The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-03-03
THE THIRD TERM BILL.

The Introduction of the Caucus
Bill in Congress is fit pendant to
the Arkansas message of Grant.
The object Of that Bill, stated in a
few words, is to put the South under
martial law until after the Presiden-
tial election, and by that means to
annul the Democratic victory which
is sure to be accomplished then, by
means similar to that used by the
Returning Board in our State poll
tics. Congress is to count only such
votes as the Radicals may find neces-
sary to give Grant a third term.
The scheme is a bold one, but we
have no fears of it's success. The
cheating of the whole American peo-
pie out Of the fruits Of an election is
a different thing from depriving Lou
isiana either by fraud or force of
hers, bat tie approval Of the Bill by
Radical congressional caucus and
it's introduction in the Congress
marks an era The N. Y. World
very sensibly remarks:
The introduction Of the caucus bill to-
day will mark the lowest point which
American politics have ever reached.
We are quite sure nothing SO servile as
this was ever proposed in Congress be-
fore as the act of a party, as this has
been made by the proceedings of the
caNcus. IT is scarcely denied, except
indeed by Mr.. Grant himself through
the Washington Republican, that the
measure is meant to re-elect him at the
cost of everything that makes the Uni.
ted States a republic and not mon.
archy. 1t is performance like that OF
"the ambitious youth who fired the
Ephesian dome." When we reflect how
many lives and the labors of how many
generations it has cost to erect the safe.
j guards of civil liberty which this bill
proposes to overthrow to subserve the
temporary purpose of party, it is hard
not to tell a personal hatred Of the men
who supported it in caucus and of those
who may support it in the House. The
i President himself is the least blame.
worthy, perhaps, of all the conspirators
He has shown over and over again tina,
he does not know what civil govern
ment means. The history Of It is Al
unknown to him as the machinery Off
is hateful to him. He thinks of civil
; liberty, if he thinks of it at all, as {
mass of technicalities devised by attor
neys to prevent the transaction of bust
ness. We may do him the credit O.
supposing that he really does not see
any reason why he should not govern
the country absolutely and without re
straint, just as lie would command al
> army. As far as he is concerned tn
that soldier ought not to be chosel
} President, unless he happens to be |
t man also of some training besides hi
military training and Of some civic ex
> perience; unless, in word, he is I
, much more intelligent man than Mr.
Grant. But the members of Congress
who intend to support this bill are in I
/ different and worse position. The.
: know what civil liberty means, ant
, they mean to betray it by the wors
7 treason which in time Of peace has beer
l threatened against it for now SOM
centuries. We are quite within bound
} in saying of such men that not one o
them is fit to hold any Office under re
: publican government, whatever pro
) fessions they may hereafter make
"Black lists'' of members of Congress
, have often been made out by angr,
) newspapers, but this black list ought t.
stand. However, it is hardly peedfu
: to take the pains of making it out
Probably most of them understand tina
they are stalking their whole politica
fortunes, and that if they do not sue
coed in re-electing Mr.. Grant, thei
, support of the caucus bill will be tn
, end of them.