Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-02-28
DEMOCRATIC ssBLUND ERsn

lamentations over what they call Demo
cratic blunders, and so poignant seems
their distress at these ''blunders," one is
almost persuaded that if this wicked Demo-
cratic majority could only be reformed |
from some Of it's sinful ways our Republl- |
can friends would be very glad to follow
it. The last plunder which they have dis
covered is the wise legislation Just |
adopted in the House of Representa-
tives, by that party to force the govern
ment to either go without its unconstitu-
tional and partizan election law, or go
without the money to carry it out. The
Republican press characterlzes this as
a ''disorderiy and revolutionary measure"
and denounces it accordingly, and with SO
much impudence, that the general reader
IS surprised to find that this very election
law was passed by the Republican con-
gress originally, by lacking it On to the
Appropriation bill Of 1872! Not word
was said then Of revolutionary or disorder
ly measures; not a word was uttered about
it's being q blunder-on the contrary, it
was praised as wise party measure.
Revolutionary! Why, this mode of legis-
lation is the very thing to render reyolu-
tion impossible! 1t is the hand of the
people on the purse strings Of the govern
ment. restraining it from acting in OPP
position to the will of the majority CT the
people. 1t does away with the bare posi-
bility of revolution. Look at the position,
now, as an illustration. Here is Demo-
cratic House Of Representatives, represent
ing majority Of the people of the United
States and elected byathose people at the
ballot box. Here is Senate representing
minority of the American people, and
an Administration also representing
minority ready to back it in resisting The
popular will These election laws are OBJ
noxious to the people-their representa-
tlyes have so voted in the last two weeks,
and yet this minority Senate and this mi
nority Administration can continue to en-
force them for another year, and long
enough to use them in defeating the popu-
lar will in the election of President-if
they are given the money to do it. To cut
off the appropriation is the only way to
cut off the money, and to render power
less an arm raised in defiance of the Ameri-
can people. Is it means warranted by
the exigencies of the case? Let us see
Though this law is in operation over the
whole area Of this country, not one arrest
or prosecution under it has occurred eX-
cept i'll Democratic communities, not a
Republican. Judge Of Election, even in tie
most corrupt of Republican political COM
munities has been punished for fraud,
while Democrats by the score have been
indicted by Republican juries, tried by
Republican Judges and sentenced to pris-
on. The law has been used solely and ex-
ciusively to strike terror to Democratic
communities. The State which has not
yet elected congressman is California. The
control of the next House of Representa-
tives depends very much on the complex
ion of the representatives returned from
it. Next September that Commonwealth
will swarm with Republican Supervisors
and deputy Marshals appointed for the
purpose, and that purpose only of carrying
that State. 1t is publicly printed and not
contradicted, that correspondence is now
progressing between the Department of
Justice and the Federal Attorneys in five OF
the Democratic States, looking to ''pro-
ceedings,'' which term before Republican
courts in those States means conviction,
against O'Conner of South Carolina, Shell
lev of Alabama, Hull of Florida, Chal-
mers Of Mississippi, and King and Elan
Of Louisiana all Democratic members
elect of the next House Of Representa-
tiyes. OF these, two have already been
indicted by Federal juries. The U. S.
Marshal of Louisiana, Wharton, states
that he has already arrested on charge Of
violating the election law ''many proml-
nent citizens of Louisiana including ex-
members of congress, journalists and men
prominent in business and social life''-all,
mark you, Democrats, and this in State
where the Republican party managers are
conceded to be shameiessly corrupt and to
have used fraud without limit. We do
not re-state the Maryland and Virginia
cases under this Infamous law which We
gave last week.
oAee1
ment of what is being done and to be done,
sufficient cause for sweeping the law from
our national statute books. To carry out
the will of the people q strong hand must
be used and with determination, and used
this time effectually. Three years ago the
Democratic House withheld the appropri-
alton to the Department OF Justice which
urovided the salaries OF these supervisors
and deputy marshals and the salaries
were Illegally paid by the Republican
Administration with funds diverted from
other appropriations. Again, last year the
Democratic House withheld it and it was
again Illegally paid, out OF other govern
ment money. and now the Administration
looks to the Republican Senate to provide
for the $3.50, 900 thus spent, by deficiency
bill. The House should determine not to
nav dollar of this unjust political debt
and should stand by its determination.
We trust the confidence of the country
is net misplaced in the frames IF the
House and still further we trust that
no Democratic Senator will so far forget
his obligations to his State as to withhold
his support to the righteous measures
which have been inaugurated by that
House.
Mr.. Jorgensen, the Republican member
from the 4tIl Virginia district, has given
the ex-Confederates considerable amount
L, l,o hoc