The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-02

thu hlm sat the General ot tho Army
We know that tho army and tho Prcsi-
dent are the only Instruments by when tho
Republican party can carry out its threat. II il
was not mere hravado. not a mere galvanic
shock OF cloquence. intended to stimulate tho
spinal column of the President II was intended
as threat to the American people that IL we
daredto redress most gricVOus wrong by put
tlng lis repeal on an appropriation bill II would
~ DENOUNCED US revolutionary and that the
would put down that revolution. The name OF
revolution has no terror for us tSneering
demonstrations on tho Republican side.l We
learned TO love It in our childhood. II brings
back to us that grand struggle for freedom
wren our revo'uti2nery ancestors LEFT their
dren., may take heart again" whenever
Military despotlsm. now threatens us on
every side Troops have been assembled at the
nolls 10 intimidate free people at elections.
Troops have been assembled at the Federal
capital to intimidato the House OF Renresenta-
tves IN counting the electoral vote. The battle
cry OF 1850 has been already started-a Govern
ment Of law. not to bo administered BY the
Judiciary. hut with an army strong enough to
between freedom and despotsm the Demo-
cratic party will he found standing where our
ancestors stood in l77G.
As Mr.. Chalmers took his seat. Conger. who 10
ever ready to get in one OF his tanttlzing ques-
tons. came, down the middle aisle OF the Re-
gentleman from Mississippi why he went so far
back in the history OF our country to find a
revolution that he was proud OF. He had said
that the cry OF revolution had no terrors for the
Democratic party. and now wouldn't he tell the
House candidly whether or not there had not
been rebellion recently that did terrorize n
good many of his friends.
Chalmers came to his feet with = spring. and
a good many Democrats seemed to hold their
breath lest the fiery Southerner would make an
unguarded reply; but he did not. He got back
coarscly. He said that history told OF how in
ancient times kings had their testers dressed in
fools caps and jngling bells to amuse their
courts. The Republican side In this House has
its Jester. but he did not wear the FOOLS cap and
bells although they might III him well. And
then. after an instants pause. no added He
dresses in n swallow tail"
Congor always wears n dress coat. There
was a rOnr Of laughter on the Democratic side,
and n storm Of hand clapping. but Congcr bore
II well. and waited patiently until quiet was re-
stored. aud then he said: " asked the gentle
man from Mississippi plain question, which
he m ight have answered in a gcntlemanly man
ner. but instead OF doing that he jumps upon
his music box aud makes faces Mt me-"
II WIS neat retort and the moor and gallery
RESPONDED with shouts OF laughter and round
after round OF clHps. Again and again the ap-
plause was renewed. despite the vigorous ham
merng OF the Chairman's gavel.
Chalmers arose with n red face, and. after
too coarse. and drew but little applause from
his own side. He said: / would not presume
10 initiate the gentleman from Michigan. or
compet. In role where any monkey could eN-
Gel me-"
Alter Chalmers. Frye tRep.. Me- spoke.
Chagrinned at his manifest failure last week
when his careless assertion about the power Of
the Presidepi over the Srmy was 50 So %eirectually
to retrieve himself to-day by making fustian
speech. He began by saying that he knew not
they were told that they had attempted to de-
stroy the Union. and for ten or fifteen
foolish utterances about the beginning OF the
rebellion in which Chalmers had INDUCED: but
the The text Of his speech was the extract from the
some weeks past been going the rounds Of the
Republican press. In this extract the idiots
who edit this obscure sheet thank God that the
South has captured the Capitol, and that they
mean 10 do yet more after 1880.
