Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1890-08-02

power. These Judges hold office fol
life and have no human temptation
to appoint any but fair and honest
supervisors.
The expenses of this system has
been grossly exaggerated i'm this de-
bate. The system il optional with
the people of each district. IL may
be conceded that II each of the 800
districts demanded il the expense
would be five millions or ten millions
but If only one fifth of the districts
apply IL every two years the outlay
would not exceed a million dollars
annually; and afree people win not
too closely count the cost of an cleo
ton II It be pure. This SUPERVISOR
system has stood the test OF twenty
years. Honest Democrats have more
than once looked to it with satisfac-
ton and hope of relief from fraudu-
lent State machinery.
The extension of this system now
proposed If adopted will gradually
gain the public confidence. 1t awak-
es, as 1 said before no fears of blue
uniforms and cleaning bayonets at
the polls.
1t appeals for support to an awnk-
ened public conscience demanding
lair elections. 1t appeals to public
opinion to judge it by it's results.
1t rests on the power of the courts
OF law and juries of the people.
Against tissue ballots, against
ftise counts, against ballot boxes
- slots, against night-riders
anu the shotgun policy, against i'm
tfmidation and assassination. we
array the dignity of the courts. the
majesty of the law and the power of
the Constitution. to assure Justice.
and the full measure OF political JUS
tIee to all men, white aud black
Prolonged applause on the Repub-
liean side]
Mr.. SPRINGER. IL the gentleman
has any time left / wish to ask him
whether he thinks it is i'm the inter
est OF honest elections to allow one
political party to appoint an un-
limited number of its own agents
TO supervise those elections?
Mr.. MCCOMAS. This bill efSectual-
~ and carefully provides for men of
opposite politics, and avoids the evil
which exists in the State govern
ments where Democrats at the head
and Democrats at the bottom con-
troll the election entirely for partisan
purposes.
MIR. SPRINGER. I speak OF the
deputy marshals. There is no limit
in the bill TO the number of them
thai may be appointed
Mr.. McCOMAS. The United States
Courts appoint the supervisors. This
is a supervisor system, and not a |
marshal system. And / will say to |
my friend that while he Is SO earnest |
and strenuous in talking about |
these matters it would be very re- |
freshing to hear him or some other |
distinguished Democrat on this floor |
express single aspiration for some |
method whereby the suppressed bal |
lot of a whole race SHOULD be received |
and counted fairly. MY friend de- |
claims against this bill and against |
4" Federal Interference because he |
Processes to fear that it will work in
justice toa particular party; but if he
could only combine with his speeches /
upon that subject the expression of |
some aspiration for human RIGHTS |
and that fair play watch the white |
race, TO which he and i,,ssh hel,,nn.
really loves, it would adorn his
speeches and dignity his opposition
to this bill, Applause ON the Re
publican side.
Mr.. SPRINGER. / will tell the
gentleman where my remedy for
fraud il. II is with the people who
hold the elections, and if You can not
find IL there then self government is
q failure.
Mr.. McCOMAS. The gentleman
says his remedy is with the people
who hold the elections. Ny remedy
is, under God, i'm the love of human
Justice, with the people who have
the power to control their elections
in State affairs to make them pure
by State machinery, and as to the
election of National Representatives
by Congressional power exercised for
purity in the election of Representa-
tives upon this floor.
Mr.. BLAND. The gentleman from
Maryland is member of the Com
mittee on the District of Columbia.
Mr.. MCCOMAS. l ann not.
Mr.. BLAND. You were sometime
ago.
Mr.. McCOMAS. Six years ago.
Mr.. BLAND. Why did not YOU
report IA bill TO give the ballot to
the cOlored people of this District?
Mr.. McCOMAS. Why did not the
gentleman introduce such IA bill and
put it before the COMMITTEES that he
might have reported when his party
was in power?
Mr.. bland. Your party took the
ballot away from the colored people
OF this District and put them under
the ban of Federal legislation, and
you know that you are insincere i'm
your professions OF a desire TO secure
them the ballot.
Mr.. McCOMAS. l cannot yield for
a speech, but win reply to-the gen
0seman from Missouri. When he.
stands up on this floor nd affects
an fnfar-oaf, In fha RIGHT Of c,,ffrae r..