The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1879-07-08
Wheeling Register. |
Has the Democratic Party "Backed
IlOwn?o


Has the Democratic Party "Backed
Down."
Nowthat the work Of Con gressis done,
and the long contest over the appropna-
ton bills ended, it may be well to ex-
anime The oft repeated charge Of "back-
ing down" which has been made against
the Democratic party. To understand
to what extent they have hacked down
IL is necessary to recall just what has
been attempted.
The frst and most important part oi
the Democratic psogramme was that of
prohibiting military interference at elec-
tions
To accomplish this two bihs were
passed designed to make prohibition part
of the permanen statutes of the coun-
try. These were vetoed by Hayes, and
a change of policy, but no abandonment
of the object in view, was adopted
Congress added clause to the army ap-
preparation bill that no money appro-
priated in it shall be used for "the equip
ment, transportation or compensation OF
any portion Of the army of the United
States. to be used as a police force to
keep the peace at the polls. at any elec-
ton held within any State" This was
approved by Hayes and is now the law
of the land -
Thus, on the question of military in
reference with elections, the Democrats
have carried their point for one year
with the certainty they will carry it again
next year, and so on until the election
of Democratic President enables them
to place restrictions against the use oi
troops at the polls permanently on the
statute books.
| This does not look like back down.
The second demand of the Democrats
was the repeal Of the test oath for jurors
80 that there should be impartial juries
at the South
This provision of law was carried
over the opposition of the solid Repub.
lican party in both Houses of Congress
and with it most important provision
reforming the method OF summoning
juries in the Federal courts, by depriv.
ing the United States Marshals of the
power they possessed and used of con.
sttuting partisan juries for the trial o
political causes.
So there was no back down here.
The third demand OF the Democrats
was the~abolition Of the system of par
tisan deputy marshals. used by the Re
publicans, by the thousands. and at al
enormous expenditure of money, 70
purely political purposes. ~--.----..-.-
We have not succeeded in repealin!
the law authorizing the appointment o
deputy rnarshals, but we have extracts
their sting-destroyed their capacityyt
partisan work in the interest.of the Re
publican party, by refusing all appro
priations for their payment. II Haye
incurs liabilities for their payment Cor
gress will refuse money to pay such lis
bilities. "a ssiG'} "a
i The, "backing down" process, there
i fore, has in every instance been but
step toward victory 1t true the Dem
ocrats have not accomplished ali the
! desired, for they sought to engraft th
( principles of free elections. without tb
J, intimidation Of troops or the corruptio
! | of deputy msrshals, permanently in tb
| body OF the laws. In this only hav
they been ithwarted by usurper an
tool of desperate partisan spirit j
!, Congress- But they have tied the hand
of fraudulent President for the TIN
!, being, and have thus virtually accom-
, plished the object for which the sessio
has been extended through three month
; past. sfea % -