New-York tribune., 1890-06-29
FREEDOM OF THE BALLOT.
FURTHER ARGUMENTS IN THE HOUSE ON
THE FEDERAL ELECTIONS BILL.
MEtssRS. M'COMAs AND HENDERSON ABLY SUP
PORTING THE MBASURE-PLBAS OF MR..
CUMMINGS AND OTHERS IH OPPoS1
TDON-BLAND AND MCOMAS
PN COLLISION.

TDON-BLAND AND MCOMAS
PN COLLISION.
rnr TELEGRAPH TO TIE TBIpUSEi
washington. June os-Thc Republican Represents
dves who were absent to-day without pairs were
Messrs. Browne and owen. of Indiana; Rockwell, OF
Massachusetts,; Snder, Of Minnesota Wckham' OF
Ohio Ray OF Pennsylvania; spooncr Of Rhode Island
and Browne of Virginia General Browne, OF IN
diana Is in precarious condition of health and ui-
able be present at the ttngs OF the House II Is
understood that the Democrats refused 70 arrange
pair with him the Election bill for that reason
II IS expected that Of the men who were re
corded as absent today will be in their seats early
next week.
Tho Democrats to-day adhered to their policy Of
keeping their Northern conscripts at the 'front.' The
conscripts suffered, but they fought valianty. Two
OF them were "Arnod winkelreid" McAdoo. Of
New-Jerscy, some of whose constituents are on thef
way TO the pcnitenary ON account OF election rauds
and Amos J. Cummings Of Ncw-iork. whose district
10 composed IN part of OF the election districts
In which Boss Tweed is still regarded as saint 1t
seemed entirely appropriate for the Representative of
the most corrupt district in the state OF ewJerscy
and for the Representative Of the old Tweed district
In the city of New-york grow excited, If not
clsquent, in denounclng bill the purpose OF which
Is 10 secure honest elections. Mr. Bucalew OF fenn
sylyania who contributed rather dull but lawyer
like speech against the bfll made only slight i'm
preston upon the House-his friends, indeed, were
disappointed.
On the Republican side Mr. Ewart, of North Carolina
who represents one of the few southern districts
in which elections are free and far ana
the election returns honest. mainly because OF the
overwhelming majority of the white population, also
opposed the bill From his point of view the argu-
ment was good one and yet in Mr.. EwartS own
state there is one district containing normal Re
publican majority Of more than 5000, which has
been stolen down" to less than 700 Republican plu
rality the next election unless the pending bill be-
comes law, may wipe out the Republican majority
Altogether Some of the strongest speeches in behalf
Of the bill since the debate began were delivered this
afternoon, and two Of them provoked Fiery re-
torts from the Southern Democrats who seemed I'M
able to stick to their pledge TO keep silent The
speeches Of Messrs. McComas, of Maryland Hender-
SON of Iowa and Greenhalge, of Massachusetts, were
all admirable. They dealt with different aspects OF
the question: and covered the whole ground
When the House met at IL O'Clock this morning.
Mr. Enloe Of Tennessee, moved TO correct the
Journal so as to strike therefrom the titles of a
number Of private pension bills passed by the
House last night He argued that tho bills passed
before the Honso went into Committee OF the Whole,
and were not properly before the House The llonsc'
however, refused TO agree to this notion so the bis
stand passed The House then went into committee
Of the Whole (Mr. Peters, of Kansas In the char on
the Federal Election bill.
Mr.. McAdoo, Of NewJersey. made vigorous speech
in opposition to the bill. lie based his opposition
OH the principle of home rule and the right OF the
people 70 control their affairs without Federal
interference. lie warned the Republicans to take
warning from the experience Of Wapole with the Ex
else bill when he Prime Minister Of England He
begged the Republicans to abandon this bill before
STORM won't up of Liberty liberty No interference |
with electiOns!"
Mr.. McAdoo referred to the founders of this Gov
ernment who had suffered in the land which they had
left the deadly effects Of strong centralized gov |
ernment, buttressed by the inQuitOus feudal land |
tenure, and of their determination. in the vast and
unexpored regions Of this continent to which hey
sailed to make one stand for individu liberty
and the cardinal principle Of the American Consi |
t1tion-home rule. The cardinal principles of Amer.
can liberty which they had envoived'
he continued in the American Constitution |
were federal unity, local sovereignty and in- |
dvidual liberty. To the Irish patriots who had |
suffered for 700 years for liberty and nat onaly, |
these grand cardinal principles became like the cros'
Of Constantine with its motto: In hoe signo vinces.'
lie had no doubt whatever that the pending measure |
was against the letter we'll the spirit Of the |
Constitution This bill would take substantially |
from the states the power to control their elections
and hand that power over TO few supervisors Of |
elections appointed for life All the citizens OF the
United states were TO be harasscd and obstruct"d |
enough by the Bill but the forciGn-born citizen had
been especially singled out by provisions which |
looked to so much annoyance, 50 much espionage.
much bounding by the hired spic, Of the Govern
ment, that he would be intimdated from casting a |
free ballot. Mr.. McAdoo wanted TO 10 honest.
fair r-minded the other side that II they |
passed this they would not get the votes If
foreign born citizens Of the United States by any srch
drastic and revolutionary measure.
Mr. McCOmas. Of Maryland reviewed the various
election contests during te present Congress TO show
the necessity for the passage OF such law. The |
Democrats talked about the people as the fountain |
Nh
McAdoo) had talked rrcat deal about home rule
lie called their attention TO the condition Of affairs in
Maryland as one OF the many instances in which the
powers being taken from the people. The CON
troll Of the schools and the appointment of school
officers had been wresed from the people and placed
in the hands Of the judges of the courts The right
TO supervise the election Of judges Of probate courts
Of prosecuting attorneys and of shcrifs had been
taken away from the people by the Democratic party
Of Maryland.
Mr. McComas having declared that the provision
that the inspectors might be taken from any part Dt
the Congressional district was nothing new in south
Carolina, Mr. Tillman declared that the law required
the inspectors tn belong to the precinct which
they inspectors.
MI Rowen said that not only had supervisors not
belonging 70 even the county been taken but
they had been taken from one Congressional district To
serve in another at the last election
Mr. Tiilman-Where is the law1 Where is the lswq
There never has been such in force in nv state
MI hcConlas-AH the Democrats of south Carolina
are not like my friend. All of them do not 90 on,
and inquire where is the law They ONLY look for the
results. South Caroline has law sought t. per
Petuatc the cid oigarchy of the State power ami
maize II patrcisn white mans government.
Mr. Tillman rejoined that this not true and
declared the election law in south Carol Ina now
Just what it had been since the Revolutionary War
Tie Republicans proposed put the people down
by the blue coats and the bsyonet
Mr. McComas declared that there was not a blue coat
feature In the bill. II appealed simply 10 the cuurts
Mr. Tiiman-It proposes 10 put the Judclary above
the state Legislature, whose supreme authority has
always been proposition beyond dispute.
Mr. McC ,mss-whcn the legislative power takes from
the people the inherent power OF local self control