From this text Frye made an old. fashioned
bloody shirt speech. He is ranting fellow. who
plnyer INT in III, Inosi violent manner proeesds
10 tear his passion to tatters. He declared that
the South had not yet captured the Capitol and
under the providence OF God they never would
OCCASION but had always failed. He began by
an allusion 10 nullihcation in 1882. ana then
came down o. 1854. and read extracts from the
account OF the srizing OF the fugtlye slavo
Burns. in Boston. and the base uses 10 which
IN" United States troops were pat on that occa-
lie was interrupted by Townsend OF Illinois.
| who wanted 10 know whether this was the orca-
| OH 'iated As United States Marshal, To whicn
| Frye replied No; | Will come 90 that by and
| hY." But he did not. Had he told the whole
| truth h. would have said that Dcycns was the
| United States Commissioner who issued the
! warrant upon which Burns was seized by the
4 running drha,c ensued. which lnsted tween
! ~ minutes: The result was com p!sle delnol
| admitted very frankly that the arrest % Burns
was legal. ana that the United States Marshal
siWply performed his proper functions, and
that the US" of the Federal trooIs was strictly
| within tho letter and spirit OF the
4nsuoh .n u ne ~ this liuJ nppun snd ,hee
use Of marshals and troops Mt elections. This
gave Carlisle an opportunity to lay down briefly
| and clearly the true doetrino in regard 10 the
| elective iran ,hise. which Is conferred alone 10y
the States. Frye wanted to know what had be-
| come OF the Fifteenth Amendment. whereupOn
| Carlisle utsmOuSf rutsl, 10y the decisions Oi tho
| Supreme Court. the fact that this amendment
| oniy provides that the States shall not srrim-
mate against one class Of citizens ON account OF
| race color or previous condition OF seryltude
| The States could dlsirancnise black men ~ well
| Massachusetts, had done. and without violating
either in letter or spirit. the Fifteenth Amend
| ment.
And now came the speech not only Of the dRy
| but OF the session. II WAS made by Frank Hurd
| of Ohio. 1t WIS meritorlous IL every respect, ~
| matter in manner and more than all in length
| Huri Is "A trained lnwycr. and his speeches In
| the House are like his arguments in court
always TO tho point. He argued the cOnsttu-
| tiuna power OF the House 70 do that which
| the Democratic majority proposed to do. and ht
| did II with masteTy ability There was ne
| question about II. Like the thorough lawyer
that he is. he adhered TO his brief throughou
his speech, every iont Was Illustrated with q
wealth OF legal lore ana historian references
| which bespoke literary A. wen As legal training
The speech WAS scarcely twenty minutes long
but 1t covered every question involved and th'
Democratic majority might well rest their cast
He beganI by quoting tho provision of IN,
Constitution. that nil bills Tor raising revenue
shall originate in the House Of RoIres entatiVes
He then skot' 'hed tho history Of thl,
question ia the last Congress. AMI Bait
that he proposed 10 show that th'
House was right in the position which
ii took at the last session. and that Il was rgh
| In the position which II took now. II anythlnl
had been settled by the legislation OF the las
| quarter century IL was that general le2islat ion
| itself might be attached to appropriation bills
and certainly no one would dispute the promo
siton that measures in regard TO economy
and bearing on the revenue, were re
quired to be originated in the House
The House WAS right IN insisting that thcs,
Objectionable measures should be- repealed
Tic House insisted that the law should be
amended so as To prohibit the use OF troops a
the polls. and so that supervisors OF election
(appointrd by Federal authority should M
| longer pOseess their present powers. ana tina
thcrr should DO report OF all statutes cOnierrinl
on United States ON GERS the power 10 interfere
| with or regulate State elections, Tho Uous
was right in that demand: first because thes
| provisions OF law were uncOnstltutiunAl
| They lnlerierod with the right Of suffrag
and with the State laws. Tho seconi
section of the Constitution declared tina
the House should bc compOsed o
| members chosen 10y the people OF the severa
| States aud that the electors should have tn,
| DUAL 'atio requisite for electors OF the mos
| numerous branches Of the State Legislature.
| was therefore the most numerous branch OF
| State Legislature tHnt determined thu
| qualifications Of electors. aud not th