The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-04-07
The Crimes and BlunderS of the Radi'
cal Party.
From the ChicaO0 Tri

In tue vi tllc Cldlul vi OCuCldl
Ames to seat in the United States Sen
ate, the Judiciary Committee reported that
he was not an inhabitant of the State,
and, therefore, not eligible at the time OF
his election. The discussion, however,
has developed determination on the
part of some Senators (perhaps majori-
ty) to admit General AIRES anyhow, be-
cause he is Republican. Senator Car
penter, in speaking of this subject, fOrci-
bly, condemned the prevailing practice
of disregarding law upon political meas
urcs The judiciary, he said, was becOm-
ing useless appendage of the govern
mept, and he expressed a willingness, so
far as be was concerned, that it be abol-
ished, 'conceding, for the purpose of this
discussion, that whenever the constitu-
ton stands in the way of what we deem
human rights, Of what we deem tempo
rary advantage, of what we deem party
end, that it is to be trampled under foot
and disregarded." While the Senator was
| thus willing to cOncede away the judi
| ciary, whenever demanded by party, he
was not willing to give up the constitu-
! ton in this particular case because there
was no necessity for it, either of ma
| tional or party character, and, there
should decide this question on party
grounds. The rebuke was not ill-timed.
Though uttered with reference to the case
| of Ames, it has an equal application to
those members of Congress who, for mere
partisan purposes, are endeavoring to
force upon the people OF Georgia, after
their terms of office expire, a gang of State
officers who are not wanted by the people
Lay ing aside all considerations OF cOnstitu-
| ton, law, justice and good faith, what
possible interest have the Republicans OF
Wisconsin and Illinois in keeping in of
| flee in Georgia set of men 80 OdiOus that
they dare not trust themselves to the
| chances OF an election where they have
the political machinery in their own
hands? Is the country to be saved by
keeping particular Legislature and Gov
ernOr in office against the wishes of the
people? Is it not a libel UPON the RepuD,
licans of the / nited States TO assume that
they approve OF any such policy, or that
they refuse permission to the Republicans
i'll Georgia @ dismiss at the next election
a gang OF officials whose terms have ex-
PRED? Instead of being party measure
to keep Bullock i'll office in Georgia, it Is
an abuse OF party confidence, and an
abuse Oh Senatorial responsibility and de-
cOrum, to attempt any such revolutionary
and repusive act.
But this is not the only case in which
Congressional morality has persisted before
the mistaken policy Of temporary party
advantages. The judicial proceedings o.
the House of Representatives upon cases
of contested elections have sunk us low III
public estimation as those of the hircling
courts ii New York city. Law and evi
dence, facts and justice, are treated with
contempt or uncOnccrn, and questions oil
/ iSht of membership and validity of cleo
on are decided exclusively by the poll
les of the contestants. MIR. Dave ), Ol
massachusetts, was Chairman of the
House Committee of Electious for many
years, and i'll his judgment the House
placed great confidence; but he could not
stem the tide of partisanship, and he re-
tired in disgust from the committee. In
a recent paper read before the Social Sci
ence Association he sad:
= All traces Of a judicial character in these o.
ceedings contested elections are last fading Az ~
anu the presidents losing all sanction. Each
l. Coming 40 be Il mere partisan struggle 1T The
dictate OF party ajOritie- The committee mu-i
fight, not Oow the law and the evidence and h.
will best III =. the expectations of his appointment
who can put upon the record the best reasoLs TO,
the cOur>e tnrs pursued. This tendency Il so man
ilest 10 those N a situation to observe that it
Ceased 20 he questioned. and IL now hui httle re-
sisted There tyranny like that of majOTiiies,
and efforts in the past TO resist them, a TO hold
the judgments Of the Committee of Elections above
the dirty pOol OF party politics, have encountered
such bitter and unsparin3 denunciation and such
rcbuke for treason 10 party fealty. that they are
not likely 10 be repeated. The fruit that follows
such seed i too certain for doubt. The whole pro-
ceediDg must sink into contempt Self-respeCt as
well n legal attainment will soon retife from ser
vice upon cOmmittee required, in the name OF
the law and under the ok of judicial sanction TO
do the work OF partisans
Since Mr.. Dawes retired, Mr. Paine, OF
Wisconsin, has been Chairman of the
Committee of Elections, and he, too, has
become so disguised with the course of
the House in overriding law and justice,
that lie has frequently asked to be relieved
| from service on the committee. There
never was a greater mistake made by
party than the prostitution of its numeri-
cal strength to the establishment Of pre-
| cedents, particularly of a judicial char &c
ter, Tor mere temporary advantage. How
| ever successfully "self-respect and legal
attainment" in the Senate and the House
| of Representatives may be cOerced into
| submission to such action, the moral SEN
timent OF the people will always revolt.
The House of Representatives, two years
|
! jOrlty, elected member who had been
fairly and legally elected by small ma
| jOrity, and the result was that "a few
months later he was reelected by several
| thousands over his competitor These
violations of justice, this bending of law
| and cor sttut.C 1 to suit the exigenci.s OF
party, invariably meet their rctributiOn.
If a party cannot retain power and place
~ IL he tn. lax 1.t Il l.,,,
down the authority; it is no longer USE
full.
In his admirable speech on the Georgia
case, Senator SchuTZ thus pointed out
how temporary advantage may end in a
pc rmanent defeat. He said:
81 ask you. are we indeed reduced to that pitt
aele extremity of declaring that We can prOicc,
the citize NJ of the United States n IL cir rigb
only by ? violation of the constitution and G
laws. instead of their enforcement: Heaven
forbid that we should cOndescend 10 make de
grading. 30 fatal an acknowlcde rAnt, Let Re
publican Senators advocating that course of policy
well pause and consider. They speak OF party i'll
"Sr, the conscience af the American people
willingly accepted many stretch OF power
| long n he life of the nation in danger. l.
| let no man deceive himself. The conscience o
| the American people has by meas become
sensible TO wantoIe ii>r gard of the laws 70
mean 10 preserve, by tins act, party a-Cendency in
one single State of this Union. Why Senators !
| sou have read the history of this corntTy n
profit you Will have learned that it Is by Just ~ Oh
acts that party Isccndency is lost in the nation
Such acts are very rarely performed with mpunty
and when you Come at last to strike the balance
having JcOpardizcd your ascendency in the nation
Tor local success, / ask you what will be your
profit in proportOn TO your lOss:"
Let Senators and Representatives ponder
upon these words so opportunely spoken
| and let them weigh the value OF mere
temporary partisan advantage when il
may involve the loss of the confidence
and respec: of an indignant people.