The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-03-29

Repeal the Laws and Save the Money.
Prior to 1861 contests for seats in Con
gross were few indeed Political strife, it
IS true, was us bitter as it well could be,
but partisanship did not lead to fraud and
deception, and with the clearing Of the
smoke Of battle went for the time the heat
Of party strife. Such IS not now the case,
and The laws and practices are sad com
mentary upon our enlightened civilization
and national honor In every Congress
for eighteen years past there have been
number Of contests, and the number is
augmenting instead Of decreasing, the ex-
pcnso in some cases amounting to $40, 900.
For this the Republican party is.responsi-
Bile, It has used the peoples money to
corrupt elections, and has allowed misera-
bic carpet-baggers large sums for contest
ing seats 10 the Senate, to which they had
no claim whatever. In addition, the OBJ
noxious election laws imposed upon an I'M
willing people, have contributed much to
keep up political strife, fomeut discOrd aud
absorb the public money.
The supervisors and deputy marshals, in
1878, according to report Of the Comp
trollcr Of the Treasury, cost over 500, 600,
and the accounts are not all in. This
money was spent where it would do the
most good for the Republican party. More
than half of the sum was spent in New
York alone, and when the returns for that
State are all in, the amount viii reach far
above that figure, and the result shows a
gain Of eight Republican congressman
there. The next heaviest expenditure was
in Pennsylvania, where there was gain
Of two Republicans. New Jersey came in
for largo share of money for marshals
and supervisors, and Republican gain of
two occurred. Some $4,000 were spent
in the 9th district in this State, and to
that fact, perhaps, in some degree, is ow-
ing the election of Mr.. Urner. In Vir-
ginia, the most Of the money was conccn-
trated ia what is termed the "Blaek Dis
trict" In fact, the money was used al
most wholly in doubtful localities, and the
great bulk Of it was spent in New York,
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Connecticut
aud New Jersey. This expenditure was
unknown until very recent years, and the
bin permitting it has no foundation in the
constitution. 1t was species Of partizan
legislation, designed to keep the Republi-
can party in power Congress has rcsOlv-
ed to repeal all the obnoxious election
laws, and should Mr. Hayes use the veto
power to thwart the will Of the people, all
the consequences must be borne BY him.
There is general awakening among the
people. Lost liberties are to be restored,
and the ballot is to be made free. The
tone Of public utterances everywhere iudi'
Gates this clearly, and indicates also, that
force will be used when peaceful means
fail Tie New York papers are plain on
this subject, and assert that repetition Of
the scandalous arrests made by Davenport
is likely to lead TO dangerous riots.
Congress, as we have said, arc deter
mined upon the repeal of all measures in
terfering with the freedom Of the ballot,
and ii is hoped ttat Mr Hayes will not in
terpose his veto We contend Mr.. Hayes
has no right to interposo his veto on this
subject. The veto should only be used to
arrest dangerous and unconstitutional leg
islation and to check extravaganee in ex-
penditures If it was right for Repub-
liean Congress to pass election laws, it is
equally right for Democratic Congress to
repeal them The majority in Congress is
supposed to represent majority Of the
voters. Majorities should rule, and Mr..
Hayes should not iuterpose his partizan-
ship to prevent Legislation, simply because
he has the power to do so.