, 1879-03-29
DUTY OF REPUBLICAN coyoREssMEs

1icnn SouatorB md members of tho House to
contest their progress Mt every step. This
III tho ruling sentiment OF the Republican
caucus, md 1t should find hearty co.opera-
tion from every man who holds scat in
eitlor House Of Congress by virtuo OF TO-
publican votes. II tho Democrats can DO
stalled, tho work must DO dono In tho House;
but tho absolute freedom of 1ebate in the
Senate, properly improved by the nepub-
liam Sonators, 1nay be Of great encourage.
mont aud aotual assistance to the Honeo 1se-
pubijcans In their efforts at rotarding tho
Democratic measures. The statement has
been made, mud not oontradictad, that tho
Grconback members of the House will not
aud vote with the Republicans iu tho strs1g-
gle against tho repeal 'of tha 1aws for tho
supervision nud protection of tho Congros-
sional elections. If this shall prove
to be tho case, tho Democrats will have
tho scant majority Of two, including
tho Speaker, md THAR control Of tho
House will 10 go fra!l TINT any accident or
neglect may compass their defeat. The oau.
Gus resolution. forbidding Republicans to
pair with Democrats is, therefore, Of tho
highest Importance; md, If tho Republican
members shall strictly follow this rule, it is
not unlikely thnt tho Democrats rnny yet be
forced to abandon their schema Of forcing
through tho proposed rcpoal Of tho Election
Inv and the amendment Of tho army regula-
tous as parts Of tho appropriation bills.
II it wero moroly party question which
tho Democrats lad forced upon tho Rcpub-
1icans, the desperate resistance contemplated
by tho hitter might not DO justified at this
extra session. 1t could then be argued TIM.
tie Democrats, being in the majority in both
Houses, should bo permitted to tako such
action as should seem bast to them; TINT
tho Republicans should consent to tho pas.
sage of the appropriation bills in order to
secure IN carly adjournment; aud that
ntl appeal to tho country ut tho
next Congressional elections would bo
tho proper course. to seek. hut It
Is not party question, nor pyen
m issue "a to any temporary policy TINT may
be tried without serious monaco 10 tho pence
and welfare OF the country. Tho impending
Congressional struggle involves ~ the great
issue Of State Va. Nattonal Sovereignty which
brought on the Civil War, and (o) tho purity
Of elections, and consequently the presorva-
tion or tho decay Of tho American elective
syatonn. Tho present Democratic majority
in Congress was not chosen by tho people rs
m affirmation Of popular approval for tho
Democratic position on this question, mud
that minority ia SO small tlat It demands
from tho opposition, rs q duty to their con.
Btituents and the country, TINT they shall re-
stat tho revolutionary scheme by every mems
at their command.
It tl,oro wero morc1y question OF e1,b-
nittlng to the American people the old issue
OF state Sovereignty; 1t fair appeal could
DO made to tho country to docido whether or
not tho United States as nation havo tho
right to suporyiHe and regllate tho National
elections; if there could bu reasonable as.
suraneo TINT thu outirs people would bo nj
lowed to yoto freely on auoh m isso,-tl.et,,
iuloed, tho Republicans could we'll afford to
give tho Democrats all tho ropa they want,
and to allow t!lom to proceed with tIleir
Stato.Soycrolgnty hcresies as tho quickest
why 10 accnro au adjournment. Unler A,lch
circumstances, the Republicans could resi-
easy IN tho confidence TINT tho American
people would veto tho Ssate.Hoyorelgnty
measures hy MI overwhelming majority.
Then 1t would la wlso to lot thu Democrats
rush to their own defoat. Isut tho Demo
cratic schomo Ia more far-reaching than tllIB
It proposes, while inserting tho State-Sover
Il ri vi, tr