The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-20
Hypocrisy ON the Republican Side.

When the Army bill was before the House
last week, the principal discussion turned
upon section 6, which is as follows:
THAT no money appropriated in this act is appropri
ated. shall be paid for the subsistence. equipment
transportation, compensation Of any portion OF the
army the United States be used police force
Keep the at the polls at election held within
any State"
This compromise Of the original bill did
not suit the views of many Democrats, and
several stalwart Republicans were dissatis-
fed, because they regarded 1t as an indirect
mode Of attaining the very object which the
veto had defeated. The Republican leaders
manifestations Of public opinion against the
bayonet at the ballot box, and sought a
mode Of retreat from their false and dam
aging position.
Mr.. BAKER OF Indiana, a member OF the
Committee on Appropriations, and con-
spicuous Republican, opened the debate by
saying:
At the proper time ! shall make motion to strike
ont from this bill the sixth section labove quoted A.
understand the Of the law today the Presidents
not clothed with power has he proiessed at time
10 exercise the power Of placing troops Of the United
States around the polls police force for the
purpose Of taking the place OF the ordinary eonsaoes
and civil police scattered through the country II
my motion to strike out section shall be voted down
here as 1t voted down elsewhere. shall feel my
DUTY to vote for this bill"
Mr.. HAwLEY OF Connecticut followed, and
said:
1T Is quite natural for US on the Republican side to
look at this section and wonder whether there be any
covert meaning IN 1t, anything which may be inter
preted at the polls in the political otherwise
than is interpreted here. have satisfied myself de-
hberaey that have objection to that clause other
than that is sort OF general legislation Of place
AgeneTal appropriation blu
Then came the illustrious DE GoLYER
GARFIELD. who was still more emphatic
than his associates from Indiana and Con-
nectlcut had been. He declared with the
solemnity OF an ex-preacher:
There Is not now and, far know, there never
was statute book law which authorized the use
Of the army as police force at the polls and evenn
this section was repeating CLAUSE there Is nothing
upon which II can operate as repeal And further.
more, do not know Of man in this House who Is In
favor OF using the army Of the United States ordi
nary police force run elections evil do no &C
and cast vote that will place really apparently In
any attitude inconsistent with the old and recognized
principles and traditions Of English and American lib
0rty namely that civil not military force, Is the usual
The safe the American hOd Of keeping peace al the
polls
M. WILLIAMS OF Wisconsin tstAiwart Republican,
Are you In favor OF using any portion the army
OF the United States at any time. under any eircum.
stances in any emergency, to keep the peace at the
pollsf
MI GARuFLD-Not in any sense OF using that army as
m ordinary police force.
" Mr. WiLLIAHs-rdo not mean A. ordinary civil po.
lice but in any form whatever TO tep ne peas As po
M GAnELD-If there be any law that authorizes the
Precedent to the ordinary police for
that purpose. l am In favor Of enforcing it.
M wLLIAMs-Does my friend think thAtwe have that
law, or does he think that we do not have ni
MI GARTELD-I think re hare not 1at haze had H.
aud 0at ne Rr1 ought 10 haze Il IN n1is Of peace"
These leaders and others were most active
In defeating the clause In the original Army
bill which proposed to repeal section 2,O02 OF
the Revised Statutes which permits the use
Of troops "to keep the peace at the polls, 4"
md upon that point the bill was vetoed.
Yet GARFIELD had the audacity TO tell the
House there "never had been any law for
IT," and he added there ought TO be none in
time Of peace
Tho Democrats took little part in tho de-
bate from which the foregoing extracts have
been taken. They allowed the Republicans
ms much rope as they wanted. and were glad
70 see them take 1t freely. On the passage
OF the bill tho yeas were 172 and tho nays 81.
or the latter there were 10 Democrats and
~ Republicans. The rank and file Of both
sides voted for the bill.
When tho Republicans OF the House COM
mitted themselves to this policy to Offset
thor previous course, which had reused In
dignation at home they did not know what
wa5 In store for them. They went to tho
record in this fashion on the 18th OF June.
Only five days after the above vote Juno
16 Mr.. SPRINGER offered bill in these
words:
a sW 10 p'oAoh military tnioJsro, sie4ioas
"h7'H The presence OF troops at ulo polls 10 con.
"1 to Tie spirit Of our inSaIaa0pI and Ihp GAaiaSns u