Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-04-08
TUESDAY. .-.........APRIL 8, 1890
Tho aoar Bill and the McComas Bill.

The Hoar Bill and the McCcmas Bill
The letter of Mr.. p. II. GooDIoE, OF Ten
nessee, which we published on Sunday
last. appeared opportuaely-iust in time
70 serve "a a comment upon the NATIONAL
election bill which Mr.. HoAR has been d.
rected by the Republican members OF the
Senate Committee on Privileges and Eiec-
tions 10 prepare. Mr. GooDLoE says tho
country is shortly going TO diSmember-
ment and destruction" Let us nope Tor
the best, OF the same time that we do oil
vve can 20 save this fair land from becoming
what il was go near becoming from 1865 to
Is76-not TO say up 70 the present time.
MIR. HoAR's bill is an entirely different
bill from the McCoMAs bill. The latter IS
objectionable but does not threaten, as Mr.
HONS does. TO convert at once our repub-
lcan form of government into a consoli-
dated central despotisn. The United
Gtates Government has but a small stand
ing army of regular soldiers, and as only a
large army is considered dangerous be-
cause by its use the men IN power may
perpetuate their own rule or found new
DYNASTY, or establish despotic form Of gov
eminent. our people have fattered them
selves that there was no danger near. But
the votes in Congress on pension ques-
tions and all sorts Of bills concerning the
"yeterans who put down the rebellion ]"
would seem to warn us that we have
standing army of formidable proportions
even In this country. II looks in fact as II
REED and HoAR and SHERMAN and LODGE
and the rest of the Republican leaders IN
Congress had determined to rely upon the
soldier vote TO sustain them in providing
by law that hereafter all congressional
elections shall be controlled by Federal Of
fcials, and that in the South none but Re
publicans shall have certificates OF election.
This will be the entering wedge. As soon
as they thus secure all the members from
the South they will of course mend their
hold" and provide by law that none but
Republicans shall be elected to Congress IN
the North.
Let not the reader suppose that we are
exaggerating the facts. On the contrary,
ex-Speaker CARLISLE will tell you that the
HoAR bill is all that we have declared 1T TO
be, A Washington telegram in Sundays
Dispaioh states that there are To be Federal
Supervisors of elections appointed III every
congressional district in which certain
number of voters shall petition therefor I;
these supervisors are to watch and count
the vote and make certification thereof to
n State board of canvassers, who shall
thereupon issue a certificate of election &c
the candidate receiving the highest num-
Der of votes, and these certificates shall he
used 10y the Clerk of the House IN making
up bis roll of members-elect.
The sting of tins monster ia in its tail.
She whole object of the Republicans Is a
law which shall empower the Clerk OF the
House of Representatives to make up a
roll of members on which IA majority OF
the names shall be Republicans. This OBJ
feet is to be accomplished by requiring
Federal supervisors to certify the vote tC
the State Board of Canvassers, and re
curing the State Board to certify the
election of the candidates receiving the
highest number Of votes. OF course not
the highest number of votes nj the
election precincts, but the highest number
out by the Federal spies, informers, scala
wags, and carpet-baggers, whom undel
such a law il will of course be necessary e
employ as supervisors in order to accom-
plsh the nefarious purposes of the Repub
lcan leaders in Washington.
After reading these outgivings as to wha'
the HoAE bill is likely to be. the public vii
L h.. h.lN, a
comparatively harmless, though all th
Democrats on the House Committee OF
the Election of President and Nice-Presi
dent and Representatives III Congress!
voted against reporting even such q bill a.
that &c the House. For instance, the fol
lowing features of the McCoNAs bill ar
not objectionable provided Congress ha
the right under the Constitution TO pas
such a law at all-namely, the requirement
that members of the House of Representa-
tives shall be elected by districts whicl
have, as nearly rs practicable, au equa
number of inhabitants, so that the mos
populous district in such State shall no
have more than 1900 inhabitants in eS
cess of the population of the least popu
ious district. and the requirement that tn
districts shall be composed OF territor
contiguous, adjoining, and, as far as praC
tioable, compact. Another provision
the same kind IL that after a State has bee
districted under one census IL shall not b
altered by any succeeding Legislature du
ring the term of ten years. nor until ID
next succeeding decennial census.
xITt ~. L. MAIA a 4
HOAX bill the two houses Of Congress ar
likely TO have soon some most exciting dc
bates. But the day has passed. or rattle
we doubt whether there ever was da,
when Republican congressman or spoili
hunters could be influenced by argument