Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-09-16

W tho SiSab SuolCc NOulu CRUSH lnt
lilliput.
Imagine then the surprise and dis
gust naturally and necessarily fell
when, about the lst of June, the vol
! ume of reports containing this dissent.
ing opinion came out, we found that al
the latter part of 1t, commencing with
the words "this entities them to sit and
vote in their own cases and the cases
of each other" had been left out.
Upon this astounding discovery OF
the mutilation of this opinion for par.
tisan ends who would not adopt its
language and say, "My regret at this
decision is deeper than can oe expressed
in words.n
ut is an apparent, ifnot real, sane
ton to frauds of the most atrocious
character, crimes that if continued will
ultimately sap and destroy our repre-
sentative system of Government"
Whether frauds were or were not
committed in the City of Cincinnati at
the October election, 1885, in any ration
al point of view has become question
of secondary importance.
IF FRAUDS WERE COMMITTED,
They were committed by individuals
aud by those assuming to be members
Of each of the parties, and to counteract
the effect of such frauds, to undo the
wrong thereby done and restore to the
party or to the individual citizen all
that had been lost by such alleged
frauds, abundant 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 written constitutions and their
strict observance by the law making
department of the Government and
their firm, unbiased enforcement by
the Judiciary.
The ten Democratic members from
Hamilton County received their certifi-
Gates of election, and were sworn in as
members of the House of Representa-
tives at the beginning of the session,
and, under the constitution of this
State, and the laws made in pursuance
thereof, they could be ousted of their
seats only upon contest made and pro-
secuted in pursuance of the provisions
of the law, and in which both parties to
the contest should have full, complete
and untrammeled opportunity to be
heard.
The constitution makes each House
"judge of the election, returns and
qualifications of its own Members but
to prevent the practice adopted by the
House of Representatives in the matter
of the contest of the seats of the Hamil-
ton County members the constitution
requires that "the General Assembly
shall determine by law, before what
and in what manner the trial
of contested elections shall be conduct
ed."
In pursuance of this provision of the
Constitution, laws were passed and in
force at the time of the organization of
the present General Assembly, settling
definitely, as it had been settled for
years in this State, who were entitled
to be sworn in as members at the or
ganization, and who and in what man
ner, might contest the seats of such
members.
The Republicans, having majority
Of six at the organization of the House,
in papable, wanton violation of the pro-
visions of the constitution and the laws
the manner of the trial of
The contested elections of its members,
without trial or any pretense of a trial,
hearing or any opportunity to
be heard, without even the formalities
Or decencies usually accorded by Judge
Lynch, who glories in the fact that he
holds his Court not under but in de-
lance of law, in the first days of the
session ousted nine members from
Hamilton County and seated nine
,thers in their place.
Every man who
PARTICIPATED IN THIS OUTRAGE.
Was guilty of a more reprehensible,
debasing and criminal viola
ion of the law than any alleged to have
occurred at the October election in
Cincinnati.
They occupied the position of law
makers, and posed as defenders of the
of the sacred heritage of
liberty, of pure and uncorrupted bal
OF, upon the preservation and foster
ng ofall which in their purity and
integrity we can only rely for the pre-
ervation of free government and the
of the peoples rights; but
hey, without misgiving or hesitation,
rushed aside as worthless and of no
alidity the constitution and the means
by law for purging the bal
)t of fraud and ascertaining the will of
he people, and thereby perpetrated a
raud in comparison with which all the
'auds they allege, if proved, would be
t little consequence.
When passion maliciously melted
hall cease to rule, and reason asserts
er sway, admitting all that has been
LEGGED of Fourth Ward A, the crime
nd atrocity of the House of Represen-
ltives, committed as it was with delib-
ration, generalization and malice was
lr more reprehensible and deplorable
! its consequences.
The question is not what would have
cen the result of q trial of the contests
! the manner prescribed by law, but
is the destructive, disrupting, disin-
,grating effect upon the people of a
anton disregard of the law by men
hosen to be Lawmakers, whatever the
lotives may be that actuated them.
Leaders in the party-men who were
ssumed to have such influence as
'ould enable them to stay this action
the House of Representatives when
was first Observation-Disclosures appeal
/ to save the State this foul disgrace,
ut such appeals were made in vain.
To-day the party leaders glory in
leir shame, and proudly brandish the
agger reeking in the blood of the as
constitution.
The Senate, though proceeding with
,ora daliharati0n in the cOnsidaretion |