The Russellville Democrat., 1879-07-24
FREE ELECTIONS.
Why the Republicans Fight this
 Issue so Desperately.

Tue course of the republican lead CTS in the senate this week has been atrocious. They have fought tue army bill as though they were the rumpt of the Grant movement fight ing for the last chance to secure an election; or as though, as is com monly conjectured. there was some secret motive in their opposition. The importance of what they have said has by no means justified their intensity and desperation of purpose. They have transCended all regular and legitimate opposition, and they have not shown any reasons that that the bill ought not to pass. Their conduct has afforded curious and not pleasant SD ectaclc of meu who have been too long in power for their own or the country's good who have become in.olercnt of oppo- sition from any source, either out side or within their party, and who have forgotten how to submit to de- feat, and are capable of scizing on power by any means, however vio lent. The display which they have made is of spirit entirely and dan gerously evll, and no thoughtful man can read the senate debates of the last and consider the tone, the temper, the spirit, and the wide dis parity between the subject and the republican treatment of it, without perceiving that it would be well for the country if these gentleman could be for while retired from power, and that it would be m extremely hazardous thing to give them new lease of it, which they seem deter mined at all hazards and by any means to seize.
 It is the Grant movemment which has displayed itself in the senate in these days, and has, with extra ordinary arrogance and intolerance. insisted on troops at the polls. If nothing else justified the democrats in insisting on their extremely mild prohibition of the use of troops for election purposes, the language and spirit of the republican leaders in the senate this week would give them abundant justification, and It is not too much to say that rather than trust these republicans-Senators Conkling, Blaine and others-with troops at the polls, it would be far better and safer for the country to disband the army.
 In this respect, tho senate of this week may, and ought to, serve nse- full and important purpose. The Grant movement has it's center in that senatorial coterie which has aimed to control the house, has tried and is now trying to intimidate the president, whom it hates, and which with unerring instinct, makes its desperate stand for troops at the polls, as the true ground for the Grant movement to maintain. The democratic determination to keep troops awaw from the polls has seemed, hitherto, to be inspired by foolish and ridiculous fears, but the apparition of the Grant movement in the senate justifies them, and ought to secure for their aims the support of all judicious voters. The Spirit of theIrepuhlican leaders in the senate shows that it is high time, for the security and peace of the country, to have change of parties. Like the democratic party in 1860, these men have been to long in pow CT They arc drunk with an unpa- triotic ambition. They show plain ly that they do not mean to let go of the government, that they regard tho country as their possession, and political defeat as personal wrong and robbery ofthemsclvcs.
 The impression which this debate has made upon many thoughtful at tendants upon it is that no party can be 80 dangerous to the country as a party led, inspired and controll- ed by these men, and that if the republican party appears in the pre- sidential canvass under their leader ship, it will be the duty of every man who values the country's safety and peace, to oppose it and them, no matter who is on the other side. The republicans uttered foolish cry of revolution early in the session, but your correspondent, whose duty it has been to watch all the tedious debates of the extra session, and who has not failed to expose to you the folly and weakness of:the democ- rats, has seen nothing on the democ- ratio side, when among the worst elemant of that party, which at all compares for wickedness of purpose, for desperation and evil spirit. with the course and temper of the leading republican senators during this de bate