The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1879-03-15
"wITHIN ONE OF IT."


Ne.o York TriJae, Feb. 2sfh.
The subject under discussion was the Deficiency
Bill, making an appropriation to defray expenses
already incurred in the enforcement Of the law Of
February IS, 1871 providing against fraudulent
elections and the question was upon a partisan
amendment offered by Mr.. Beck, of Kentucky, the
spirit of which was hostile to the law and its en-
forcement 1t was rejected by vote Of yeas "a,
nays S5, on which Mr.. Beck joyfully exclaimed
"Within one of it, thank God" 1t being party
question, as. all questions are that relate to the
purity of elections, this fervent ejaculation no
doubt meant to express the joy of the Kentucky
Senator that the Democrats were "within one" of
a control of both branches of the Legislative
Department of the Government. In this case
they mere 'within one of being able to defeat the
provisions of law whose only purpose is to Sc
cure honest registration, honest voting and an
honest election. 1t is a law which, while it has
prevented cheating and violence in thousands of
cases, has never in a single instance that can be
proved worked any substantial harm to an honest
citizen. 1t has obstructed none but repeaters and
rOgues and il has protected thousands of honest
each his full measure of influence in the Govern
ment by preventing rascals from dishonesty over
riding his vote and sileneing his voice. This We
say, notwithstanding Senator Voorhees, state
ment that he had 'been told that forty or fifty of
the most respectable citizens of Baltimore are now
languishing in prison" for violation of its provis
ions and notwithstanding Senator Humans in
dignation at what be calls the reign of terror in
stituted in New York by Davenport" In the face
of these loose and irresponsible assertions wetake
leave 10 say that no honest man anguishes in Jail
under its operation, nor does any honest man
stand anywhere in fear of its enforcement. 1t is
because the Democratic party has come within
one of strength enough to defeat the operation Of
this law or effect its repeal that the Kentucky
Senator raises his "Thank God - t..II
'.Within one of it," Well, it is not the first
time the Democratic party has come within one
of being able to do mischief. tits little more than
twenty years since they undertook to fasten slavery
upon new territories, and came 'within one" oft !;
only eighteen since they attempted to break up the
Union and destroy the Government, and came
"within one" of that, too. In the midst the war
they proclaimed the effort to suppress rebellion a
failure, and came within one of making the dec
laration good They denounced the enrolment
laws, and said they could not be enforced. By
draft riots and peace meetings they came within
one" of making that threat also good. They at
tackled the National credit tn 1865, and by the
enormous frauds in this, by which they secured
the vote of New York for their Presidential ticket
came within one" of recess In 1876, they again
attempted reputation by adopting resolutions OPP
posed to resumption, and came literally "within
One' of electing President who would have been
compelled by his party to sign bill postponing
resumption. They came ''within one" too, of
trucking the country by ahypocritical Reform cry.
Then through Grover and Cronin they came with
in one" of getting vote for Tilden in Oregon !;
through Pelton and Marble, "within one" of a
trade in Florida through PeltOn and Smith Weed,
"within one" of stealing South Carolina; and
through other eoparceners, "within one" of get
ting the vote of Louisiana by bribery. They came
'within one" Ofcarrying the Electoral Commission,
and 'within one" of defeating the count by riot
and disorder. Always "within one" of it. And
always, as they so narrowly failed of accomplish
ing their purpose, it a grateful country that
drew q long breath as the Nation sailed out of its
periIs and uttered Mr.. Beck's "Thank God "-not
for the "citkia one" but for the "one by which it
had escaped.
"Within one of it % So Tantalus stood thirst
ing in the lake, with the water at his chin, and
often he stopped to assuage his thirst the wave
receding left his parched and cracking lips I'M
mOistened. So when he reached his eager hand
to pluck the olive and the fig low hanging near,
the soft awakening breezes tossed the branch away
and left him famished still. "Within one of it!'
So near-and yet so far. So Sisyphus rolled up
his Solid South until, the summit almost reached,
and he about to say, "Within one oft, thank God"
some untoward force thrust back the great round
stone and sent it downward to the plain. "Within
Of it ~ Yes, within of having both
branches of Congress and then still "within one"
of control of the Government. Thank God, then,
Mr.. Beck, while you may; for the hope is strong
that your party never will be nearer the cOnsum-
nation of their longing. The country has had
hairbreadth escapes from you and yours almost
without number. Many times you have been
"within one of it; many times thanked God that
power was almost in your grasp ;many times been
disappointed. And what the people then suspect
ed, now they know: that whenever your party
said "We're within one of it, thank God" the
country was in peril. They see in looking back
that in no single instance could the Democratic
party have carried out distinctive measure which
it has made an issue, without the most ruinOus
consequences to the credit or the very existence of
the Government. And the people, you may rest
assured, will not let that party come any nearer
than "within one of it, And when the danger is
passed they will take up your thanksgiving. To
your boast, eve came within one of it," their
hOsanna will be, 'Thank God it was "nearer :"