The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1889-05-28
IF YOU KNOW
Federal Control of National EIec'
IiODS.
Times Democrat


Our special Washington dispatches pubsheo
yesterday contained an interview with proml'
nent Kansas Congressman on subject OF Pc
culiar interest just at this time, to the South Ii
a unnecessary to say that this member is Re-
publican, of a State which has solid Republi-
Ian delegation in Congress.
Congressman Peters, the Representative inter
1iewed, states that he is ofopinion that Congress
1T It's next session, will enact a law by which
the Federal government will have control OF
congressional elections in the South; that it will
be the only reasonable and just thing to do ;
shat it will relieve this section Of the odium
which is being cast upon it in the violation OF
.he sancity of the ballot, and of responsibility
Tor the men who violate it. He further hints
that it is not good for the commercial or moral
standing OF the South to have its honesty called
z1to question after every national election; that
! binders its progress.
Now The question arises, how does the nation
81 government propose to control or interfere
with Southern congressional elections? ORe
put forward by extremists in the Republican
party wSs to reduce the congressional represen-
,2tion of the Southern States by fractional pro-
portion corresponding TO the fraction of the pop
,ulatiOn entitled to vote, which did not usually
vote in congressional elections. That power
cannot be exercised except through a repeal of
she amendments of the Federal Constitution.
The Constitution, ~ amended, provides that the
States shall be entitled to representation in Con-
gress according to their proportionate popula.
lion Do the Republican extremists contemplate
;goiag back to the people and asking for repeal
II the late amendments to the Constitution, now
that they have learned that their party's inioui-
0us legislation has become political boomer
ang to hurt and possibly ultimately destroy their
party! Otherwise they cannot change the rep.
Presentation of the South in the national legisa>
'ture by one vote, however much they threaten
o reduce that lawful representation.
As for the other plan, advocated by most of
the Republican leaders who have spoken, of as
suming complete Federal control of Southern
elections, We have already discussed that at
length in our columns That experiment was
tried for several years with the use of absolu,
Imperial armed power by the President of the
United States. 1t failed then, and the same
method or anything short of it would fail now.
Ii the Republicans make The charge as thev
DO, against the South, that without fraud or co
erclOn the vote of this section would be different
iy expressed, the South can, W ith far more rea-
son and justice, make The counlercharge that but
Tor the wholesale coercion Of EMPLOYERS and the
most glazing frauds of corrupt bribers in the
North, the Republican party would not be in
control OF the government to-day
The Republican party has been the party of
sectional legislation for twenty nine years
NEARLY the length Of generation 1t once ad-
opted desperate measure to keep down the DO
iitical power and material progress ofthe South.
With every advantage on the strong side then,
and every disadvantage on the weak, its policy
and its measures failed Now, Jealous of the
growing political strength and material prosper
1ty OF this section, the leaders of that party are
1t their wits end to devise some other means to
check its prestige and its prosperity They will
surely fail again; as now they have to deal with
vigorous and strong States. 1t is to be hoped
4ha this proposed step will be their last effort in
this line, and tina, 1892 will bring forever an emp
10 such schemes and plans, which only serve to
disturb the business and peace OF the country.