Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1873-04-23


to interpose any restraint upon The
fraud. And yet thousands OF quail
ded voters were refused registry, or
thcir names arbitrarily stricken o6,
and they had TO accept disfranchise.
ment because the mandate Of the Leg
islature sanctioned il, In the face Of
these known facts the Senate 10 about
to declare that partisan and irrespon-
sible registration shall be continued In
Philadelphia. yet
l mean that Senators shall look this
measure in the face. What Senator
can rise In his place and assume that
the provisions before us, pretending
to confer certain powers on the courts,
are honest, either In their inception
or In their language, or that they are
intended toinvoke honesty in their sx.
ecution Every Senator knows that
they arc hollow mockcries and stud.
led lies, and every voice around mo is
compelled 10 silence when these burn
ing truths are pressed home to them.
challenge denial--I call for the ut
terances on the floor of this Senate,
which were made under the shelter of
secret caucus. Not one dare ven.
ture to state truthfully why this fresh
insult is to be added to the already
intolerable wrongs and unjust no.
proaches long suffered by the people
Of Philadelphia.
On the most vital question Of uf
fording a judicial remedy for tho ar
bitrary disfranchisement Of citizens
by canvassers, the substitute before
us purposoly surpasscs the present
registry law In its infamy. There is
now shadow Of q remedy, while the
substance is practically denied but
under the present law, remedy 10
possible in exceptional cases. The
canvassers may strike off names on
the eighth day before the election.
Now an appeal may be made TO the
court by notifying the canvassers four
days before the election, and getting
before tho court on the day following.
Under the substitute now pending,
the canvassers can still strike of, in
secret session, on the eighth day, and
application must be made to the court
not later than the sixth day, and then
only after having given twenty-four
hours notice to the canvassers. To
have judicial remedy under the bill
before us, the citizens must proceed,
on the morning Of the seventh day by
notice, and the canvassers have the
lists for striking off until such hour
as they please tho night. before. Is
this mockery and falsebood not pub
lie proclamation Of tho shame Of the
Senateg Who can, who will, who
dare defend it!
Equally false and doceitful is the
pretence Of bringing the returns be-
fore the court for computation. An
irresponsible board of commissioner
the creation of tho councils, is made
the tribunal before which tho returns
are to be computed, and the cerlifi-
Gates Of election issued. Mark how
the slimy pollution of fraud is cher.
ished and protected in this cunning
provision. After the returns are COM
puted and the certificates of election
issued by this partisan tribunal, the
returns may, under certain circum-
stances, be brought before tho court
for examination and revision. When
the returns have passed the necessary
manipulation in the very inner cham
Der of violent and corrupt partisan
ship, the records of fraud destroyed
and every possible wrong consumma-
ted, and beyond tho power Of courts
charged only with an inquiry into
prima facie rights, it is provided that
the courts shall sit as shorn Sams0ns
to give apparent judicial sanction TO
ballot stuffing and forgery. This, and
this only, is the meaning Of the pro-
vision protesting to submit returns to
the control Of the courts. Senators
cannot but mark how wanton false
hood and visible deceit pervade every
provision Of this substitute.
Sir, appeal to Senators TO deal
manfully with Philadelphia. 1t has
been decreed in caucus that no Just
election bill shall pass. Those who
feared to meet the issue on this floor,
or who tried II with Indifferent sue
cess, have been able TO coerce the
judgment Of sincere men who dare
not invoke party resentment. Since
it is so, let the decree Of the caucus be
met and made without deceit. Vote
down the bill you cannot assail but
must reject. Confess frankly that
you dare not be just, for not school
boy in my city will fail 10 appreciate
the contempt assembling will merit.
As the roll is called, Mr.. Speaker, i
shall be mindful Of the earnest pro-
fessions Of reform with which you
gladdened the people Of the State
whilo your oath Of Office was yet
fresh upon your lips, and you pro-
claimed tho policy OF the majority OF
this body. Have they turned TO ash
es, TO bc scattered 70 tho winds by a
caucus, that has husbed TO scrvile obe-
Qlc0Cc tuObo Wuo Cthiu w w iooNoso
of men7 And the Senator from Beav.
or, (Mr. Rutan) who has declared on
the floor Of this body, that fair elec'
tion law must be accorded to Phila.
dolphin, how is he to votof lie must
be forge,ful of his plighted faith If he
now bows to tho exactions Of those
who can triumph only by fraud. And
| tho Senator from Susquehanna, (Mr
i Fitch from whom came the report IL
favor of q just bill, what has made
him unmindful of his own Expressed
convictions And tho Senator from
Lancaster (Mr. WarfcD was of thos,
who have made y record in favor o.
the integrity Of the ballot-box. MUS
all these convictions, and oil these
professions, and all devotion TO the
purity Of elections, bs offered as Q
saeri6ce on tho altar Of party? Ifso
let mo admonish Senators that they
IL L. L..