The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-05-29

e - Aotho HA010ol iAe00e are C000tant.
~ charging the DemosrsAsswish con-
spiracy to .eubvert tho 6orerhment,
the following brief review Of the work
attempted by COngrsss, which we
find in an exchange, may not be an-
profitable reading:a -. tlti % 'il,'.
"But three measures were demand
ed-the repeal OF the Law authorizing
the use of the military st the polls,
the repeal-of 'the law authorizing su.
pervisors; Of elections and deputy
marshals to take, charge of eledfi0ns,
and the repeal of the law prascribing
the test oath for Jurors in the South
ern States. The fret was esteemed to
be subyersive OF sh free government.
While no one has charged that the
officers or men in, the army. have any
desire to obstruct free expression of
the will of the people ut the polls, all
agree that the presence Of an srned-
force on the occasion Of elections I'M
plies q duress that ILL befits . govern
ment such as ours. It is unquestion-
able that heretofore the presence Of
troops at the polls has interfered
with the freedom Of electors, and IL is
not improbable; that the same thing
may occur again, especially when the
fact is taken into account that the
troops do not act OF their one volition,
but are subject to orders from persons
at. Washington who ARE Wedded to
monarchiaI ideas, and would not seru >
pie to use the military force to assist
their purposes. aIi
"The second object sought has been
the repeal of the Law which gives the
federal government authority, TO ap-
point supervisors and deputy marshals
10 superintend elections for members
of Congress, These officials were in<
vested with h.extraordinary powers to
arrest. and these powers have frequent
ly been abused, more especially in the
localities Of the North. 1t has been
employed 10 intimidates voters. aud
has resulted IN 'distranchising thous-
ands OF pers0ps legaliyseutitlsd to that
privilege. 1tEis = peryersiO4 .0t the
constitutional authority conferred up
on Congress TO regulate the elections
of memhers.of thas bod ~ that could
only be inspired by apers0ns welded
10 the idea Of capitalization, which IL
but another name for monarchism ybt
"The last Law sought to be repealed
il one that was conceived IN malice
and brought forth in hate, H. Was un.
called for at the time Of, its .enactme11t,
for no political question could posis'
bly, come before juries FOR decision.,
Nevertheless the hatred the Repub bill;
can majority bora towards tlle 6oulh-
ern people indaced them 70 pass = law
requiring that all. Jurors should take
an foati, declaring that they Had hevar
Iaaken part in Or kivSn aid Nbf CON fort
| to the rebeliions The reshlt isthat all
the intelligent portion rof the; SOUTH
ern people have been shut out Of the
jury. box, ana judgment has rested
with men of no educatfot and little
inteiiigehces Tho hasdships entailed
has been great. Under thsnterms or
the law, nearly = third OF the members
Tor Congress are forbidden from ste
ting on juries, and one OF the meihbsrs
of Mr.. 7llay ess cabinet II under like
ban, while one at leaSt-and A:think'
twoIjpdgas Of the United StAtes dis
trict courts at the SQuth. Although
/ they iit in Judgment Oh the beneh,
are debarred from sitting on .; Jury, =,
"These are the laws the. Democratic
majority have sought to repeal. They
have failed through the Opposition OF
Mr.. Hayes and the sstalwsft minority
In y Cong ressssq Unfortunately their
majority was too small to enable them
to pass the repeal bills over the vetoes
but tho country win not hold them
responsible for that fact; They did
what they could to restore1a ifepub-
lican form of government to- this
country in its full meaning. The peo-
pie will see to it that they are Invest
ed with greater power when the next
engagement takes place between ths
forces Of republicanism and monarch7
ims. sraz..- chnnf -. .s.a.As -.