Daily Los Angeles herald., 1878-12-18
Anosner Aspecs of the matter.

There was a quite remarkable |
and interesting debate in the |
United States Senate the other
day, Initiated by Blaine and par
ticipated in by Messrs. Thurman,
Edmunds and Lamar. Blaine,
speaking to the resolutions looking
to an inquiry into alleged intimi-
dation and coercion of voters, in
dulged in his usual "bounce' and
violence. He fell into the old worm
out rut which claims the negroes of
the South as Republican voters
whether they desire to vote that
ticket or no, and lighted the match
which, he fondly believes, will
"fire the Northern heart" for the
next Presidential election.
Judge Thurman followed Mr..
Blaine. He offered an amendment
to Blaine's resolution, providing
for an Investigation into the ex-
tent to which Federal patronage
and money had been used to affect
Presidential elections. He made a
thoughtful and temperate speech
on this most interesting topic, TAX
ing occasion, during his remarks,
to repel Blaines ad captanduns as.
sertions that the negro vote of the
South had been coerced by the
Democracy. He was followed by
Judge Edmunds, perhaps the most
intellectual man, and certainly the
ablest lawyer, on the Republican
side Of the United States Senate,
who admitted that there was much
food for reflection in Judge Thur
mans position. Mr.. Blaine was
badly worsted in the debate before
Mr.. Lamar's turn came, but that
accomplished Mississippi Senator
was useful in the controversy prin-
cipally as refuti ng, as personal
witness, charges of wholesale in
timidation of the negro vote in the
Southern Statel.
Mr.. Thurman has really sounded
the Keynote of a matter vital TO
the future and welfare of the
United States. Admitting, for the
sake of argument, tln' n negro may
be abull-dozed" here an there in
the Southern State, that i. a matter
which will correct itself in time. 1t
10 purely local. While, if it exists
at all, it is to be deprecated, 1t
should not be exaggerated in the
staten ent of the fact nor in the
summary of its consequences. But
a universal corruption and intimi.
dation of elections, proceeding
from the seat of the national gov
ernment, would shorty utterly
overturn free institutions.
The short span of twenty years
has marked the transition from
frugal, republican manners in the
United States 20 the accumulation
OF large wealth and the weakening
of public virtue which usually pre-
cede- the overthrow of Republics.
Neither Washington nor Jefferson
were foolish in their day and gen.
Grafton, and both have propheti-
cally outlined condition of things
as preceding the subversion of the
Republic which exists, to the mi
nutest detail, to day. Jefferson
had horror Of governmental in
reference in politics. He thought
the essence of government should
lie In the township, the township
Influencing the central govern
ment, not the government the
township. He was exceedingly
anxious to keep the people of the
United States a simple, agricultu-
raj community, correctly forebod-
ing disaster to Republican institu-
tions when monocracy should
get itself established in this coun-
try.
Is there monocracy in the
United States to-day? The answer
to this question is found in the fact
that the moneyed power of this
country, until the other day, when
the Democratic party got hold of
the House of Representatives, con-
trolled every detail of legislation.
When the capitalist class and
corrupt administration at WASH
ington shall combine together to
subvert the Republic, then bloody
revolution, and that only, can
guarantee to this government
continued existence. Whether
there is vitality enough in an ener-
waited people to insure manly re-
sistance to the change is another
matter. We hope there is. The
country owes debt OF attitude
to Judge Thurman, however, and
to Judge f lmunds, who supported
his view OF the matter, for raising
an issue as to the right or expedi-
ency of administration and official
iutermsd ling in elections.
We had occasion yesterday to
point out the gross blunder made
by the WeeElu Rennhicnn In classi.