The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1886-09-16
SEPTEMBER 16 1886

edy, especially since by counting these frauds
of the body which sits in Judgment ON the
contest. They obtain their certificates by
means mean of fraud and forgery; M this entities entities
.This entities them to sit and vote in their
would be miracle if they or those who afil-
late with them politically should surrender
control of the Senate by ousting themselves,
however strong the case may be for the con-
"Such thing is unheard of in a contest by
q political body when a successful contest
would surrender the control of that body to
its political opponents"
This opinion, as have said, was rendered
the Legislature met, ard doubtless before
the eminent Judge had heard from that great
in the galaxy of jack-o-anterns, the phos-
phorescent exhalations from corruption and
decay, and produced only in swamPs,
indoctrinated with the modern Republican
idea that official oaths, parliamentary rules
and statutory and constitutional law should
apartisan design. who by the grace of mis-
| guided, deceived and deluded people has been
| Lieutenant Governor of this great State,
and who has been fawned upon and fiat
tered by the yultures of his party, who, while
| desired until his little mind is greatly per-
whether the Aim 'ghty created him or ne Gre
ated the Almighty. The announcement OF
| the rule of law, by The Republican Judge. in
| an opinion pronounced by Republican papers
and partisan leaders as sound and invulner-
able that s'the certificates of election entitled
the Hamilton County Senators = not only & to be. be.
also entitled them to sit and vote in their own
| cases or the cases of each other" was an in
| surmountable obstacle to the rape Of the
| Sonata nOmnletR
nation of the objects desired. That rule of
| law, as we have stated, was announced after
understanding of all that is implied, for it
was upon the fact that such was the effect of
holding din the certificate that the
| and urged by the eminent lawyers retained
| by the National Republican Committee and
| others. In the face of this opinion what
honest, intelligent man could fail to be
| indignant at the rulings of the roaring
lilliput. styled Lieutenant Governor, that al
| though the Senators from Hamilton County
holding the certificates of election had be-
come members of the Senate, they were not
| entitled "to sit and vote in their own cases or
| the cases of each other
The only revenge for such rulings we could
take upon His Insignifcancy was the fact
that before the journal of the Senate contain
ing such ruling could be published, the vol
| urDe of the Supreme Court reports containing
the issenting opinion would be published
and IN this way the foot OF the great Justice
| would crush the lilliput.
Imagine, then, the surprise and disgust
the dsD ist R Of June. the volume @ Of reports con-
tanning this dissenting opinion came out, we
found that all the latter part Of it, commenc-
| ing with the words this entities them to sit
and vote in their own cases and in the cases
| of each other" had been left out.
Upon this astounding discovery of the mu-
tilation of this opinion for partisan ends, who
| would Dot:adopt its language and say, "My
regret at this decision is deeper than can be
| expressed in words?"
ut is an apparent, if not a real, sanction to
| frauds of the most atrocious cL Laracter, crimes
that if continued will ultimately destroy our
Whether frauds were or were not committed
| in the City of Cincinnati at the October cleo
ton, 1885, in any rational point of view has
| become Ques' ion of secondary importance.
| If frauds were committed, they were COM
mitted by individuals and by those assuming
TO 1e Per Of eac6 @ OF uc6 che ia ana no 10
the wrong thereby done and restore to the
party or to the individual citizen all that had
provision was made by law. and to punish
those guilty of any such frauds the criminal
statutes of this State made ample provisions.
A representative Government must ever
| rest for its safety and perpetuity upon writ
ten constitutions and their strict observance
ment and their arm. unbiased enforcement
| by the Judiciary.
The ten Democratic members from Hamil-
ton County rece we'd their certificates of elec-
ton and were sworn in as members of the
House of Representatives at the beginning of
the session. and. under the constitution OF
thereof, they could be ousted of their seats
only upon contest made and prosecuted in
pursuance of the provisions of the law, and
in which both parties to the contest should
have full, complete and untrammeled oppor-
tunity to be heard.
The constitution makes each House "judge
of the election, returns and qualifications OF
its own members, ~ but o prevent The practice
adopted by the House of Representatives in
the matter of the contest of the seats of the
Hamilton County members the constitution
requires that 1.-THE General Assembly shall
determine by law, before what authority
and in what manner the trial OF contested
elections shall be conducted"
In pursuance of this provision of the Con
m the ana M tha In
General Assembly. settling definitely. as il
had been settled for years in this State, who
were entitled to be sworn in as members.
The Republicans, having majority of sil
at the organization of the House, in papable
wanton violation of the provisions of thu
manner of the trial of the contested elections
. of its members, without trial or any pretenst
of a trial. without hearing or any opportunit.
to be heard. without even the formalities Of
. decencies usually accorded by Judge Lynch
who glories in the fact that he holds hi
Court not under but in defiance of law, in thu
first days of the session ousted nine mem ber
from Hamilton County and seated nine other
in their place.
Every man who participated in this outrage
was guilty of more reprehensible, corrupt
. ing, debasing and criminal violation of tn
law than any alleged to have occurred at tn
; October election in Cincinnati.
They occupied the position of lawmakers
and posed as defenders Of the constitution. o
uncorrupted ballot, upon The preservation
and fostering of all which in their purity an
, integrity we can only rely for the preserya
of the peoples rights; but they, withou
, misgiving or hesitation. brushed aside a
3 and the means prescribed by law for purgin
the ballot of fraud and ascertaining the wi
of the people, and thereby perpetrated
In nr-tcf with hrxyht tah o. N
: frauds they allege, if proved, would be o
+ little consequence.
When passion maiiciously melted sha
cease to RUE, and reason asserts her sway
: | admitting all that has been alleged of Fourt
I Ward A, the crime and atrocity of the Hous
OF ana as IL Was VIII
: far more rerrehensible and deplorable in il
p consequences.
= the result of trial of the contests in tn
g manner prescribed by law, but it is the d,
= structive, disrupting, disintegrating efes
], law by men chosen to be lawmakers, wha
q q ever the motives may be that actuated them
e Leaders in the party-men who were a
able them to stay this action Of the House {
,. Represen atives when twas first foresha'
it owed-were appealed to to save the State tn
r foul disgrace, but such appeals were made
v vain.
Il To-day the party. leaders glory in the
= shame, and proudly brandish the daggt
e reeking in the blood of the assassinated COZ
4. stitution. The Senate, though proceedI
II with more deliberation in the considerable
It of the contests from Hamilton County, W,
rs equally unmindful of constitutional restri
tions and inhbitions. ] have already allude
is to the characteristic rulings of the parli
IS mentary monstrosity who presided over IL
l. sess ons of the Senate-such rulings as I
man fit to preside over such body or wi
n had any character or reputation to susta
l. would dare make.
,r His vanity and pride, are greatly elated
r. the thought that he has done what no r
at spectacle man would do, and that his ner'
was sufficient for the accomplishment
f. the vilest work, thereby emphasizing Il
d truth that fools rush in where angels fear
q tread"
at AS an individual it is of little importan
ld what his rulings were, as no one wou d ev
Il. imperil his reputation by citing them
precedents, but as the instrument,the mout
ly are significant.
In The constitution declares leach Hous
IN except as otnerwlse proViueu III Inls CONS