The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1870-10-28
,Contesting Elections.

Immediately after the election 1t was
announced that Messrs. SCHENcK of
Ohio, and MoRRELL, ARMSTRONG, and
CESSNA OF this State, would contest
the seats of theirsuccessful competitors.
There seemed to be no other ground for
this course of action than that the sue
cessful candidates had been chosen by
ANAL majorities. That fact affords
great facilities for contesting and thwar-
ting popular Judgment, for it is seldom
II ever the case that some technical err
ror (really of no moment) cannot be
discovered in some one or more OF the
many election districts contained with
I'm the large boundaries of a Congress
Bional district. One good result, how
ever, attending these contests Is that
candidates who thus defy popular ma
jorltes are ever effectually killed there
after.
OF the above, Messr5. ScHENCK and
MoRRELL have already announced that
they will not contest, their sense OF
honor precluding them from endeavor-
ing to obtain seatby means Of technic-
alities and the sympathy of their po-
litical friends in Congress. Mr.. ARM
STRONG is gentleman of high personal
character, proud of his honorable name,
and nothing short of the act will induce
us to believe that he will contest upon
technical grounds. He has been fairly
defeated, in district overwhelmingly
Republican, because his own party were
personally dissatisfied with him, and
every instinct of manly honor therefore
demands of him to submit to the result
and fight his battle mantully before the
q. people who, rightfully or wrongfully
have rejected him.
But In the remaining case there is
different state of affairs. JOHN cessna
isin politics what dirty little whelI
is among puppies. He would just a
willingly steal seat in Congress, o
anything else, AS to obtain it by honora
BILE means, and II the choice were lef
perfectly free to him we are by no mean
certain that his natural instincts woul
not lead him to prefer the meanest
most villianous way.
Contesting successfully will not be S
easy in the next Congress as in the last
The Republican majority will be botl
more limited and more cautious. Eve
In the last Congress many Republican
members shuddered at the outrages s
often committed upon popular rights
but these were usually deferred from
action by the overwhelming party ma
Jority. In the next Congress, 1t is ap
parent, too, that the Republican ma
jority will be greatly reduced il nc
practically annihilated. Fair men wi
therefore have power and the outra
geous schemes of the reckless will b
more or less effectually curbed.
The unpopularity of throwing me
cut who have been elected will also d.
ter the Republican majority hereafte
The recent elections make it abundan
,ly manifest that 1t has become necessar
for the Republican party to husband II
strength If it would retain power.
can derive no advantage, but will rea
injury, by the unfair gain of few vote
In Congress. While CESSNA would a
soon of choice wallow in filth as revs
in virtue, the other gentlemen name
will scarcely be willing to forever bias
their political future for the sake Of a
ill-gotten brief moment in Congress.
We conclude, therefore, that there
vast amount of Jssdge about the threat
of contesting Congressional seats an
look confidently for a nobler course
action.