Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-06-20

cessary. Thereupon the Democrats went
to work again and instead Of the other OBJ
iectionable clauses inserted the following
SEC. G. That no money appropriated in this act is
appropriated or shall be paid for the subsistence
q &s e Re 6a to be q
police force to keep the peace at the polls at any
election held within any State.
Just as the Democratic committee had
decided on this new clause monster mass
meeting of Democrats was held in Wash
ington to congratulate Gen. Thomas Ew-
ing on his nomination for the Governor
ship of Ohio. In. the ranks of the pro-
cession was borne transparency, which
was greeted with terrific cheering by the
populace. One side it bore rough
picture of a ballot-Sox pierced by a bayo
net, drawn on cotton by some crude artist
with marking-p pot, and fianking it were
two inscriptions semper tyrannis, .
and "a free ballot" The three tai
low candles burning inside Of that trans
parency, threw more light into the Re-
publican leaders than they have had for a
year past. It Illuminated the political
vision Of Mr.. Garfield, of Ohio, like a cal
cium light, and even the temperate Zach
Chandler could see by those candles the
dangerous rock upon which the stalwarts
were steering the worm-e eaten craft Of the
Republican party. With the cheers of the
populace still in their ears the leaders held
a hasty consultation. The clause, it will
be observed, while not repeating the law
under which the army could be used in
elections, absolutely forbids the payment
of any money for the army SO used. In
effect the Democratic congress said: We
have tried to prohibit the interference Of
troops and Federal civil officers at the
peoples elections, and Republican Presi.
dent has interposed his veto; we have then
tried to prohibit the use Of troops and the
same Republican President has vetoed it.
Now, we say, il the government does use
troops to interfere with the ballots of the
people it shall not have the money of the
people to do it with.
When the bill in this shape came up in
the House, Mr.. Garfield, with the recol-
lection of the Wamsutta Transparency,
was the first to break the Republican
ranks, and proclaim that he would vote
for it. His ground was this bit Of
sophistry:
Ny first observation is that this section does not
profess to repeal and does not repeal any law of the
United States. There is not now, and SO far as ]
which authorized tho use Of the Army 'as q police
force at the polls, and II this section were
repeating clause, there Is nothing which it can
operate as repeal
And this Notwithstanding the fact that
section 2OO2 of the Revised Statutes ex-
pressly provides in direct terms for the
use Of U. S. troops "to keep the peace at the
polts' and that to deprive the government
of the means to do thing is equivalent
to repeating the law under which it is au-
thorized to do it. But this sophistry was
not allowed to pass and a prominent stall
wart Republican Of Wisconsin, Mr.. Will
liams, determined to make Garfield show
the whole white feather, and pushed him
to the wall this way:
Mr.. Williams, of Wisconsin-Wln my distinguish
Cd friend allow ne to submit 70 MN one q question:
faith.
now in favor Of using any. portion of the Army OF
the United States at any time, under any circum-
STANCES In any emergency to keep the peace at the
Mr.. Garfeld-NOt In the sense of using that Army
as an ordinary police force.
Mr.. Williams, Of WiscOnsin-In any form or man
ner?
Mr. Carlise-This section does net refer to the use
Of the Army as an ordinary police force.
Mr.. Garfield will refer my friend
Mr.. Williams OF Wisconsn-IdO not mean as an
the gentleman in favor OF using the, Army IN any
Mr.. Garfield-I am in favor OF using the ARMY
and the Navy and all the militia Of the United States
to enforce the laws Of the United States, any one of
them and all Of them, everywhere and at all times
when tho civil force Is inadequate. but not until
then.
MI. Williams. Of MISUNDERSTANDING the keep
ing OF tho peace at the polls. Laughter on the
Mr Gardeld-n there be any law that authorizes
the President to use the Army as ordinary police
force for that purpose am In favor OF enforcing H.
Mr.. Williams. OF Wisc0nSon-Does my friend think
that we have that law, or does he think that we do
not have it,
Mr., Garfeld-I think we have not; that we never
have had It, and that We never ought to have 1t IN
time of peace.
We have already stated that the bill
passed the House by vote Of about six to
enc, very few Republicans voting against
II. The marking pot and Wamsutta cot
ton had done its work for the Republican,
in that branch of the American congress.
And it will do more work in the next Pres
idential election.