The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1870-11-03
Grants C@sarism.

The Baltimore Gd:clc utters the fol
lowing indignant protest against the
employment Of the military at the polls:
If the people of this country have
reached that point Of degradation that
they can submit to have their elections
held under the surveillance of Federal
officials, backcdby Federal bayonets, they
are ready for the last act of the revolu
tlonary drama which has been in pro
gress ever since the war closed II will
need but one step further to change
what was once Il Government of limited
powers into u military despotism. Let
them not lay the Hattering junction to
their souls that there is no danger that
their liberties will be overthrow. Let
them look back and see the vast strides
that have been made in the centraliza.
ton of power at Washington during the
past five years, and then ask themselves
whether these changes are cot ominous
OF still greater usurpatons in the near
future. Dc they imagine the rights
chat yet remain to them are any more
sacred Ia the eyes OF the Radicals than
those ofwhich the Southern people have.
to all intentS aud purposes, been depriy.
ed! Hare they the folly to suppose that
the consplrat0rs who have violated the
rights OF States south of the Potomac
will respect the rights Of States north
of that line? Is it little thing that
those eonspriators have interpolatcd into
the Constitution amendments that were
never legally adopted by the people
that they have prohibited the Supreme
Court from passing upon the political
measures of Congress; that they have
subordinated the Executive to the Leg
islaIive Department Of Government. By
the passage of the Tenure ofOfice act,
aud that, by partisan legislation Of the
most outrageous kind, they have put
restraints upon the elective franchise
Tor the purpose Of perpetuating, ut
all hazards, their control of the Govern
ment ?
Does any body suppose that the re
cent act of Congress prescribing new
rules for the naturalization Of aliens.
and authorizing Federal officials to SUI
pcrvisc the registration of voters. and
10 keep watch aud ward over the ballot.
box, were framed for any other purpose
than to obstruct aud harass those who |
are opposed to the Radical party? The |
approach to the ballot.bax should be !
free to all. The laws of the State for
the regulation Of elections give ample |
protection TO all citizens, without res I
poet TO party, who may have reasonable |
cause oil complaint against either the |
officers OF election or the judges appoint.
cd to preside at the polls The right of |
each State to prescribe the mode of
holding elections within its borders, and
the qualifications of voters has never
until now been denied.
The sole value OF elections, as giving
expressions to the will of the people,
lies in the perfect freedom with which
they are conducted. Yet the following
suggestive picture was presented at the
recent election in Philadelphia:
The marines are stationed in line be.
fore the polls. The police we're ordered
away. len marines kept guard in the
street. The line of voters was again form
ed, and they passed in their ballots. On
one side of the window stood the Major:
on the other sdea subordinate officer. Two
marines, with loaded muskets. stood at a
support arms within four feet Oft the window
No one, save the election officers and the
voters, was permitted to come near the
window. Thus did the force OF arms su-
persede the force of civil law at an election
poll
Since then all the available soldiers
and marines eastof the Mississippi have
been ordered East, to be held ia readi
ness to participate, in like manner, in tho
Congressional elections that take place
early next mouth. The mere conccn.
traton Of these forces in the neighbor.
hood OF tie larger cities on such au DC.
ca ion is more than menace--it is a
deliberate insult offered 20 those who
once were proud to call themselves
free people. -Four hundred deputy mar.
shaIs, supported by Federal bayonets.
are to be placed over the voters Of this
city on the Sth of November next. 1t
is an outrage for which we have but one
rctort-that of defiance. We are law.
abiding community. We hold that eve.
ny registered voter has the right to cast
his ballot without let or hindranco from
any one, aud are prepared to defend
him in the eYercise of that r;,,h, ~,