National Republican., 1888-01-21
Thnhp.Carllala.

The Democrats Of the House OF Repre-
sentatiyes have deliberately denied the right
Of petition. There is this excuse for the
act and only this, they had to do It to pre-.
vent the exposure of the fraudulent meth
| DDS by which John Griffin Carlisle was
given a seat in Congress.
Mr.. Carlisle knew, and therefore protested
against investigation, that he had been
defeated for Congress by the worklngman
Thobe. His party friends took the cue from
him, and With memorial signed by over
four thousand voters Of the district asking
an investigation Of the election the Demo
Gratis voted solidly against It with three
exceptions.
The workingmen Of the country should
remember this act-one Of their own mum
Der fairly elected to Congress counted out
by means as Infamous as the men who did
the work and profted by IT, asking, backed
by over 1000 Of his fellow. citizens, the
privilege of proving his election, has been
denied that privilege.
Mr.. Thobe has always been q Democrat,
though in favor of protecting American
labor; but he was the candidate Of the Uuion
Labor party; he was working man and
the Democrats were determined that he
should, though elected, not have the seat OF
their free trade leader.
But nothing more could be expected from
men who, like Mr.. Crisp, the chairman OF
the elections committee hold their seats by
frauds fully as Infamous, than that they
should sustain Mr.. Carlisle In his efforts to
retain seat to which he was not elected.
The peope-the workingmen of the
country-will not soon forget to.day's work
in the House, and many member of Con.
gress signed his political death warrant
when he voted to refuse Thobe the oppor.
tunity-lost by the treachery Of his attor-
ney-to prove that the Speaker of the
House Of Representatives is not legally a
member Of II.
1t was sorry sight indeed to see
in the great representative body of the
American people the power of the Speaker
in organizing the committees OF the House
used to influence the votes Of the members
OF his party by favors passed and fayors ex-
pected.
Even the chairman of the labor commit
tee, the Hon. John j. O'Neill, of st. Louis
Mo.-a man who had given the work OF his
political life to the support of measures in
favor Of workingmen and working women
surrendered his judgment and his political
future by voting to execute the damnable
conspiracy against an honest ballot and a
fair count.
Randall and Burnes had the manhood to
decline to vote until they discovered that
their xunti1l oh kbo
The Republican side OF the House ap-
peared to be partially demoralized and
divided by the arguments OF certain Re-
publican members of the committee, but
Henry Cabot Lodge, OF Massachusetts,
stood up in his place and stated the broad
ground upon which all fair.minded men
could stand, and then, by lucid statement,
full OF generosity, courtesy, and fair play
convinced the intelligent and reached the
heart and conscience of the House In a
speech of ten minutes, swung the Repub-
licaus into line, and stamped himself
leader equal and necessary for the great oc-
casion.
Then came Thobe's opportunity. Seated
In the midst Of the Democratic members, he
rose in modest and quiet manner, began
his appeal for fair play, for justice. Pro.
found silence was observed, all eyes were
turned on him as he stated fact after fact.
1t was plainly to be seen that he obtained
the confidence of all. His delivery was
calm and impressive, his hits were like the
shot that strikes the bulls eye. When he
closed, 1t is but the simple truth to state
that the impression made upon the House,
both as to the justice of his cause and the
political danger that threatened the De-
mocracy, made them reluctant to vote
against him, yet the party whIp--yes, the
party ashland party favors closed every
avenue to justice and decency, all done by
the subtle hand of John Griffin Carlisle in
packing the committees of the House.