Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-03-19
WHY TIE EXTRA SESSION,

Davis, editor Of the Doylcstown Demo.
crdt, who went through the Mexican
war and the recent rebellion, and was
riddled with bullets, knows what cor
rect government means. He says:
"An extra session of Congress be.
comes necessary, and is already called
for the 18th of March, because there
was an irreconcilable difference be-
tween the Democratic and Republican
parties about employing soldiers at the
polls. The House placed an amend.
ment on tho Army bill repeating the
obnoxious clauses Of the act of 1865,
which tho Republican Senate refused
to agree to; and us the difference could
not be settled by committee of con.
ference the bill fell and an extra ses-
sion became una voidabe. Soldiers
about the polls were never heard of
until since the war, and while the Re-
publicans have had control OF all the
branches Of the Government. They
have so often used the army to save
their falling political fortunes, that they
cannot bear to have this, their last
prop, taken away. OF course they
would object to have Democratic Pres
ident use this power at elections, but
as Mr. Hayes will be President in 1880,
the Republican politicians hope he may
be able TO pull them through with the
aid of the bayonet. The military pow
er and terror at the ballot box should
cease, and its use is 80 foreign to our
system of Government that we hope
the next Congress will blot it out for
ever. The purpose OF the Republicans,
in wishing to retain this power at the
polls, is purely partisan, and bespeaks
their wish to control the elections by
military force. As long as the power
remains on the statute book there is
danger that 1t will be used. There is
a fundamental principle of civil liberty
involved in this question, which the
Democrats maiDtain, but which we are
sorry to see the Republicans are willing
to surrender. Tho record of English
history on this question goes back
about two hundred years, and begins
with an order issued by William Prince
of Orange, on January 8, 1858, whers-
in, and in order that elections may be
carried on with greater freedom and
without any color Of force or restraint,
he commands all officers to march their
soldiers away and keep them away
from oil places where elections are held.
The subject was taken up several times
subsequently by the English Parlia.
ment and disposed of as the Demo
cratic House has disposed of it. In En-.
gland soldiers are not allowed to re.
main near the polls, and their use to
keep the peace at the place Of voting
would create revolution. On the dis
acts OF the two Houses over
the principles thus deeply imbedded in
English law, Messrs. Hewitt, Sparks
and Foster (two Democrats and one
Republican, were appointed confer
ence committee on the part Of the
House, and Messrs. Blaine, Allison, and
Withers (two Republicans and one
Democracy like committee for the
Senate. Why the two disagreed fully
appears in the remarks made in the /
House by Mr.. Sparks He said
"In reply to one remark made by the gentle man ,
from Ohio (Mr. Foster) desire to slate that |
think the gentleman has, Inadvertently no doubt
failed TO state correctly the position Of the Demo
cratic conferees, the Army appropriation bill.
was one Of those conferees, and wish to say Of
the House that every disposition was manifested
by the Democratic eonferces 10 have q compro- :
misc Of existing dif1culties so far as appropria-
tons are concerned, except the matter Of having
an armed force to keep the peace at the polls. !
On this point want to say that .. far as I am
concerned II would be utterly useless to appoint
me As conferee on that bill with any expectation
hat ! will yield that point, for will not do IT,
IApplause.l will yield so far as money is con
erned. But that the army shall be used under
he direction Of an inscriptions Executive, In +
the language Of statute, TO preserve the peace at
he polls where my neighbors vote and where n
Fote, by my consent there never shall be appro.
'riatod one dollar out Of The Treasury to pay the
irmy for any such purpose. (Applause.p r