The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-09-27
The B0ssing Of State Elections.

/ - uOl Iuc Culcl uuIy Vi Il TtOcIdl AO-
ministration, but that, on the contrary
such an Administration has no more
right to NEEDLE with the local elections
Of the people than it would have to I'M
ilertake the management of churches,
benevolent societies, baseball clubs or
insurance companies.
The Constitution and the acts of Con-
| greSs prescribe the duties of the EXecu-
tive Department, including the 10000
officers pertaining thereto; and it is
quite as exasperatingly insolent and far
more dangerous to the public welfare
for this great Department to push an
Obtrusive hand into the local concerns
Of any State than it would be for the
Executive authority of State to force
| itself within the well-defined limits of
Federal jurisdiction.
Twenty years ago two great dangers
| threatened the destruction of this Gov
eminent. One was the secession of
States, the other the absorption of the
rights of the States and the people
thereof by the central authority. The
former was crushed out, at fearful cost,
but the latter still exists. 1t is as great
4 menace to the future of the Republic,
and as bold an invasion of the rights
guaranteed by the Constitution, as was
its twin evil-the one that gave up the
ghost at AppomattOX.
The right of local self-government,
the right of the people to elect all their
local officers without any intermeddling
on the part of the hired men whom the
people have assigned to do work under
the Federal system. is as clear right
as was ever defended by ballot or bullet.
And the officials who invade this right
by 1.-the whole weight of the Admins
tration," or by any part of that
weight" are just as clearly working
for the destruction of the Government
that the fathers erected rs were the
secession leaders when they called on
the States to 90 out of the Federal COM
pact.
The Administration had an opportu-
nifty in the elections of 1882 to learn
what the intelligent people of the United
States think of Federal intermeddling
in local affairs. 1t learned, at the same
time, that such interference has totally
different effect in the South from that
which it produces in Northern States.
In the great State of New York the peo-
pie resented intermeddling in a way
that will not soon be forgotten. Believ-
ing that Mr.. Folger was the Admins
tration candidate, and that the Admins
tration was trying to manage the cam
paign, they rose up in their might and
buried Mr.. Folger under a majority of
about 100000 votes.
This was no fair test of the relative
standing of Folger and Cleveland. The
former was known to be honest and
capable, a learned jurist and worthy
man. But Cleveland's candidacy rep
resented local self-government. Fol-
gers stood for Federal interference, and
the vote for Cleveland was the declara-
ton of the Presidents own State, the
Empire State of the Union, that the
people who had crushed secession had
no tolerance for its twin evil.
While this was transporting in New
York. ''the whole weight of the Admin
lstration," not its finger, not its hand,
but all of its vast power and influence
that could be thus disposed of, were
brought to bear on certain local cleo
tons in States where there were large
masses of ignorant and credulous col
ored men. These persons were told by
Federal officials, detailed for such SER
vice and paid out of the public Treasury,
that the President had sent his request
for them to vote for this, that and the
other candidate.
These blacks are not to be blamed for
being ignorant, not censurable for be-
ing credulous. but their peculiar con-
dition made them as plant IN the hands
of the Administration as dough in the
grasp of q baker. Therefore, it hap
pened that the policy which was so in
dignantly rebuked and stamped on in
New York came near being great sue
cess in two Southern States. And thus
it happens chat the Administration, ac-
cording to its central organ, is deter
mined to repeat this year and next the
policy Of 1882, so far as relates to the
South.
The resources of the Federal Treas
ury are to be drawn upon to override
the will of the people. Thousands of
Federal officers-the hired men of the
people, each of whom is paid to do GER
tain specific work for all the people I'M
der the Federal mechanism-are to be
sent all over those States to bring the
black voters into harmony with the new
allies of the Administration the
desperadoes of the South" as the
New York Tribune appropriately styles
them.
1t is beautiful programme, but it is
bound to miscarry this time. The cur
rent of public opinion is against it.
The intelligence of the country is
against it with force that will make
itself felt. The coarseness, the gross
ness of Stalwartism will be compelled
to halt. The right of the people to
choose their own local lawmakers and
other officers will be maintained. A
decent regard for the opinions of man
kind will be enforced on the Admins
tration so effectually that it will not at
tempt to repeat the abuses that its or
gans threaten.
The attempt to destroy the Govern
ment of the fathers by Federal invasion
of the most cherished rights of the
people must 60 into its grave beside its
twin brother, secession. - american
Register.
No Negotiations with the Enemy.
Before this time next year we shall |