The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1879-10-03

The "Tall Sycamore Of the Wabash0
Excoriatcs tho Republican Partys
and severely Arraigns lie Principles
and its Methods.

ana Ass Methods
Hon. Daniel w. Voorhees, addressed
large audience In the city Of Hamil-
ton, Ohio, on the evening Of the 18th.
He began with denunciation Of the
Republican party, saying that il was the
first political party 10 join issue against
free elections; il was the first 10 inn
peach the virtue and intelligence OF the
American people, thereby pronouncing
free government failure; ii was the
first to clamor for an army at the voting
places Of the people, for the fixed bayo-
net at the polls, for the bullet to regu-
late the ballot; II was the first TO ask
for Supervisors at elections, appropri-
ately known as overseers, in the die
tionaries; IL was the first 10 call in these
ovcrseers, together with Marshals and
United States Commissioners, and other
appliances Of Federal force with which
to coerce and dictate the results of
election. Mr.. VOORHEES, continues:
You all heard the furious cutlery Of the Re-
publican press ON the subject Of the recent ex-
ira session Of Congress. There was a stimuli
taneous. prolonged. agonized. hystcrical
scream from Republican sources all over the
country against the Democratic party because
we asserted our faith in the capacity Of the
people 20 govern themselves. and our deter
mination that they should do 50 without let or
hindrance from military power. This was the
head and front Of our offending. no more and
no less. We were true, absolutely true. 70 the
bedrock principles Of the Constitution, while
the leaders Of the Republican party, rs all the
world knows, proclaimed on the floor OF both
branches Of Congress doctrines 50 eubyersiye
Of the very life Of civil liberty that the tories
OF the Revolution would have been ashamed TO
own them. Does this sound to some Of you
like an exaggerated statement. a statement
made merely for political effecty II so, let US
examine for few moments the extent TO
which the Federal Government has already ar
rogated to itself the right by law 10 seize upon
every species Of local elections, control them
by force, and manufacture majorities out Of
minorities. Are you aware that there is now
law Of Congress. enacted by the Republican
party, I'm full force az this hour, which asserts
the control Of the Federal Government and
the jurisdiction Of the United States Courts
over every election Of every descrip-
ton that can possibly occur in any State
or Territory, In any district, county, city,
parish township. school district, municipality
or other territorial subdivision. II any other
can be f0undY Such Is the fact. Federal
power has clutched control Of every voting
proof Of this, allow me 70 read In your hearing
section 5,J06 Of the Revised Statutes OF the
United States:
Every person who. by any unlawful means,
binders. delays. prevents or obstructs. or COM
hincs and confcderates with others 70 hinder.
delay. prevent or cbStruct, any citizen from
doing any act required 70 be done 20 qualify
him to vote. or from voting I'm any state, Ter
ritory. or district, county, city, parish, town
ship. school district. municipality or other ter
ritorinl subdivision. shall be fined not less than
500. or be imprisoned not less than one
month. nor more than one year. or he pun
ishcd hy both such fine and Imprisonment"
What kind Of an election escapes the pro-
vision ~ this sectionf
IL has been asserted over and over again. In
Congress and elsewhere, by the Republican
leaders and newspapers, that the power Of the
Federal Government has been applied only az
times and places where Members and Dele
gates in Congress were chosen. This Is all
false. as the section Just read cOnclusvcly
proves. II You were holding nm election for
Mayor Of this city. or for councilmcn In its
various wards. and one person should by any
unlawful means. such, for instance. as n quar-
rel on the street. hinder delay another in
voting. the person 50 offending Is. BY the cx-
press terms ~ this section. made liable 20 a
fnc Of not less than 500. or 10 imprisonment
not less than one month nor more than
one year. or 70 both such fine and i'm
4 Clerk. an Auditor or Sheriff. or any other
county officer Of Butler county. the same
insolcnt interference by the Federal Gov
eminent Is provided for by this law. You are
not free from its aggressive and inquisitive
power. even In the humhlcst details OF your
local Alters In the language OF the law itself,
an election IN township or a school district Is
subject to the domination OF Federal rule.
Federal MarShais. Federal arrests and the nom
str0ue and disproportionatc punishmenfs Of
Federal Courts Are You IN favor OF this lawI
Are you so poor and contcmptible IN your own
view Of yourselves that you feel the need OF
the restraining and penal Influences OF such an
enactment as thisy Arc you willing TO admit
that you cannot trust yourselves. that you
are wholly incapable Of sclf-govcrnmcnt: that
you cannot even elect the Justices Of the
Peace, or the Trustees OF your townships, or
the officers Of your school districts unless the
supervision and threatening authority or the
Federal Government Is extended over your
Have the American people. In fact. sunk 50
low ms thisy Have the people Of Ohio conscnt-
Republican party say you have; Charles Fos-
ter says you have; John Sherman says you
have. They say that this usurpation against
local eclf-government shall stand; that this
Legislative insult 20 you, this enactment OF dis
trust Of your virtue and intelligence shall re-
main permanently in the statutes Of your
country. say II ought 70 be repealed, ex-
plunged, torn from the pages Of the law with
every circumstance OF Indignation and abhor~
renee. What do you sayf DO you believe In
yourselves or do you want q master.
That \ the exact issue. Il Il 4 very old one,
and yet II sounds new In our times. Those Of
you who think you are not competent 10 man
agc your local affairs unless the club o. the
heads by United States Marshals. District At
torneys nnd partisan Judges. on the Federal
bench, will, OF course, and with entire consist
ency. vote the Republican ticket-vote for
Foster. who has the same opinion Of you
that you have Of yourselves. Who do you
suppose would vote with you II they were herel
them believed In the natural rights OF man to
govern himself without master. The odous
Lord North, Prime Minister to George ILL.,.
would be stalwart Republican In this con-
test; and the old imbccile King himself. II
alive and citizen Of Ohio. would. ON the we'll
known principles Of his long and tyrnnnical
reign. be for Foster, and strong centralized
government. II Won could resurrcct from their
Infamous graves all those who sided with
Great Britain against the principles OF Jefcr-
son In the days 81 the Kcyolution. not one
the Government In stamping out local and
popular sovereignty. II every pcrfidious stu
art who ever sat upon the Scottish or English
throne could be cxhumcd to-day. they would.
can party. All such. In all ages. ~ have dis
believed IN human freedom. and individual
responsibility: all the blood-stnined monsters
tho nsDirations Of the people for home rule
and civil liberty. would. II here, contribute
to the campaign fund OF the Rcpnhli-