The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-04-22
THE REPUBLICANS DESPER-
ATE

The Republicans in Congress, espec-
tally in the House of Representatives,
have made desperate fight to contin-
ue the appointment of deputy mar
shals as electioneering partisans, even
after DE Golyer Garfield admitted the
gross partiality and wrong Of the ex-
isting system and oHeredsan amend
ment to correct it. The Democrats
took the Republican leader at his
word, but when they had accepted his
compromise, Garfield himself and
the party voted against it. So did
the whole Republican side of the Sen
ate, when the bill went to that body.
In other words, they resisted a meas
ure intended to reform an admitted
abuse, made notorious by gross scans
dals in all the large cities, and went
solid for keeping the appointments ex-
clusivel V in their own hands.
They have also shown desperation
in their course in regard to the Army
bill. The long contest between Cons
gress and the executive at the extra
session resulted in all agreement that
fell far short of the original demand
of the Mouse, and far below the de-
mands of public opinions. The peo-
pie demanded that citizens Of the Uni
ted States should he at least as free
as subjects of the Queen Of England
have been for one hundred and fifty
years OH the day of election, without
the presence of the restraint of mill
tary force.
Every measure looking to this per-
feet freedom was opposed by the solid
vote Of the republican party in both
Houses, and was vetoediby the Fraud
ulent President upon false pretences.
The aim Of the Republicans was to
hold the army in hand as q party ma
chine for use at the Presidential cleo
tion, and the veto was exercised to
pI reserve that control. Hayes became
the willing instrument of the men who
most despised, and who have taken 20
pains to conceal their contempt.
Finally compromise was effected,
as follows:
"Ihat no money appropriated in
this act is appropriated or shall be
paid for the subsistence, equipment,
transportation, or compensation of
any portion of the amy of the Uni
ted States to be used as a police force |
to keep the peace at the polls at any
election held within any state"
This amendment was adopted with /
cnly thirty one dissenting votes, cast
by Democrats who did not think /
enough had been obtained, and by Re |
publicans who thought too much had |
been yielded. All the leading Repub- /
licans are recorded in the affirmative. |
That ended the controversy, and |
both sides accepted the settlement as
conclusive.
Now it is proposed by the Demo
Gratis to re-enact the language above
cited in the army bill for ,next year |
changing word. The repub-
lican leaders, who by speech and by /
vote sustained this section in last June,
are most active in opposing it at this
time. This bad Inconsistency does not !
disturb them at all They are great
ly vexed because the Democrats will |
not furnish ammunition for section
al crusade by contesting their fimsy
pretexts. On Saturday they had the
floor all to themselves, except when
Mr.. Cox threw into the one-sided per-
formance humorous episode that
made it all the more ludic.ous and an
noying.
The Republicans are engaged in a
struggle fer political existence. They
are held together solely by the cohe-
'ive power of public plunder. In any
event, the politics Of the country will
be materially changed after the Pres
dental election. The leaders are
desperate. and if it he possible to use
The army as Grant used it, they will
10 so. Hence this struggle.-N Y
San,