The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-09-09
what Democratic Success Means.
CPhlladelphla Press.

Suppose the Democrats should cap
ture both Congress and the Presidency
does anybody believe they would leave
the Supreme Court as it is? They
could make it Democratic by a simple
and easy change of the law. A dozen
lines would do it. The Court now
consists of niue Judges--seven Repub-
licans and two Democrats 1t would
only be necessary to provide that it
should consist of nineteen or any
larger number. All the additional
Judges would be Democrats, and they
would then outnumber the Republi-
cans.
With a Democratic Congress to pass
such a bill and a Democratic President
to sign it and make the appointments,
does any rational man suppose the
Democrats would hesitate? 1t is easy
enough to find an argument. The
Court is behind in its business,
The labor must be better divided
More Judges are needed to do the
work. There you have the PLAUSIBLE
plea upon which the Democrats could
appoint enough to overcome the pres
ent Republican majority. Indeed,
they have already started on the track.
Last January, Mr.. Manning of
Mississippi, introduced bill to make
the Court consist of twenty-one
Judges, 1t now rests in the hands of
favorable committee ready to be re-
ported at any time. Give the
Democrats both Congress and the
Presidency and who doubts that they
would promptly pass it2 Wouldn't it
be very strange if, with the power,
they didn't pass it.
What then? First of all, Demo.
cratic Court could overturn the
constitutional amendments, The
Democratic National Convention OF
1868 deliberately resolved that the re-
construction acts and the amendments
resting on them were unconstitutional
and void. General Hancock publicly
and explicitly indorced that platform,
Only last year Senators Bayard, Eaton
Herman, Lamar, Voorhees, and all
their leading Democratic colleagues
voted against resolution declaring
the amendments valid and binding.
Thai represents the Democratic posi-.
ton. The Democrats hold that the
amendments were passed by an uh.
warrented end unlawful coercion OF
the reconstruction States - in other
words, that they were not lawfully
passed at all. A Democratic Court
would so decide, and the constitu-
tionsl settlements of the war would
be overthrown.
What next? With the destruction
of the amendments, the last obstacle
to the payment of the Confederate
@aims would be removed. Many of
these claims can be paid even unto the
amendments. The Confederate
soldiers can be pensioncd. The dam
ages sustained where they may mask
themselves under any plea of loyalty
can be recompensed. But with the
amendments nullified there would be
no need Of any such pretense. Then
the claims for losses sustained by the
emancipation of the slaves and for all
other losses could be pressed and Sc
cured. Does it seem Incredible that
such demands should be made? WHY
should it? The South was im-
poverished by the war. 1t is poor and
needy to-day. 1t pays less than a
tenth of the taxes and revenues.
What it might secure would be no loss
and all gain? Under these circum-
stances, it is all perfectly natural that
the South should make these demands
and seek to rcplenish its depleted
pockets from the public purse. 1t is
not half as surprising that the South
ern people should press these claims
as that any sensible man in the
North should for an instant think OF
giving them the opportunity.
With the Democrats success the
Supreme Court would be reorganized.
the amendments would be overthrown
and Southern claims would swarm
about the Treasury. 1t is said the
Democrat party would not dare go so
far? Why not? Once secure of the
President and of Congress, its first
act would be to overturn the election
laws. Then how could it be dis
placed? 1t holds a solid South by
fraud and force. 1t only needs New
York and Indiana to maintain its
power. With the election laws out OF
the way, what would prevent it from
piling up fraudulent majorities in
New York and Indiana any time? 1t
could defy public opinion. The time
to stop it is now, before it can gain full
possession and entrench itself.
A Columbus, Ohio, correspondent
speaking of the Republican campaipn