Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1880-05-26
NUMBER 2S.
IN HONEST ELECTION.

WAT, and r0cOnstructiOn, ard BY WhAeever
plse has been done, there h anothsr thing that
We - Republicans propose TO obtain fcf this
country-we mean 10 have fair elections That
has been one Of tho questions that has bssn be-
fore Congress and befors the people svsr since
the days Of reconstruction. Il was ons of the
Atst aims of The Republicans a1tss IL war to
deyise subj rAeasufss - thAt ~ psopas u tho
South, white men and blasA men and ~ To-
gether, might have the right 70 vstss and the
effort was to give such protection that The legal
voters might have the fullest enjoyment Of their
rights, and that fair, full, and frse election
might bs EVERYWHERE held II was sxpeclSd
that the people Of the rebellious States would
cordially accept the offers held out to them,
and it 10 true that at tho start large number
of them did cooperate in the measures planned
by Congress. But the struggle has been going
on for many years upon this question, until now
we are startled with the fact that ths only pOlit-
ical issue before the people ID how m election
shall be conducted. Never until now WAS this
the ons question agitating the public mind. In
other years there has been division OF senti-
ment upon some great measures, some lines Of
public policy, some important principles, some
method OF action, or some question Of expaaali-
tures But now we do not find that it Is any
thing In the action Of the Republican party
that merits severe condemnation from the
Democrats; but the great struggle 10 how
the election is to be conducted. When you
think Of thi: surprising issue between the two
parties, It IL enough to set rational person
thinking. Why i it that we are brought 70
such an issue2 When men are going to run :
tAcs, both aides consent TO have the track
cleared. In contest Of musicians, tho first
necessity is to have silence. 4 you sre trying
. question in the courts affecting the rights OF
property or personal liberty, the iirst thing IN n
silence, and the Sheriff must be there to en-
force order and keep the pence, 20 that the trial
may proceed orderly. But now, when we are
going to have . race which in importance sur
passes all the races ever rum; when We are go
ing to have trial before which all trials tiae
world has ever seen sink into insignifcance- =
trial - TO who shall grasp the scepter OF empire,
who shall guide the policy and dispense the
patronage, and stand at the helm to steer the
ship Of state, instead OF there being an agreo-
ment between both parties TO have men At the
polls to keep order, we find that one party is IN
favor of breaking down every barrier which
had been put up 70 prevent disorder and con-
ing at this for yesrs. The laws that have becn
passed by Congress- year after year since 1870
have been adopted In view Of the fact that one
political party was attempting, by every means,
by fraud and violence and intimidation, before
and on the days Of election, to grasp at power
and Offices, and this not in the South alone, for
in New York more than anywhere were the
elections carried by fraud and violence. We find
that party at eli times endeavoring, to the ut
most Of its ability, to defeat any measure in
tended TO prevent fraud at elections; and
when at last, by fraud and violencs and
every means that WAS disrcputAble,
they obtained . majority In the lower house,
-
gress, We see them voting 70 drive away every
officer whose sworn duty it was to keep order at
the polls. In the extra session last year the
struggle was continued, and this year II has
been resumed, and they are evidently deter
mined to wipe out al Of the election laws by the
riders which they have added to the Deficiency
and Appropriation bills, intended to tie the
hands Of the President Of the United States as
commander-in-chief of the army. The army,
they say, must not be used on election day
and yet that day, Of all other days IN the year,
10 the one when there should be peace, and or
der, and quiet and when, therefore, the Presi-
dent should have full power and authority TO
arrest criminals and protect hw-Ahiding citi-
xens. In the bills now before the President,
they propose TO take al this power away from
him; but do not believe they viii receive his
signature. / have no personal knDwlsd&e Of
his intentions, but do not see how the Presi-
dent can ever sign such bills - these. I do mot
think can do better than bring before you
from the Congregational Record some facts
bearing upon this question It h 20 intimstely
connected with the present canvass that people
cannot be too fully acquainted with the actual
condition Of things. Under the 2,OO2d section
Of the Revised Statutes the President \ -
pecially empowered TO use the army
& national elections, when members q
Congress or Presidential electors arc 70
BE- chosen. But hear Il asked, Why y Il that