iD this country; that
you can safely defy the press and
! the people, that we should be left
il darkness but for the political guis
dance and lighs which yoH give us;
and that, in return for such self
sacrificing consent on your part to
run this country, you are entitled
to do just as you please, to seorn ad
vice, suggestion or instruction, and
to plumber the rest of the people as
much as may be necessary TO serve
your convenience or perpetuate
your power. That IS the true So
cret of the defeat of the ranking
bill, as we shall show. The p%rinci>
pal speeches made in opposition to
this reform were by Senators Nye
and Stewart, and the voters prove
that they correctly represented the
majority of the Senators. Mr.. Stew
art saId
4 do not believo that thore Is a
Senator who censcjentlOusIy thinks