The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-04-09
A DEMOCRATIC SURRENDER
Vrom u. chicago tribunal

prom the chicago Tribunal
The present session Of Congress,
under the organisation and rule OF the
Democrats, who have majority In both
houses, has been managed solely with
reference to the approaching Presiden-
tial election. The policy Of silence and
inactivity was openly proclaimed ct the
beginning Of the session. The uniform
defeats which the Democrats met with
last fall, following upon the extra ser
sion Of the summer, warned them thst
their reactionary policy had alarmed the
people Of the North, and thst Q further
indulgence Of their multiplying procliv.
tiles would surely cost the party the
Pre- idential election. Hence the caucus
declared that the only safety for the
party was to be sought In say-nothing
and do. nothing programme. The resolu.
ton has been pretty strictly obeyed.
But there was legacy from the extra
session that had to bedisposed of-viz:
the deficiency in the appropriations for
the pay Of the Marshals, which had been
withheld In order TO defeat the execu-
ton Of the national Election law. The
Democrats have approached this matter
in fear and trembling. They have set
tied it, ct last, by an unwilling sur
render to the law which has been sus-
tanned by the Supreme Court.
It is true that the Democrats would
not pass the appropriation for the de.
fciency in the pay of the Marshals
without attaching rider to the bill.
They demanded this much concession
TO the ultra position they took at
the extra session. But the rider" in
question is not Questionable in itself,
and will probably not attract an Execu-
tive veto. It is Questionable on the
general ground that it is always an IT.
regular and dangerous practice TO pass
political Legislation or amend existing
laws by means Of an appropriation law.
Legislation thus attained Is always an
implied menace to the Executive right
of veto. II was on this account that the
Republicans voted almost solidly
against the amendment, which provides
that Special Deputy Marshals Of Elec-
ton shall receive as compensation no
more than $5 day, and that they shall
10 selected in equal numbers fiom the
different political PARTIES In agree
ing to this amendment, however, the
Democrats have acknowledged the val
idity Of the national Election law, and
have estopped themselves, in all con-
sistency and all deoency, from any
further attempt to nullify that law or
cripple its enforcement in the general
election Of next fall.
The amendment finally adopted was
suggested by Mr.. Garfield, who APP
peared for time to differ with his Re-
publican oonfreres in the House, but
Garfelds point was that the Demo
cratic majority could not be prevented
from attaching rider" to the bill,
and it would be better for the country,
even at q sacrifice Of party advantage.
to secure such an amendment o. would
not defeat the execution Of the law
than to combat all amendments with
hopeless minority. But, though Mr..
Garfield voted with the Democrats
upon the amendment which he had
practically suggested, he entered his
protest against the practice OF using
appropriation bills as vehicles for DO.
hticai legislation by voting with the
Republicans against the bill on its final
passage. 1t is the manner, rather than
the substance, of the amendment which
il open to censure; for s. per day IF
sufficient compensation for Special
Deputies, and there 10 no reason why
the Deputies for election purposes
should not be selected by the United
States Courts from the different polit-
ical parties, as the Supervisors always
have been.
While the Democrats have surren-
dered to the Election law, they have
done 80 with bad grace and with an in
sincere purpose. They have surren-
dered because they did not dare to 60
before the people again as the oppo
nents Of honest elections and the ad-
vocates of free frauds. Ewing, Of
Ohio, virtual y confessed this much in
the speech which he made on the SUBJ
ject. He warned the Democrats that,
il they refused to acquiesce in the
Election law and provide for its execu-
ton, they would find the cry OF multi.
fication 60 up in the next campaign
from every hilltop and valley in the
North" Randall took the door and
made special effort to secure the pas.
sage Of the Deficiency bill, though pro-
claiming that the Democrats still be-
lieved the Election law to be unconsti-
tutional. COX denounced the Supreme
Court in outrageous terms for sustain
ing the constitutionaity Of the law, but
he did not dare vote against IL. The
only irreconcilsbles and last-ditch-
ers," who refused to vote for the APP
preparation were Blackburn, Hooker,
Hurd, Knott, and Turner, Of Kentucky.
They were the only men on the Demo-
GRATIS side who declined to sacrifice
their convictions to party advantage.
It may well be doubted whether this
surrender OF the Democrats will be Of
service TO them. It is perfectly clear to
the country that their only purpose has
been to gain Q partisan advantage.
They ask for public confidence on false
pretenses. They surrender to the peo-
pie only to acquire stronger hold upon
the Government than they now have,
and when they shall have thus gained
their point they will betray the popular
confidence which their semblancs Of
submission TO the law Is designed TO
secure. This purpose was distinctly
avowed. II appeal to my Democratic
friends" said Ewing, ito take the COM
promise now, to m6dify these bad laws
and make them non-partisan In charal-
ter, so that zoe may be able ere long to
tpipe them from the statute- books"
Il was in the same spirit and with the
same purpose that Randall, Cox, MONA
hon and the other Democratic leaders
urged the passage of the appropriation.
The Democratic position Is briefly this:
IL they can once secure the possession
of the Government by protesting attach
ment to honest elections, they win there
after hold it by dishonest elections.
Historic Coins.
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