The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-11-20

turbed by the incendary course Of ia
natics of the North, negro slavery was
bound to die by the action of Southern
men themselves. Systems of gradual
emancipation were on foot and being
carried Oh, which would have ended in
ultimate emancipation of all men from
involuntary labor as much as any of us
are emancipated from it, for | do not
know that we are or ever will be,
or ought to be, entirely freed from such
involuntary labor"
FREE ELECTIoNs.
4 The thing which has given me
always a great deal of hope of our insti'
tutions v hen | would be otherwise de-
spondent has been that 30 long as our
elections are free the people have 1t in
their power not only to AVOID a repetl-
tion OF mistakes, but to retrace their
steps. Therefore, think that an intelli-
gent self.interest, although it may not
prevent the people from laundering,
will always instruct them to recover
from their errors, provided the safely
UnlUe of free elections is left open. For
that reason | think that the freedom OF
elections should be most jealously guard
ed by our people, and every step that
tends to place elections under any
control except that of the community to
be affected by them is a step in the
wrong direction. The people should
watch it and viglantly guard against it,.
In other words, l think our government
is founded upon the idea that the peo-
pie are capable of governing themselves
in accordance with their true interests.
The only question is whether they will
apprehend what their true interests are.
We are very apt to make mistakes, but
we are equally at liberty to retrace our
steps, and there is really where the
safety lies. We can be taught by our
failurea, and there is 80 much in the
government that is noble and 30 much
that appeals to mems better feelings
and to their self.respect that do not be
lcve our people will allow their govorn'
ment to 90 to pieces. l believe when
they have found that they have com.
mitted errors they will be disposed nat
urally to correct them. The great thing
is to leave them free to do So"
FEDERAL CONTROL CT ELECTIONS,
"Do you have in view any example ol
any dangerous tendencies OF the present
ruersW
''Yes. I think that the construction
of the Constitution which is now sought
for by members of the administration
and advanced by them at the last Con
gress, which is to place the elections in
the States under Federal supervision
and control, was long stride toward 4
destruction of the principle of free cleo
tions and self.government, which is es
sential for the perpetuty of this Gov
ernment. 1t is founded in distrust o.
the people. There is no more reason tC
suppose the people of this country will
commit suicide through States than
through the central government, and
therefore this whole idea that you can
not have pure elections unless you have
Federal officer to administer them il
found in dstrust of the people fol
self.government and suggestion thai
purity has it's only fountain in the city
of Washington.
This is most substantial statement
of plain and obvious truth-there is ne
exaggeration in tit is a very moderate
statement of the consequences of the
position which was taken at the last ses
sion of Congress by the Republicans
generally and chiefly illustrated by thu
claim of their right and duty to have al
armed force at the polls Unpopular elec
tions in case the President should thinl
it proper to send them. They held Iha
there was nothing but his discretion t
prevent the presence of troops upon al
occasions of the expression of their fre
will by the people. Force and free will
are inconsistent terms, In England ant
America over and over again it has beel
decided by parliamentary decision tina
the presence of armed forces at tb
polls of election invaidated the election
80 far as the party whose influence
caused them to come there Is con
cerned."
CREATURES WATCHING THEIR CREATORS
do not the Republicans argue tina
those armed forces are merely presen
as police to see lest any harm shoul,
Gomez"
That contains the germ of the yer.
danger l am speaking Of. Why shoul'
the army become the guardians of tn
liberties of the people? The army is bu
one of the instruments of the people +
govern themselves. They never wer
put in the position of guardian an
ward. The army is the creature of tn
law, and the law is a declaration of tn
peoples will. 1t is like plaCingthe Crea
ture above the creator to suppose tina
the American people cannot hold ant
will not hold free and fair elections I'm
less their own creatures are put to watCI
them. This is the truth; there is bu
one side to it,"
"Then your remedy for thisP"
II would not permit this. l coDside
the admission of such right as absC
lutely fatal to every theory Of our goy
ernment. As to the Congressional cleo
tions the remedy is always full and fail
II in the first place the wrong ma
should be returned to Congress throug
violence or fraud, the community whic
is misrepresented is injured. But nc
only is that community injured, but tn
whole country is injured by allowing
misrepresentation to become a part {
the governing power Of the whole couu
try. But the control of that is distinct
placed by the Constitution in each bous
of Congress. When the Constitutio
gives exclusively to each house the pow
or of judgment over the qualification
elections and returns Of its own mem
beIs, it gives Congress the exClusiv
power to redress every wrong, injustiC
and outrage that has been perpetrate