New-York tribune., 1879-02-25

The struggle in Congress is one which it is
exceedingly important that the country should
fully understand. Ii has been the earnest de-
sire of the Republicans Of that body to avoid
all occasion for IN extra session. They nave
constantly acted with good futh TO that end.
They have steadily opposed such introduction
of PARTISAN measures as 80 interfere with the
appropriation bills, and others needed by the
business Of the country. On many important
questions of party interest or importance,
they have ab3tiincd from special resistance to
the will Of the majority. But Il Democratic
caucus has resolved to faston upon an ap-
preparation bill measures essentially partisan
in purpose and scope, and 20 grave and dan
gcr0us in character that they are properly
called revolutionary even by most diStin-
giIishcd Democratic Senators. The RcpubLi-
cam, though protesting that 1t was reckless
and dishonorablc abuse OF power TO attempt
such legislation in appropriation bills, have
submitted without resistance as to the repeal
of the test oath for jurors. II was not enough.
The Democratic majority also insisted upon
incorporating In an appropriation bill
= repeal of the only law by which
Democratic repeaters. Laliot-bOx suffers,
and manufacturers Of forged naturalization
papers have been held in check. Their object
is scarcely cOnccalcd-5O little regard have
they for the opinion of decent and law-abding
citileDs. The same contempt for law and
for honesty which appears in their defence of
Tilden and the cOparccncrs is shown in the
hostility to this act for the prevention of
fraud Ncw-York can be carried, say Demo-
crats, by repeatcrs in New-YOrk City. Ohio
can be carried by repcaters in Cincinnati.
California is to vote this Fail, and the mem
bcrs Of Congress to be chosen there may turn
the scale i'll the organization Of the next
House, and California can be carried with
one OF more Congressional districts, bv
rcpeatcIs in San Francisco and Sacra-
ment0 In order to carry these States
by fraud, the Democratic party pro
poses to repeal the only law which
exposes perpetrators Of fraud to punishment
This It proposes to do, too, by amendment of
an appropriation bill-by stopping the wheels
Of Government unlcs, the will Of DAP
tisln majority in the House is submitted to
by the Senate.
We tel the Democrats frankly that thew
cannot afford to make the Democratic marty
the party OF fraud III elections. They cannot
afford to stake it's very existence upon
the willingness Of the free citizens of
thi, country to bc swlndled by cleo
ton judges md robbed by repeatcr,
They cannot afford 10 20 to the people
upon the issue thus raised. The odor OF the
Democratic party has not been savory hth-
crto. Fraud, have been committed by both
parties, here and there. But the Democraiic
party has never passed IN efficient election
law IN any doubtful State ; has almost cyery-
where opposed registration ANA other provl-
Sions designed To secure far and honest
vote, and has pcrpctratcd the greatest and
the mcanrst frauds ever know in the history
of the country. The Republican party, on the
Other hand, has, in almost every state where il
has had the power tried to surround the
ballot box with sufficient safeguards. 1t
has passed registry laws which have
proved "a effective for the prevention Of fraud
10y kuayish Republicans Us by knavish Demo-
Gratis. Its policy, for twenty years, has been
TO securc as far as possible one free vote, and
no more, for every citizen legally entitled to
vote. 1t will not be to the advantage OF the