The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-02-24
Tho Republican Programme.


There is no doubt that the resolution in
troduced into the Senate last week by Sen
ator Hoar, au horizing the appointment Of
a com nittee to ascertain whether in tho
November elections for congressman, presi-
Dental electors and members OF legislatures
in the different states there was any inter
ference with the rigat OF suffrage, by
violence, intimidation fraud or othe' crime,
and whether L)uslga has a republican
( form OF government is part OF The pro-
gramme TO pla the election Of congress
men under federal control By establishing
returning board in each state in
accordance with the provision OF
! the Sherman bill While under tle resolu-
! ton large; Of bribery can b. Investigated
tlo-e is no p o5ability that they will be.
{ The committee is requi ed 10 make report
/ in December; ami as a majority OF 1t Will
b. republicans it will doubtless occupy all
| its time in hunting for storiesof outrages
In the southern states The charges OF
bribery. which arc confined to the northern
states. and to the republicans, will receive
no attention.
The republicans think doubtless that they
will have great difficulty in passing the
| Sherman bill in the F,fty-frst congress on
| acc unr of their slender majority in the
| House, AMI they propose to lessen the
d fficulty by getting together great mass
Of testimony respecting alleged political
outra2es in the south. In this way they
hope to create public sentiment in the
north in favor OF the Sherman bill, so that
No republican congressman will dare to vote
against the bill. They know that the north
ern people are beginning to doubt the truth
of he stories Of political outrages in the
sjuth, ana they see the necessity OF re.
moving thi doubt in order to carry out their
programme.
The investigation Is for the accomplish
ment of political ends and not for getting
the truth. Witnesses can be found TO fur
nish the kind Of testimony that is wanted
Doubtless democ ats wilt Ind it difficult 10
get hearing, but republicans who are will
ing 10 give all sorts OF Local disturbances
political coloring, and VIM have little or no
regafd for truth, will be eagerly sought for
aud their testimony paraded before the pub
lie as proof that there is no political free
dom in the south.
1t is ques ion whether congress has
right to investigate state election. The
Hoar resolution, Aowever, provides for tho
investigation Of the last state election Ia
Louisiana, with tue view Of determining
whether that state has republican form OF
government or not 1t Is doubtful IL the
iuvesti ating committee will find any hing
In the last Louisiana election that was
not in accord 2nce with the law. There
may have been Irregularities in some of the
parishes, but such things arc 10 be expected
in IA xsd population. 1t is prstt certain,
however thaI it VIII not bo fuuad that there
were organized attempts to defeat the will
Of the reople.
As ALREADY stated the purpose Of the IT,
vestigation is to get al excuse for the pass
age of the Sherman bill. The republicans
believe that with federal returning boards
aud federal agents to drum up the colored
voters, they can carry several Of the south
ern states They do not have much cona-
dence in the stories of political outrages in
the s1uth. but they see way in which they
think they eau break III. solid south, aud
icy intend to give it a trial
OF course the Hoar resolution will b.
productive Of bitter political debate, re-
opening sectional questions and arousing
excitement and ill-feeling throughout the
country, but what do the republicans care
whether bitter feeling between the sections
is revived or not, or bow much material in
terests are damaged by political excite
mentl They have partisan purpose in
view and they propose TO accom- plish it,
whatever the cost may be.