Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-01-23
THE ELECTORAL BILL.

Friday Morning.''".January @o' Aooo
THE ELECTORAL BILL.
The rapid growth and complex develop
ment of our political institutions seem to
call for more rapid, enlarged and effective
LEGISLATION. Such legislation as the pure
and wise trainers Of our Constitution never
anticipated, or If so, they discarded such
ideas upon the hypothesis that the clearly
expressed will of majority Of the people
under Republican government would never
be made the sport of political gamblers or
frustrated by corrupt and wicked men. 1t
was never supposed by these good and pa
triotic men that we would ever arrive at
day in this country when q majority of one,
legally attained, would not give peace to the
land and free US from all political danger,
nor drive us to new arrangements in the
array of our political machinery. That re-
forms would have TO be instituted by amend
ments TO our customs, If not TO our funda-
mental law, such as the modern danger OF
our only imly-forseen greatness itself indi-
Gates
The committee on the electoral count OF
the House have, after considerable delay,
agreed upon bill, which is understood to
be substantially the same as the Southerd
Bill that was reported to the last Congress.
The bill which lie before the House Of Rep
resentatives declares that, if there be dis
puted election in any State, the controversy
may be settled by the highest tribunal
thereof, and that its decision may be over
ruled by the concurrent action of the two
Houses of Congress and further, that where
there has been no such decision the disputed
vote shall not be counted unless both Houses
of Congress shall agree as TO which is the
lawful vote. 1t also provides that Congress
shall have the final and conclusive power
Of revising and, il need DO, reversing the
action Of the State authority as to the per-
sons who have been appointed electors,
As was expected, the provisions Of this
bill has called forth the most bitter denun-
Citations Of tho Republican press, and the
Republican members Of Congress have been
urged to fight the bill at its every stage,
and in the event Of its passage that then
"the President must meet II with q plump
veto"
The scenes through which the country
passed at the last presidential election, the
fragrant and outrageous violation OF oil
right and law as enacted by the " Electoral
Commission through the medium of tech
nical bubbles, should have tho effect OF
teaching the Democracy the necessity of the
most scrupulous assiduity in tho passage OF
such laws as will in the future save US from
like acts Of violence, outrage and wrong.
At the time the debate was going on in
Congress il was asserted by distinguished
and prominent members of both parties that
the existence Of the commission was merely
. temporary expedient- 10 bridge over an
existing difficulty. That II was not to be
regarded in the character of precedent and
not likely to be repeated, and that Congress
would before another presidential election
mature some proposition for amending the
Constitution in respect to the election o.
President and Vice-President. So far but
little has been accomplished What !:
known as the Edmunds bill passed the
Senate, but the House never took il up fol
serious consideration.
The vastness Of our opportpritS sn'
chisfs0nzne de n Nd aifs and ana the
Golden Gate. The spoils which Caesar dis
tributed were not SO fat and vast IA those
which will be within the reach of our par.
,izan managers before another century
closes. Our political civilization Is thread
ing complicated mountain-psss, and the
shrcwdest of political experts can hardly
understand the complicated issues Of ma.
sional political campaign. Every close pres
idential election will involveperi and fraud
and may bring about an uncertain and seri-
Gus state Of affairs. and consequently there
should be some safe, adequate means of set.
Ting disputes in any State as to those who
have boon appointed as electors.