The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1889-12-21
FEDERAL ELECTION LAW.
Practical Republican Judgment Rejects
It.

tCincinnati Commercial Gazette, Dec.T.
Ii is question of policy whether
the Republicans in this Congress
should devote their time very largely
to the effort to establish = national
election law with the express purpose
of putting an end to the peculiar cleo
tioneering management of the consoli-
dated States of the South. 1t seems
likely that the margin Of Republican
strength of the House is SO small that
the tilibustering Democrats viii be able
to prevent the passage of such q law
as the more radical Republicans be-
lieve would be effective.
This becomes clear when we UNDER
stand that many Republicans are not
persuaded the law weuld prove as use
ful in practice as 1t would be accepti-
bic In theory. In the condition of the
Southern States the law simply could
NO. no. 81 sc enforced if it were passed, and
the people Of the Northern States
haye manifested disinclination to en-.
gage with the energy and courage and
perseverance in the electoral reform
that the extent Of the difficulty de-
mands.
During the Presidential campaign
last year 1t was evident that the nulli'
ficsiion of the Constitution In the
Southern States did not excite such
warmth of indignation among the
masses of the people of the North, a
to be potential In the elections. Their,
Twas a good deal Of hesitating apt
doubtful public sentiment on the sub
Ijoot, and questioning as to whethe
1.-The Southern people, who arc in pos
session of power, might be disturbe'
with advantage to the general welfar
Of the country whether the agitatiol
requisite 10 bring up the public senti
ment to overthrow the unconstitution
al methads by which the Solid Soutl
| Is made Democratic, could be success
fully presented as tho controlling ma
tionaI issue.
| Ifit Is the belief ofthe more thought
full Of the Republican leaders that 1t !
unlikely law can be passed tina
would really reform the abuses of III
} South that amount to the disfranchis'
ment of the colored people in nation,
affairs, it is a question Of policy whetl
er the time could not be better occl
pied than In pressing 1t.
Perhaps, the proposition Of the Pre-
, ident is the Inc upon which the grea
est good may be accomplished; an
that is instead of risking everYthir
and devoting the whole power Of u
2 party to the enactment of q law
! doubtful practicability, a stringer
sweeping act IN terms and exoeedin
!, ly difficult, aud In the most i1porta
places impossible Of execution,
would be better to mako such amen
= ments of the existing laws as wou
4 modify the of situation favorably, an
}, thus attain the greatest practical
: good.
There are two objects In view oft
= practical politician in the presentati,
s Of bills and their discussion. One
0 tho offect that the passage Of the pl
Is posed law would have upon the act
y al business within Its contemplate
and the other the impression to
10 made upon public opinion.
A. There is no doubt Of the existen
al of enormous electoral wrongs In I
States that formed the late Confed'
p acy, and the need OF reformation, t
2. how, In the heart Of Mississippi, Lou
O lana, Georgia, Alabama aud the
ID States where the black and white p,
a. ulation are nearly equal, and those d
tricts of States where the blacks |
n most numerous, a national law can
to made operative for the actual enfr
,h chisement of the blacks who have b
os deliberately deprived of their rig
at under the Constitution for many yea
is a question that merits tho most p
70, found deliberation-and If II is a gu
or tionable matter whether, If the fill
n ters could be overcome, the law it
en- would be influential as enthusiasts
te pect, we have to consider the |
wider proposition whether the eff
of the debates upon such a meas
on the people at large will yield
IN. publicans an increased majority In
next House of Representatives.
Recent experiences would not
OF courage the idea that the people Of
Is sections other than the Confedel
on and consolidated South, will take
commanding an interest In tho sub
IN as to make the issue one to sweep
lily country with. No doubt there vii
vast deal Of able speaking done
ier behalf OF the rights of the colored
Ter zens, and none would take gre'
nd interest in II, than ourselves but
1er outrages have not been obscure at
on time during the last 20 years. I
In are a part Of the history of tho re-
Ter structlon Union, as well known as
ng portion of 1t, and the weakness Of
nj whole. e.matter is that public opil
sri- has not been educated SO as to take
In right cognizance of It.
net Now, shall the Republican p
ng make this the vital question u
'ry which its future Is to depend?
ur- an affair of the most practical pol
Or in the world, and this is good
lty, to take 1t into patient consideratio
hat
ra- 1t now seems probable that Bla
u" ose counsels will prevail, and that I
ent will be no Federal election law |
3 Of all. II is not in the least inconsii
erb ,,,;.,, ,,,o .boractor NJ tb;s oontio