The daily gazette., 1879-05-21
wEDNEsDAY. MAY 2Ith, 1879.

The Washington correspondent OF the
New York Herald, in referring to the
speech of Senator Blaine, on Monday,
heads his remarks with the significant
words, "Throwing Down the Gage
Real Issues" and proceeds to say, that
= ,"Tn conclusion, Mr.. Blaine accepted
and justified the whole mass of elections
legislation, supervisors, marshals and
troops at the polls as necessary, whole
some, of good effect and not by any
means to be repealed or modified, and
charged the democrats with efforts to
weaken the federal power and strengthen
the powers of the States. In that, said
he, we will resist you, and you will be
obliged to submit" Co. 'tn
s.. Mr.. Blaine's remarks were addressed |
to the Democratic Senators, but they |
were nevertheless intended for the whole |
people, irrespective of party. For the
man who is Democrat to-day, under
our republican system may be Repub-
lican tomorrow. The correspondent is
no doubt right. The real issue is whether
the people will allow the elections to be
free; or whether they will have them
controlled by the presence of armed
troops under the direction of partisan U.
8. Marshals whose continuance in office,
and those with whom he is politically
associated, depend upon the return of
the votes. To deny that this is the issue
by referring to the incidents of the re-
bellion, is as Mr.. Blaine says idle
rhetoric" l-..
But then these Republican gentlemen
have, nevertheless, many of them, in
Guiding Mr.. Hayes himself, said tina
they were opposed to permitting troops
to interfere at elections. Even Mr..
Evarts, the Secretary of State, has said
in the most emphatic manner, ''no sol
diers can Interfere" The correspondent
Of the Herald states the case more fully.
He says of Mr.. Blaine's speech:
d 'In these words he stated with toler-
able accuracy the real difference between
the two parties. The republicans are
bent upon concentrating cOnstaatiy
greater pOlcers IN the federal government
and they oppose ecery morement 10 re
peal those special endctments conterri,ig
extraordinary and nOrcl po,cers on Tie
federal government which were adopted
during the war or the reconst ructioi
period, some of them against the opposi
tion or with the unwilling and hcsitatin!
support of many of the ablest republi
cans. The democrats argue that fourteel
years after the war the time is ripe t.
bring the federal government back to TIL
old limitations; that this can be safel
done and cannot he delayed; that tn
country is at peace and there is no pre-
tence of revival of the old State soy
ereignty doctrine, which perished in tn
war, and that while during the war c
the period of turmoil Immediately follow
ing it it may have been necessary (
confer extraordinary potcers on the fec
erdt government these pOcers QUILT n1
to be LONGER continued.
This is the real contention between tn
two parties. To mix it upwith incident
Of the rebellion as Mr.. Blaine and othe
republican speakers do, or to make eN
treme and random assertions abor' fed
eral expressions as some Democrat
Senators do, is what Mr.. Blaine calle
idle rhetoric. The real question
whether the war legislation, which wa
of nature which no public man of an
party would have advocated or propose
before the war shall be regarded as pei
Iiianent, and as Mr.. Blaine maintaine
to-day just, wholesome and necessary /
time of peace, or whether it is wiser I
go back to the old landmarks. On til
it is pretty evident the people will la,
to decide next year, and it is real al
important question"
Mr.. Blaine threw down the gage, as
well expressed by the Herald, and
doing so, seemed to crafty the leaders
the Republican party. His speech hi
been largely copied and favorably con
mented upon by many of the leadir
Journals of that party. Whether it wi
prove wedge to split it asunder or
concrete to weld it together for a shoi
lived period We do not know
We cannot, however, believe that tl
people of this country will concur wi
Mr.. Blame and his co-laborers for h
Capitalization Of the government til
troops shall be allowed to attend 81
polls. Our British ancestors would n
allow 1.-THE Fathers of the Republ
would net permit it-nor do the subje,
of the Queen Of England permit it no
Although the Parliament has the accel
ed right to control, To create new armi
or destroy existing ones, to subsist
withhold subsistence; vet Parliame
does not concede the right of the Gro,
or the ministry to interfere at the elt
tions with troops. viii the people
this country be less mindful of the +
ribe consequences which befall peol
who part with their civil rights On
nsurped how difficult it is to get TIN
pack again. We see the danger alrea
l III the unwilingness of Senators and
other officeholders to part with their h
salaried and exalted positions, Civ
their families elevation. wealth and ca
Before ever the election of 1876 v
held, we were told by Northern men b
the Democrats could not carry the el
tons; that it was 50 arranged that
democrat would be returned elected,
matter if lie did carr, all tbe Soutb,