New-York tribune., 1879-04-26
1yyj0US 4g0UT CIrIL LIBEPTY.

There's something rather touching IN the
attitude OF thc Democrats III Congress toW'i"
the election laws. They are so certain that
Federal supervision of elections Will he iataI
to civil liberty and free institutions! The
provisions of the law which permit the use oi
troous to preserve the peace at elections,
though they have existed for several years
and never yet been perverted TO the over
throw OF ciyi liberty, and though their CON
tinuancp is rot insisted upon, excite pro-
fouudcsf alarm. The orders under which, on
some previous occasions, troops have been
held in readiness 10 put down election riots
are cited to show that it is possible under
thc>, dreadful laws to upset the civil power
and establish a military despotiSm. Our
Democratic friends have apparently just
awakened to a sense of danger. To be sure
We have not army enough to overthrow any
fhing. hut all the same there's the possibility
of its being used for the subycIsion of our
liberties, and they will not be comforted until
the laws on this subject are all wiped out and
forty millions of citizens are relieved OF their
fearful terror of 10000 soldiers. The Con-
Stitution also is endangered by the election
laws. aDd the reserved rights of the States
are tramplcd under foot by the presence Of
Federal supervision at the polls. Free elcc-
.'tion, Z" is the cry. There must be no inter-
ference with the rights of voters ana no
distinctions to a free ballot. The devotion
these gentlemen show to the Constitution and
civil liberty and free elections and all that, Is
something remarkable.
And sill the strain seems somewhat famil-
iar. They were always going on in this way
about something or other. They were always
working themselves up to Il high pitch Of eX-
element because their opponents had done
or were about to do something destructive OF
the Constitution, or the Union, or the rights
of man. And it Is a singular circumstance
that none Of the things they have been SO eX-
crcised over have ever happened, except as
tbe results of their own work. They ham
mcTed away for years upon the charge that
the Republicans were trying to break up the
Union In the end they bent all their ener-
olcs 30 break it up themselves, and the Repub-
Hc3ns had to put them down with the strong
arm 10 save it. They ranted about the sacred
ness OF The Constitution, and denounced the
RcIublicaus for attempting TO subvcrt it. The
last thing they did before they went out of
power was to set up the theory that this sacred
instrument had not vigor, vitality, or force
enough to keep itself alive; and it was the
Republicans who prevented their destroy
ing il altogether. So it always happens that
the thing they make the most outcry over Is
the thing they are doing or getting ready to do
themseye,. They are excessively worried just
now about the freedom Of elections. 1t Is a
matter of record that no honest voters have ever
been obstructed in the exercise Of their rights
in this country, except by the Democratic bull
dozers at the South and plug-uglioS IN the
large cities of the North.
The Union was never in any danger except
from these Democratic Union Savers; the Con-
stitution never in any peril except as these
men attempted to wipe it out; and there is
now no danger whatever of any interference
with free and honest elections except as they
resort 20 violence and fraud to effect their
purposes. This sudden awakening to the
danger the country is in from the election
laws is but a repetition Of the old dodge, and
it will not work this time. 1t has been played
ton often