The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-11-04
Federal Interference in State Elec-
tionS.

For nearly century the people OF the sew
eral states of this country managed their
elections in their own way. Each state had
its own laws to guard the peoples rights and
to ensure free and fair elections. They have
them now. And it was never thought that
any further safeguards were necessary to Sc
cure that end until the Republican party came
into power. With Misrepresentation OF its
objects and aims, the people upheldit. When
its purposes became known the people began
to revolt against it's continuance in power.
To overcome this revolt something had to be
done. Appeals TO sectionalism served 1t tor
awhile, but even this soon failed. Then
cana the expediency of federal supervisors OF
aIections-federal officers clothed with extra
ordinary powers to supervise state elections.
To give show of decency and to clothe the
outrage with semblance of fairness, the law
requires that the supervisors be taken in equal
numbers from the Republican and Democratic
parties. The law requires that, but the prac-
tice has been to ignore the law, and to ap-
point all or nearly all from the worst element
of the Republican party.
Had they been appointed as the law re-
ouires, is it not an impudent and unwarrant-
ed assumption to say that these supervisors
are more honest than the people? Is not their
appointment an insult and reflection upon
the honesty and integrity of the people whom
they are to supervise? But, they are not Sc
lected according to law in any place we have
heard of, and they have been appointed to in
timidate voters and to corrupt elections The
trainers of the law so designed it. This was
patent to the late President Garfield, and he
opposed the law. Not that he really opposed
the law for present purposes, but because he
foresaw that the Democrats upon returningto
power would be in position to retaliate. He
then offered the amendment giving half of
the supervisors to each of the great parties,
and his vote for the amendment was the only
non-partisan one he ever cast in Congress on
a political measure.
In Maryland Federal supervisors have here
tofore been confined to Baltimore city. Now,
however, when money and patronage has
failed the party, the supervisor outrage is to
be used on larger scale. The tide of public
sentiment is so strong against the party, all
machinery at command must be worked to
stem it. To offset in a measure losses else
where, efforts are being made to capture con-
gressional districts in Maryland. To this
end Federal supervisors have been appointed
in Anne Arundel county, in the fifth district
Anne Arundel county is in this judicial cir,
cult, and the same supervisors are to look
after the selection of the judges as well. We
call upon Democrats to come out next Tues
day and rebuke this outrage by their ballots.
The interference in state elections by the Fed
eral government is unconstitutional, unwar-
ranted, an outrage, and an insult to every man
who values personal liberty. 1t deserves the
severest condemnation, and it is the duty OF
every citizen to rebuke it by casting ballot
next Tuesday against the party in power.
Never mind the names on the Democratic
ticket. 1t is not men, but principles that are
involved. Your manhood is at stake.