The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-03-26
MULTIPLICATION.
The Democrats An Congress Still Re.
fuSing 20 Make Appropriations 20
Garry Out the Election LaWs-A Shot
From Garfield.

The Democrats An Congress Still Re-
flushing 20 Make Appropriations 20
From Garfield.
There was an excited debate in the
house of representatives on Wednesday
on the deficiency bill, during which Gen.
Garfield touched upon the continued
of hostility on the part of the
Democrats to the election laws. He said
that his colleague from Ohio (McMahon)
made statement, and the statement re-
manned uncontradicted, that the Demo-
cratic party had not in this bill and
would not in any future bill make any
whatever for special deputy
marshals, either as to the past or us to
the future. He further declared that it
made no difference to him or to his party
whether the law was constitutional or
not, and recognizing the fact that the
Supreme Court (the only tribunal
which could declare ON the constitution
atty of law had declared that the law
was constitutional, he had undertaken to
throw contempt upon it by referring to
it as an eight to seven decision. It was
a seven to two decision. The election law
wasnowlaw of the lane, and the gentleman,
speaking for his party in this house, had
arisen, not on the plea that the law was
unconstitutional, and had declared that
the Democratic party would not execute
it. Congress. which was the sworn law
maker of the land, which, before it took
its first step in legislation, was sworn be-
fore God and before the country to sup
port the supreme law of the land, was
invited by the gentleman from Ohio
(McMahon) to lead the law-breakers of
the land. He had announced his pur-
pose to break them, and invited congress
to associate itself with him IN breaking
the laws. By far the greatest danger to
the republic to-day was the spread of
law-breaking. 1t was hardly tolerated
on the sand lots of San Francisco, and
the chief law-breaker there had yester-
day taken his sentence to penal servi-
tude. What dare congress say to Den
mis- Kearney and his associates, if it
announced itself as the leader of the
law-breakers of America? His col
league set the example before the peo-
pie of proposing deliberately and with
clear-sighted purpose ahead to vio-
late law of the land. He hoped to null
ify the law. Did his colleague reflect
that he must vitiate every election when
he succeeded in breaking the law? Sup
pose his lead were followed, and demand
of the people for special deputies was re-
fused? Did he not see possibility Of
vitiating every election in that way
And yet, he would destroy the validity of
all congressional elections, rather than not
enjoy the pleasures of being leader of
law-breakers of the land. He (Gar6eld)
should deem it cowardly and dishonor-
able in him if he shirked behind his leg
islative privilege to destroy provision
of the supreme law of the land. The
issue had been somewhat toned down
from last year, but 1t was none
gladly waive all party advantages
for the sake of that sweet, calm,
manful peace that ought to reign In this
hall, if everybody obeyed the law. But
if the leaders on the other side an
no,mced that they would still rush on
their fate, still push upon the American
people this issue-because they hap
pened not to like the law, because they
could not approve the character of the
law, they would not let it be carried out
it was high time that the American
people should know it. Here came in
the Democratic party and said: "Any
part of the law which we cannot repeal
and do not like we will disobey." The
constitution said that the law should
stand In majesty, in dignity and author
ity. Would the Democratic party, in
spite of the constitution, say that if the
law stood it should be waste, a ruin,
an obelisk, crumbling under its displeas-
ure, but which could not be removed by
its power? In all quarters of this coun-
try civilized society was becoming hon.
eycombed through the dangerous ele-
ments. All these things were shaking
the foundation of republic and break.
ing up the good order of society, and in
time like this, more than any other, il
was necessary for a body of law-givers in
their right minds to lay their hands on
the altar and become defenders and not
destroyers of it. And yet, now, for some
supposed party advantage, his colleague
(McMahon) announced land no one on
the other side had said him nay) that the
Democratic party had in the past obeyed
and in the future would not obey law
of the land which the constitution had
just crowned with the dignity of assent
and authority of sanction. If he chose
to go before the country with that plea
in his mouth he (Garfe1d) would regret
it for the country's' sake; but if he
looked only to party's sake it would give
him ioy.