Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-07-09
Multiplying the Election Laws.

The plausible features in the Marshals
bill which has just been vetoed by the
President are the provisions for the ap-
pointment of the Election Dephties by
the Courts, and their selection equally
from the several political parties. Can
not we trust the Courts in this matter,
it is askedP Should not the enforce
ment of the laws be impartial and non
partisan, it is again asked? If these
plausibilities were intended to entrap
the President they have failed. He does
not answer the questions as the majority
of Congress would rejoice TO have him
answer them-in the negative, On the
contrary he says that he would make no
objection to the appointment of cleo
ton officers by the Courts and that he
is in favor of appointing them "without
regard to party He disapproves the
bill on other grounds,
He says that the Deputies provided
for by the bill are substantially new Off
GERS; that they are not connected with
the existing laws so rs to invest them
with powers, to impose upon them du-
ties, and to give them protection in the
execution of the laws; and that the bill
therefore provides no adequate means
for the supervision OF Federal elections.
He supports his views with citations
from the Revised Statutes and from
opinions of the Supreme Court estab-
fishing the constitutionality Of the cleo
ton laws.
The essence of the matter is this
The majority in Congress promised
with loud flourish of trumpets, to re-
peal these laws. Finding the President
in the way of their scheme the Demo-
Gratis tried to ooerce him by attaching
the repeal as a rider to an appTopria-
tion bill. The President refused to be
cOeroed. Meanwhile the people by en-
phatic maiorities in almost every North
ern State condemned the scheme of re-
peal. The Democrats therefore have
changed their methods, and, while pre-
tending not to interfere with the cleo
ton laws and to leave them in full
force, have oontrived q bill by which
the officers charged with their execu-
tion are so effeotually deprived of power
that the laws themselves are practically
nullihed. Now that the bill has per
ished under the Executive heel the laws
stand as they were, but there Is no ap-
preparation TO pay the electionNeputies.
They must work for nothing or trust a
future Congress for their wages. The
latest measure of the majority does not
commend it to the people for states
manship or sincerity.-M Y. Times.
-
B35- It is amusing to hear the friends
of the late lamented S, j. Tilden sigh
ing and groaning over ." the frauds of
General Garfield" They roll as a sweet
mOrsel that "S329,n and dwell with
tears in their eyes upon "the 5000
fee" and are oblivious to the railroads
stolen, taxes evaded, and the ballot-b box
prostituted, General Garfield, having
given the best years of his life TO his
oountrys service, with great opportu-
mites for money-making, is to-day COM
paratively poor. The charges of cor
ruption will fall. Simple in his habits
and his. tastes, he comes from the ranks
of the toilers, and occupies to-day q
position of the highest honor. His life
as a citizen, his public acts as states
man, his heroism as loyal soldier
from boyhood TO manhood-are all alike
honorable to him and the great army
of toilers.' His life is the grandest vim
| dication OF our institutions, which ena-
bles the poorest boy that plods his weary
way to aspire to positions the most ele-
waited and noble. General Garfield needs
no defensei people who wish to believe
a lie will 60 on believing it, 1t has al
/ ways been so.- Chicago Inter- Ocean.
Bly~ The Atlanta (Ga) Constitution
wants the Democratic press to speak the
truth about Garfield. That is asking
too much, "lts agin natm'.n -