The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-11-08
Partisan Legislation.

Too bold Mahonei
american Register.
Partisan Legislation.
The Civil-Rights act, the most object
ional of the partisan measures which
Republican Congress fastened upon the
white people of the United States, has
just been decided to be unconstitutional
by the Supreme Court. Of all the strict
ly political legislation of the period fol-
lowing the war, when partisan hate and
sectional spite ran riot over the liberties
and privileges of the citizen, this forced
equality of the negro was the most un-
wise and least necessary.
When 1t was proposed to enfranchise
the emancipated slave, and add to the
voting privilege of the people mass of
ignorant and uneducated freedmen, in
tluential persons both in and out of
Congress gravely questioned the wisdom
of such an act, but the interest of the
Nation and the judgment of its people
were not considered amid the partisan
clamor of that period. The whole ques
ton was merely regarded from the
standpoint of political advantage, and
as it was easily seen that this mass of
ignorance would be as putty in the
hands of the Republican party manag-
ers, the force of law was quickly ap-
piled to the schemes of the leaders, and
the negro appeared the political equal
of the white man. That all Just con-
slderations of public policy were rudely
ignored in that act of Republican Con-
gress all sensible people could readily
see, and the mass of the people did see
and loudly protest, but protests were of
no avail when so evident party gain
was secured, and the consequence was
the addition of a voting element which
has done more to degrade the ballot
than all other causes combined. But
great as was this step a still greater
was afterward taken. In order to thor
oughly humiliate and punish the people
among whom the majority of these ig-
norant negroes lived, the Civil Rights
act was passed by subsequent Repub-
of the negro with the white race thereby
and privileges of citizenship. it would
seem as if the negro and his party
champions might have been content,
act was brought into requisition to COM
country was to pay the penalty.
For nearly twenty years the Repub-
lican party has had the benefit of that
legalized partisan scheme; and now a
Court almost entirely Republican has
decided it to be unconstitutional. Every
man blessed with good sense must have
been satisfied in his own mind that NO
such legislation as forced social
equality between a superior and an in
ferior race could stand the test of an
impartial inquiry, especially with such
a Constitution as this country claims to
he governed by. Such sweep and
stretch of partisan power might acquire
the force of law and be obeyed because
of the hostile political forces to which
the war gave rise, and which were in
dustriously kept alive for the most self
ish party ends, but returning peace and
goodwill was certain to show the enor-
nifty of an act which leveled all proper
distinction between an ignorant and an
educated race, and forced an equality
hateful and Objectionable, almost i'm
possible of practical effort, and certain
to provoke the most strenuous oppo-
sition. 1t has always been claimed that
it was unconstitutional, and this fact
may have, and doubtless did, deter the
negro from Extensively pushing himself
as the act in question permitted. 1t
was impossible that such a measure,
born of sectional antagcnism and kept
on the statute books by the force of party
power, could remain when the reason
and the Judgment of men were allowed
to exert their proper sway.
This unnecessary and unnatural
political measure, now declared void
and without effect by the highest jul
dicial tribunal in the country, is not the
only partisan law which Republican ad.
venturers have saddled upon the coun-
try. The statute books TEEN with
measures purely political and intended
simply and solely for party benefit. Sc
accustomed have they become to over
riding the Constitution that it's prin-
clples OF enactmentS are a dead letter
to them, and when an object is to be at.
tained or purpose carried out, they dc
not inquire whether it is unconstitu
tional or not, but whether it will ad.
vance party ends. Satisfied of this they
plunge ahead, and, regardless of conse.
quences, pursue the methods marked
| out by craft and intrigue. If the Re-
| publican party cared anything for pub.
| lie opinion, it would hide its dishonored
| head in the dust, since a Court of its
own political faith has undone the work
which its leaders gloried in accomplish,
| ing. But it has no more regard fol
| public opinion than for law, and unless
| awakened to realizing sense of its un
worthiness by the lash of public indig
nation, it goes on scheming and tlatter
| ing Just as if it had thousand years tc
live. and the country were to be forever
at its mercy. This decision of the Su
preme Court will, however, open the
eyes of the people to the manner and
methods of the Republican party
The lesson taught will not be new
one, for everybody at all conversant with
| public affairs knows that these manner:
and methods have violated constitu
tional provisions ever since the party
has become an organized band of po
litical speculators. They are now
however, confronted by power greater
in its sphere of operations than the
dictates of a caucus. They will now
learn, perhaps for the first time, tha
the States have rights which can not bt
overrridden, and that the Constitution
has meaning which must be obeyed
Had they learned this lesson sooner, o.
been governed by patriotic considera
tions instead of setting at defiance al
wholesome laws, the country woulc
long ere this have resumed its wontec
prosperity and the welfare of its citizens
been greatly advanced. But it has rur
its race and is getting ready to go, ant
1t is fitting that the period Of its de