The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-01
The Census Inquisition and the New
Force Bill.

Force Bill.
The speeches in the House OF Representa-
tives against the LODGE bill for the Regula-
ton OF Federal Elections have been worthy
OF the Importance of the occasion.
The true significance Of this Infamous
enterprise Of partisanship was exhibited at
the start in the broadcast light by Mr. Nc
MILLIN of Tennessee, when no described the
measure as an attempt to turn the legisla-
tive department of the Government over to
the Judiciary. Mr.. MCMI1LIN quoted from
letter written in 1921 by THOMAS JEFFER-
son, the author of the Declaration of indie
pendence, this impressive passage OF warn
ing and prophecy
Our Government is now taking SO steady course
show by what road will pass destruction; to wit
by consolidation FIRST and then by corruption its neces-
sary consequence The engine OF consolidation will BIO
the federal judiciary the two branches the corrupt
ing and corrupted instruments"
The obvious intention OF the plotters who
arc pushing the LODGE bill with unscrupu-
lous and brutal recklessness was to make q
sectional issue by provoking the Southern
Democrats especially. But the infamy Of
tho measure strikes North and South alike;
and the spirit with which the proposed Fed
eral interference would be met in New York
was boldly declared by Gen. SPINoLA when
he exclaimed: Il only want TO tell you
what we will do in New York. as we did in
years gone by: That we will send your hire
lngs away from the ballot box and not per-
nit them to so there and control our affairs
by any authority you can establish military
authority or otherwise; just as twenty years
compelled to withdraw" Gen. SPINoLA was
out of order. but he was within the truth.
Mr.. COVERT Of New York made two very
important points against the bill. In
answer to the proposition that the con-
stitutional power of Congress to alter at
any time the time, place, and manner Of
holding Federal elections as prescribed by
the States Is established by Article ~, Sec
ton l, he showed that the New York Con-
vention only ratified the Constitution In the
full confidence that this power would not be
exercised except in the case which it was in
tended to cover, namely, the neglect or ina
bility OF the State itself to call and regulate
tho Federal elections within its borders.
And in regard to the power which the LODGE
bill bestows on the Federal Supervisors to
make thorough house-to-house canvass
before election" Mr.. COVERT remarked:
THE echoes of tho protests OF indignant people
tho inqustora character OF this work OF the pres
ent census have not yet died away; but submit that
these sections OF the pending measure are Infinitely
more obnoxious than anything committed to tho hands
Of tho enumerator ana which provoked general
and merited adverse criticism"
Mr.. DUNNELL of Minnesota, Chairman OF
the House Committee on the Eleventh Cen
sus, tried to defend the census inquisition by
asking Mr.. COVERT if he did not know that
the offensive questions on the blanks were
precisely similar to those which appear in
the census blanks OF England and of all the
civilized nations of Europe" We quote MIR.
CovERTs spirited reply:
"Poksbly all this may he do not challenge tho
statement OF the gentleman from Minnesota that
but want to remind my friend from Minnesota and
want remind gentlemen generally on the other side,
that IN the monRrchical countries OF Europe Govern
ments for hundreds OF years sported at will with
the rights OF tho people and ave treated these rights
with contempt Loud applause oil tho Democratic
side want TO remind my friend flom Minnesota that
this is not empire Renewed applause That we
live to-day. thank Con, in FREQ republic. Renewed
applause want to remind gentlemen on the other
sde that this repnblc S lives and that VIC live under
It, despite the efforts made by you Of tho majority TO
weaken and destroy the virtues OF republican inSttu
tons. Loud and continued applause"
The odium of the attempted census inqul-
sition and the odium OF the proposed scheme
OF Federal interference with our elections
arise from the same thing. Both are viola
tiuns OF tho vital and eternal principle OF
Democracy. namely, the right OF local self
government, free from the invasion or inter-
ference Of a centralized power. In the ieal-
GUS preservation Of this principle tho very
existence Of the nation is involved. Tho in
qusitoral census was the first blow. 1t was
met and averted by the remarkable out
break Of popular Indignation to which Mr..
COVERT SO eloqucntly referred, The recep-
tion of his remarks by the Democrats Of the
House Is IA gratifying sign. They perceive
now more clearly than when the Census bill
and the mortgage supplement were before
them, the vast importance OF the principle
that seemed then of little consequence as
against tho desire OF the statisticans TO make
the census interesting to scientific men.