The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-05-28
A Free and Fair Election Not Wanted

The Republican leaders in congress con-
tinue their opposition to the measures intro
duced by Senator Bayard and other Demo-
Gratis to secure a just and impartial admins.
tration of the Federal election laws They
have resisted at every step the passage of the
bill requiring election marsbals to be ap-
pointed by the United States district courts
in equal numbers from the two principal
political parties, and on Monday the Rerub-
lican senators resorted to dilatory motions
for the purpose of preventing progress on
the bill which provides that federal supervi-
sors of election shall be appointed by the
President by and with the advice and con-
sent of the senate. What further proof is
needed that the Republican managers do not
desire fair and honest administration of
the federal election laws?
Nor are these peculiar champions of free
and fair elections willing that congress shall
adopt plan for the counting of the electo-
raj vote. Senator Morgan's joint resolution
on that subject encountered the solid oppo-
sition of the republican side of the senate
when put upon its passage on Monday. This
resolution provides that the electoral vote of
a state shall not be rejected unless both
houses of congress shall concur in the rejec-
ton. Senator Edmunds of Vermont argued
against the adoption of the joint resolution
on the ground that it would contravene the
reserved rights of the states. 1t is amazing
how ready these Republican politicians are
to invoke the "heresy of states rights" when
they contemplate the theft of the presidency
through the operation of state returning
boards. Three hundred and sixty-four days
in the year they denounce the Democratic
party for its consistent adherence to the
state rights doctrine and on the three hun
dred and sixty-ffth Gay, prestol change,
they become the most pronounced advocates
of the dogma they affected to spise and
execrate.
1t is plain enough that the best as well
as the worst men in the republican party are
willing to sacrifice every principle they have
profess in order to Sc cure the success of
their party. The precept of Thaddeus Ste
vens, "Throw principle to the dogs" seems
to have rooted itself in the nature of the Re.
publican politician. When so reputable a
man as George f. Edmunds is capable of
making so insincere plea for party advaI :
tage as that which fell from his lips in the
Senate on Monday, very little can be ex-
pected from the Conklings the Blaines and
the Logans in any matter which involves
an issue between the interests of their party
on the one hand and decency, right and JUS
tice on the other. When the whole body of
the republican membership of the senate ar
rays itself sgainsta modification of the fed
eral election laws admitted by all fair
minded people to be just and necessary, and
against the adoption of definite and equit-
able plan for the counting of the electoral
vote,it may as well be accepted as foregone
conclusion that the Republican leaders do
not want fair election for President or an
honest count of the electoral vote and do
not intend that either shall take place II
they can find means to prevent it.-Pd-
f,;of