The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-06-02
CINCINNATI AND CHICAGO.

CINCINNATI AND CHICAGO.
Every day intensifies the anxiety of the
American people with regard to the action of
the two great political parties now preparing
for the most notable political campaign in
the history of the country. We DO not refer
TO the bitterness that may be engendered in
this instance; we make no allusion TO the
tactics that may be employed. We refer
rather to the platforms, the policies and the
measures that will form the basis of the
struggle for supremacy in American affairs.
The demand for cool-headed, patriotic cir
cumspect deliberstion was never more
exacting than it will be during the coming
are rot the merest fiction, then the people
may now, as well as ct later date, make up
their minds with a large degree of
certainty as TO what measures
will be enunclated at Cincinnati and
Chicago for their consideration and action.
At Chicago third termism will be Endorsed,
and Grant will be its embodiment and expo
nent The Independent Republicans OF
Michigan, as well as OF other States, declare
that Grant 'for third term will be contrary
to a long established precedent Justly
deemed most important bulwark of Amer
lean liberty" and that Grants ''admlnistra-
ton OF the Government while President was
subject to scandals which the people are IN
willing to see repeated" But third-termism
has now been thoroughly discussed before the
American people, and still Grant and third
termers lead, and the admission is generally
made by those in position to know whereof
they speak that the Chicago Convention will
nominate Grant, and thereby indorse the
heIeiy. The Michigan Republicans do not
hesitate to say that Grants nomination will
impair, if it does not destroy, all hope of
Republican success" But third-term-
ism is not the only infamy that will be
Endorsed a. Chicago. The Republican Con-
vention will indorse and the party will
defend the montrous proposition Of having
troops at the polls, to overawe American
citizens, when exercising the night OF
suffrage It is favorite idea Of the Repuo-
licsn party. Coupled with third-termism, 1t
brlrgs the Empire Capitalization and the
destruction of the Republic into the boldest
prominence. The Republicans who profess
to see great danger in a thirdterm, advocate
stationing troops at the polls, and of clothing
Deputy Marshals with power to arrest
American citizsns without warrant, and OF
imprisoning them without trial when seek.
ing to exercise tine right of suffrage. In dis
cussing the danger OF having troops at the
polls to oysrawe voters, Hon. Tom Ewing,
in recent speech In the House of Repre-
ssntatives, said:
To show that that jealousy OF the use of
troops at the polls has not died out in the
British heart, mention, Mr.. Speaker, that at
the late exciting elections in Great Britain,
although they occurred at the time of the
nual drills, orders were issued that the militia
should not convene until after the elections
were entirely over.
Is the reason of this jealousy of the use of
troops at the polls any less strong as applied 10
us and our institutions than to those of Great
Britain? Not at all. The law--the peoples
collected willis made and declared by the
peoples representatives. King and Presiden
alike must bow TO 1t. But If the executive int
terfere with and control the election OF legis-
Iators he becomes at once the mayer of the
laws and the master of the people. Hence 1t
has always been an axiom In politics teat
free government can only be preserved
against executive power by utterly and reso-
Iutely forbidding the slightest display of such
power at the polling places when the people
are choosing their representatives.
Mr. Speaker, we Americans have even
greater reasons than the British to forbid the
presence of troops at the polls. They have an
executive for life, with succession Of blood,
and the sovereign can have no motive to con-
troll parliamentary elections other than a
desire TO carry out some policy OF administra-
ton. But with us, as members of Congress are
chosen in almost all the States on the same
day, at the same ballot-box, and on the same
ticket with the Presidential electors, not only
has the President motive to interfere In the
desire to carry out favorite policy, but he
has stronger and more propelling motive In
the desire to re-elect himself
Some gentleman on the other side said In
this debate that we should not impute TO Mr..
Hayes that he would use the army wrongfully.
Sir, il George Washington were President he
should not have, as i am sure he would not
exercise, the power to use troops at the polls.
Possibly the present executive would not pu'
the army to such base uses: but you know our
next President might not be such goody-
goody as MT. Hayes is. He might be man OF
ordinary flesh and blood-of ordinary ambi-
ton and willfulness. Patrick Henry warned
has bar