The Portland daily press., 1879-03-18

The work OF the extra session Of Congress
is already marked out for it. AS soon as a
Speaker is chosen, and that, gossip to the
contrary, will in all probability be quickly
done, the House will go on to the considera-
ton of the appropriation bills and pass them
with the political amendments attached
The action of the House will be concurred in
dent and he will veto them. Then a long and
bitter struggle between the Executive and
the legislature will set in. The contest last
session was between the two Houses. This
session it will be between Congress and the
President.
The issue thus made by the Democracy
will be unhesitatingly accepted by Republi-
cans. We are challenged to fight for the
purity of the bsllot-box and the preservation
of the freedom of elections, attacked by our
opponents. We are conteDdng for an hon
est election in the North in 1880 Everyone
admits that the Supervisor laws have failed
to secure their object in the South, the
freedom of the ballot and the honesty OF
elections. Bat in the great cities of the North
they are still operative and are the chief OBJ
stacles to Democratic national success. The
Democracy seek for liberty to repeat the
crime by which they secured the elector;l
vote of New York in 1868 They desire 10
once again bring over gangs of repeaters
from Kentucky to carry elections in Ohio and
Indiana. But so long as Federal officers in
terfere with repeaters and ballot-box suffers
the Democrats have little chance of carrying
any of the Northern States. Laws which are
an obstacle to fraudulent voting are mighty
barrier in their way to success. If they can
overthrow the laws they will win the fight
for profit and place. If the laws remain on
the statute-book the struggle will be doubt
ful one.
What are these laws the Democrats are so
anxious to repeal? They provide in the first
place that whenever, in city of 10000 in
habitants or more, two citizens, or in any
county parish or Congressional district, ten
citizens, shall, prior TO any registration of
votes for an election of Congressman, or any
election in which Representative to Con-
gress is voted for, make known in writing to
the Judge of the United States Circuit Court
for that Circuit their desire to have the regis
tration or election, or both, "guarded and
scrutinized," the Judge shall open his court
within ten days of the registration or elec-
tion, and shall proceed to appoint and COM
mission from day to day and from time to
time, and under the hand of the judge, and
tho cool IF fho nourt for oonh aIoot;oy, district
or voting precinct in such town or Congress
sional district as may have made application
in the manner prescribed, "two citizens, resi-
dents of the city or town, or of the election
district or voting precinct in the county or
parish, who shall be of different political par
ties, and able TO read aud write the English
language, and who shall be known and des-
ignated as supervisors of election" and the
judge may revoke, change or renew such ap.
pointment from time to time.
That is, two officials, representing the two
political parties, are required to attend at
registrations and elections and see that there
is fair play. Federal officers watch over
Federal elections alone and have nothing to
do with State affairs. They are appointed by
United States judges and must be taken
from both parties. Furthermore, the United
States Marshals have no arbitrary powers.
They can make no arrests without process of
the court, except when violence or ffaud is
committed in their presence and then persons
arrested must be taken before the judicial Of
ficers of the United States, and have their
trial in the United States Courts. That is
all. A man detected in attempting fraud
upon the ballot-box at a Federal election is'
taken before Federal court for trial like
any other man accused OF breaking Federal
law. The laws are wise and needful, and
the only reason for their repeal is that they
prevent fraudulent voting in grea cities like
New York and Cincinnati, that they inter
fere with the exploits of men like "Eph'' Hol-
land and:h New York repeaters whom Tweed
for so many years led to victory. The at
tempt to repeal them will work a political
revolution.