The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-10-02
burglars, murderers, all are brought
forward to preserve the purity of
elections. [Long and loud cheers.

elections. [Long and loud cheers.
This law applies to cities of 10000.
It would apply to you. II any mean
man in GAINESVILLE will sell himself he
can obtain commission as a guardian
angel of the elections at FIVE dollars q
day. Prolonged applause.] The
Federal election law or supervisors
law has done more to corrupt the
elections than anything ever passed
before in all these United States.
Loud and prolonged cheers.
We introduced bills to repeal these
obnoxious laws. Mr.. Hayes vetoed
them. We have not the two-thirds
majority or we would have passed
them over his head. Every Republi-
can voted to maintain them. Every
Democrat and National in Congress
voted to repeal them.
The appeal Is now taken to you.
Let your votes in October decide the
question.
This is not the way in which the
friends ct a centralized government
are trying to get control of the ballot
box.
This government went into opera.
ton March 3rd, 1889, and down until
February 1865, our rulers thought 1t
inadmissable that the army should be
used at the polls. In 1865 after the
war was over, when the Republicans
determined to overthrow the Southern
States and make them Republican
provinces, then they passed law al.
lowing the use of troops at the polls
to preserve the peace. On that au-
thority they claim they can use the
army at the polls. We tried to repeal
that provision, but the President by
his veto said rather than keep the
army from the polls we will permit it
to be disbanded for want of appropri-
ations. My, friends ought the army
to be at the polls2
What use have we for the United
States army at the ballot-box when we
have government of our own, patri-
otic citizens of own to keep the peace j?
It is q baseless pretense. Under this
law there haYe been things done that
could never have been accomplished
before. The army was thrown into
New York and man of war brought
into her harbor on the pretense of in
suring fair elections a short time ago.
Gov. Hoffman protested in forcible
terms and they were not called into
requisition. A Republic never exist
ed but that when overthrown, il was
oyerthrown by tho army. The Roman
Republic fell when the Praetorian
guard sold it at public auction to the
highest bidder, and took the pay.
The only way to meet despotism is
at the beginning. 1t creeps on the
people silently by degrees until their
liberty is seized in the jaws of lion
and devoured. With the ballot-box
surrounded by an army, how long
will you have your liberty2 Not long
ago we saw an example in France.
Louis Napoleon overthrow the French
Republic and elected himself Emperor
for life, by having the army at voting
places. Few dared to face the armed
soldiers and cast their ballot accord.
ing to their convictions. The result
would never haye been accomplished
in the absence of the army but sta
toned as it was the people submitted,
and Louis was made Emperor for life.
What made Cromwell dictator in
England, but that he held the stand
ing army in his hands?
This law now could not stand in
England q day. In the reign of Ed
ward the First, Parliament passed an
act forbidding the presence of troops
at the polls. In lS47 there was law
passed providing that at the election
of members of parliament troops must
be removed from voting places, at
least one day before any election to
distance OF two miles and remain
there until one day after the election.
In our own country alone do such
laws exist. I could give instances
withou. number of their injurious ap--
plication. But they say they are to
protect the poor freedmen in their
right to vote. Gentlemen, this is not
= fact. It is to control the cities of
the North, they were passed. Ifthey
can control these cities they cam con-
troll the State elections, and by so do
ing keep the Republican party in.
power. d aaf u 3.4o.
In 1855, five-sixths of the money
used in execution of the election law
was expended in the cities of the
North, while one-sixth was expended
in the South to protect the poor freed
man. In 1878 only one eleventh was
expended In the South to protect the
poor freedman. u5ls..sss s..i
Another protection they also gave
them was q freedmens' bank, for the
darkeys to put all their money in.
Some one else took 1t out. During
the last session of Congress, Senator
Bruce asked for q committee. We
gave him the committee on freedmens
bank, making him chairman. He is
now on the track of the scoundrels
who robbed it and I hope he will
catch them. You see great deal in
the Republican press about Confeder-
ate Brigadiers, and their orators are
busily shaking the Bloody Shirt-that
garment which was laid away years
ago. a. g :.
have known the Confederate Brig
adiers personally and can say that all
the laws they have proposed have been
to your interest. They have advo-
Gated the repeal of the jurors test
oath, and of the election law These
are surely to your interest As much as
to theirs. They protest against the