The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1882-06-17
Leading Characteristics Of the Repuh
lfcan Party. &

A contemptuous disregard FOR the
Constitution, and the official oath to
support it, has been leading charac-
teristic of the so-called Republican par
ty. This results from the fact that this
party came into power upon sectional
strife, and animosity, and fanatical ex-
element, in open disregard for the Con-
stitution. and the solemn pledges of the
public faith upon which the Union was
founded. ,Andby the same degrading
means and contempt of all restraints,
moral and political, it has held on to
power.
Hon. Boswell Horn. of)Michigan. who
appears to be representative man of
this party in taste, style and sentiment,
made o fair exhibition of himself in the
House of Representatives in Congress,
on the Utah contested election case. 1t
was conceded that Mr.. Cannon had
been elected by large majority Of the
votes cast, and was eligible ct the time
of his election But since this, session
of Congress began, law has been
passed abolishing polygamy, and impos-
ing disabilities on polygamists prospect
iUe in its terms, and not retroactive.
AS Mr.. Cannon had become entitled to
his seat by Vested right, it was claimed
that under the Constitution of the Unit
ed States that right could not be diuested
by subsequent enactment, and more
especially that such thing could not
be claimed when that subsequent law
was not even in terms retroactive. On
this subject this great constitutional law
yer of the Michiganders said:
"Can any man afford to worry his
brain or waste his time investigating
and debating such a casep Far from it.
Life is too short and time too precious
to be thus wasted. Hence it is say,
Constitution or no Constitution, law OF
no law, I will never vote to seat any
such man in this House., Il seems to
me an insult to ask that such thing be
done, and a waste of time to debate such
proposition
Mr.. Horr appears to be especially
careful about "WGsting his time" No
doubt his time is exceedingly preciousl
And ito 0orry has brqis would doubt
less be cruelty to animals. And he %
pears to have an adherence of "inUesti-
eating or debating such . case" A
member Of Congress refuse to /" investi-
gate or debate question legitimately
before the House! Life is too short,
and time too precious!'' Wherefore
thi gassy politician concluded, 9 Consti-
tuition or no Constitution, laU or no lao.
he would never vote to seat any such
man in this House, y etc. This is the
Characteristic of the modern Republican
party. Where, the Constitution or the
law conflicts With partisan interests OF
partisan prejudice, they are held in the
utmost derision and contempt And
the official oath to support the Constitu-
ton is utterly ignored and condemned.
With public men of sense and integrity,
the official oath imposes high obliga-
ton, and a disregard of it in official acts
is the crime of perjury, at least in q
moral, if not in q legal, point of view.
But crazed pGftisans like Mr.. Horr re
wholly incapable Of any conception b
the obligation of an official oath. hence
they act independently of the restraints
of either the Constitution or the law
american REGISTER. TT