The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-03-20

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opposition of &c Democrats, aided BY
few Of the better class Of Republicans.
The Republican majority succeeded how
ever, despite al opposition, IN passing in
a somewhat modified form, one Of the
most obnoxious Of those measures, the
Civil Rights Bill, which seeks to force the
negro into social equality with the white
man, aud Furnishes the white man by in
ilicting upon him fines aud improvements
for any infraetion Of It's provisions. We
characterized that measure, together with
tho Force Bin, as an attempt to forge
chains for freemcn and TO immune them
in dungeons, and also as an attempt to
sabyert the public liberties Had those
bills become laws, in the form in which
they we're first introduced into Congress,
the people would have had no resource
left against their stringent enforcement,
save their own manhood and the assertion
Of their rights BY force, as their fathers
did hundred years ago, That the coun.
try IS not 10 danger Of being plunged into
civil war, is not owing to the consideration
and forbearaHce Of the Republican major.
ity, but to the Democratic minority, aided
BY few Republicans who were not pos
sesscd BY hate, as the majority we're, but
who took calmer, more rational and
statesmsn-like view Of the proposed meas
ures, instead Of being actuated by mere
blind partizanship. Never before was the
peace Of this country so imminently threat
ened, to have made so fortunate an escape.
Her destinios trcmbled in the balance as
those motions foT delay were made, and
those all-night sessions were pFotracied by
the monotonous roll-calls designed to staTc
off these obnoxious and hate-inspired
measures. The Force Bill, intended, no
doubt, to make third term for Grant
possible, was thus defeated, while the Civil
Rights Bill passed in a modified. but still
very Objectionable form. The latter meas
ure, as it stands, is satisfactory to nobody.
Its friends say it is not full enough, aud
they win never rest satisfied until it en-
braces public Schools churches, cemeteries,
aud all that Sumner originally intended.
Its opponents win never cease opposition
to it, until it is obliterated from the Statute
book The Force Bill is in less favor,
even with pronounced Republicans
While they have elamored for tho former,
they severely denounce the latter. In this
category stands Harpsr's Weekly, one Of
the most steadfast Republican organs, from
which we take the following extract, and
we ask not Democrats only, but also Re-
publicans, to read it attentiyoly, and weigh
well its Significance
CoxoREss AND THE REPumIcAS Parry
Under the lead Of General Butler, who has
been peremptoriy rejected by the Republi
cans OF his own district, who commands
neither the confidence nor respect Of the
country, and who has shown no quality of
real craftsmanship, the majority OF the Re-
politicians in the House of Representatives,
against the earnest opposition Of almost every
conspicuous Republican there, have done
what they could to destroy the Republican |
party by passing the Force Bill. But even
Tor this desperate and expiring majority--for |
more than two-thirds of them do not return to !
Congress--the bill as drawn was too mons
trous, and they restricted the suspension Of |
the habcas corpus to the States of Louisiana,
Arkansas, Mississippi, aud Alabama, and /
limited the operation of the suspension 20 |
two years. The preiense that the act is ne
eessaTy for the protection Of the negro voter |
is pretense merely. On the morning Of the |
day when the vote was to be taken, the Wash |
ington Republican, the organ OF the White |
House, published in large capitals these
words;
the Republican party the electoral votes OF the south
ern States Remember that IL the Democrats carry
League usurpalion in some OF them is NOT suppress
ed, II Will require only my Democratic electoral
votes from the Northern States 70 elect Democratic
President This iss liberal estinater
Thus the bill WINS urged not because it was
just, or wise, or constitutional, but because il
was necessary, in order to save the Rspubli
can party at the next election, thatthe Presi-
dent should have the power-for such was the
provisions when this passage was wFitten--to
mprison any man in Maine or Oregon at his
personal pleasure, and without appeal or
INQUIRY. And the Philadelphia Press, pub
ished in the city where the Declaration Of
was adopted, actually said,
The great powers which It creates, dangerous
IS they seem, can, we believe, be safely in 4
rusted TO the President That is new doc
rine for the English-speaking race. Its strug-
lie for centuries has been TO restrict the exsr-
Use of those powers to the most extraordinary
and 70 time Of war, and then TO
,uard them in the most jealous manner. Our
,wn Constitution, the work Of men bred ia
hatred Of arbitrary power, declares, emphaii.
ally, .sIhe privilege Of the writ Of kadeas
corpus shall not be suspended unless when
n cases Of rebellion or invasion the public
afe,y may require it. But this bill author
zed the suspension of the great guarantee Of
,ersonal liberty when two men In State
How the country would have rung twenty
years ago il the antislnyery opposition TO the
Fugitive Slave Bill bad been made construc-
i've invasion or rebellion, and Democratic
Congress had authorized the suspension Of the
writ
This wanton triaing with the vital security
Of liberty was urged as necessary to save the
Republican party. But we had thought the
Republican, party was worthy Of salvation
because it was the party Of liberty. The only I
way in which q party can show that worth is |
by chcrishing the institutions which defend /
freedom. And it is because the Republican |
leaders, in their hot zeal tor party ascendency,
have forgotten the very end for which that |
ascendency is desirable, that the party has |
been every where defeated BY the inaetion OF |
open Opposition of Republicans themselves
10 save the party Let any sensible man |
look at the situation. To the Democratic |
party asd the dissatisfied Republicans Of last
autumn is now added the grave apprehension
Of that immense body Of Republicans repre-
scented by the thirty Of the most noted
iiepqblicans ia the House who voted against
the Force Bill. Is that the way TO save the
partyy Or let him take auother view. In a
little more than a year the Republican nomi-
mating Convention will meet III its action
shoeld be decided BY the delegates from
States which the President could control under
such q bill, or II he should be renominsied by
these and other executive Influences, there