Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-03-14
GarfeId's Views.
Special DISPATCH % the Leader.

to obtain few days rest before entering
upon the great struggle that will open with
the coming extra session Of Congress, and
in which he will take so able and proml-
nent part. He is worn with the work OF
the winter but is as full Of strength and
oonrsga for the contest as though fresh
from long vacation. He feels the great
importance Of the session, but has no fear
of the ultimate results, no matter what
temporary advantage may be gained by the
other side.
called upon him at his residence this
evening, and found him in a mood for So
cial rather than political converse, but on
my presenting my request he said be had
no objection to outlining his views for the
benefit Of the readers Of the Leader. The
subject Of
THE EXTRA SESSION
Was introduced, and he was requested to
give his views as to its purpose and con-
tinuance.
The General said: 81 suppose that you
have learned all about the cause of the new
session. The thing to be noted is that the
House has been Democratic for two Con-
crosses, and the Democrats all this time
have made no fuss about these election laws
10 which they now so greatly object. But
all at once they have great deal to say
about the liberties Of the people. The
fruit Of the raid which Senator Thurman
and his set are making to stir up political
feeling is this: 1t is the result of the ad-
vent Of the South to power. It is the re-
vival Of old Democratic feeling, and has
struck US with
REVOLUTIONARY SPIRIT.
It is the first Democratic gun of 1880.
They say that unless they can repeal these
election laws they cannot carry the Presi-
Dental election, and il they don't force
their repeal upon the appropriation bills it
will be too late to do it next winter, be-
cause the Administration might run along
from the 1st Of July, 1880, until after cleo
ton. They say that unless it is done now
they can only put them on bills that will
take effect after the Presidential election.
This shows how thoroughly revolutionary
the scheme is. The laws they propose to
repeal are in fact the only ones to prevent
ballot box stuf6ng and every form Of cleo
tiOn fraud. The demand they make, there
fore, is summed up in this sentence: If
You don't let US take away every barrier
against fraud at the Presidential election,
in short if you don't allow free fraud in the
choice OF a President and members of Con-
gress, we will stop the Government! We
will control or stop it? The Republicans
have accepted this issue. do not believe
there is one man elected to Congress as a
Republican who viii finch. regard it as
another form Of revolution; no less real
than as though the Government was to be
stopped by armed force. 1t is not precisely
the case Of q bighwaymaD presenting his
pistol at the head of traveller, but it is
that where he cuts the traces, pulls out the
linch-pins and stops the traveller until he
gets what be wants. On this issue the
President and the Republican party are
absolutely united, and have no doubt will
be supported by the unanimous approval
Of the party and Of many Democrats in all
parts of the country who believe in honest
elections and obedience to the laws. How
long the extra session will last depends
wholly upon the extent to which this reVO-
lutiOnary infstuation has seized the Demo-
cratic party. have no more idea of set
ting a limit to this struggle than l had of
limiting the time of the late war, whose
continuance depended upon the will Of the
rebels. With Republicans making this
fight in Congress,
cannot fail to enter into all local and State
struggles. With the Constitution distinct
lY saying that Congress shall have power
to regulate elections, the question arises:
Shall we leave this to other power than the
National Government? This cannot but
assume the form of powerful issue, and
should be put in the foreground. As the
issue is new, it cannot but find our people
as a unit Stalwarts and Conservatives
must be one, and 1 am grieved to hear this
talk of Stalwarts and Conservatives. I
feel stronger than ever before that this
issue will dominate all the State fights.
eff they make struggle against this, .
continued the General, ''they may keep US
all summer. fthey hold out beyond July
1st, the Government stops. Nosa dollar
to pay any officer, and it is made a crimi-
nal Ofense to incur any obligation to pay
these officers without an appropriation.
We propose to put it to the American peo-
pie whether they will submit TO have this
done, for we will let the Democrats - q
rather than "a % them t0
nuff0T1a d