The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1890-07-04
pEMocRATs PRoIEsr.

a Protest BY Northern Democrats Against
the Lodge Election BiT-A Partisan
Measure to Control Federal Elections By
the Republicans.
WASHINGTON, June 2s.-The Northern
Democratic members of the House of
Representatives have prepared the fol-
lowing formal protest against the Ma
tional Election bill, now under discus
sion in the House.
The undersigned, representing in the Con-
gress of the United States constituencies In
the States north of the Ohio and Potomac
rivers, feel it their duty to their fellow
citizens to briefly call their attention to the
measures now proposed by the leaders OF
the party in power for passage In the House
of Representatives
Under q doubtful construction of the Con-
take from the States and local authorities
control Of all elections at which members OF
Congress are balloted for and hand the same
over to United States judges appointed to
ONCE for life and chief supervisors OF cleo
tions.
1.-THE power claimed resides In the Con-
stitution, which we deny, the Republic has
gone through the difficulties If the form
alive period, made heroic struggle against
dissolution, triumphed and successfully re-
adjusted itself to changed conditions with
out the exercise OF su h power by the Fed
eral Government for 100 years and over. MT.
Jefferson and the fathers of the Republic
would have considered such a proposition
as this as dangerous an open attempt at
Capitalization.
This bill is purely partisan measure, in
tended primarily to control the elections
for Congress aud Presidential Electors in
all the States, and to intimidate. hound. OBJ
struct and harass by political prosecutions
n unfriendiy hands the adverse majorities
in the cities of the North To this end IL
gives to the control OF the chief supervisor
/ of ala hndV nf Federal nOliC0 spies
| who are authorized to make domiciiiary
visits, superintend the naturalization OF
| foreign born citizens, place the citizens I'M
| der strict scrutiny of these trusty and I'M
| prIncipled Federal detectives for days pre-
| ceding and following an election and in
| every way subject t :em to the power and
| control of said party mArcenaries OF the
| Government in a way at utter variance WIZ
! republican institutions and the great prln'
| ciple of American freedom-home rule.
| To carry on this scheme of imperial gov
| eminent millions of dollars Will be taxed
from our people and the judiciary OF the
| United States prostituted to the basest par
tisanship in the management of elections
And these invasions of the liberties OF oul
people will be left for safety to partisan
juries in the Federal courts, composed en-
tirely of the men of the par y in power.
The constitutional objections to the
bill are set forth at length and the pro
testconcludes as follows:
In view of tho great danger to the right
and liberties of the people and to the prin
| ciple of local self government involved II
this bill, we respectfully appeal to Amer
lean freemen without regard to party to en-
ter timely protest by way of public meetin;
or otherwise against this consolida
tion of government, the destruction
of popular rights and the yer.
foundation of American liberty. 70
we indulge mere rhetorical flourish
when we solemnly affirm on our loyalty a
citizens and on our honor as Representa-
tives that this vicious and unpatriotic meas
ure is a most serious menace to the very lif
of he Republic The issue Is, shall polit
Ical party elect itself and keep in power b,
paid agents who are to control the politca
| elections In all the States?