New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-14
THE ELECTION BILL.

IHE ELEC IlON DILL
Republican voters throughout the country
have one request to make, which their repre-
sentatives in the Senate will surely not refuse
They ask that the yeas and nays may show
exactly Which Senators are willing TO abandon
tbe bill TO prevent fraud in the election OF Con-
gressmen, and to give the preference to the
River and Uarbor and other bills " with money
in tbemu The names of such Senators will be
carefully preserved for future reference. When
they want Republican confidence and support
hereafter, they may be sure that some voters
who are Republicans from conviction and not
:" for revenue only" will refer to the record
and cOnscientiOusly vote against them.
Mr. Hamilton DisStOn and other Pennsylvania
manufacturers, who have large pecuniary in
terest in the South, having invested MILLIONS III
lands or works in that section, are credited
with responsibility for senator Quays COM
bination with Democrats to defeat the Election
bill Whether this be true or not it brings be-
fore the country sharply the question whether
personal and pecuniary interests shall prevail
to prevent government by the people.
For the Election bill means government by
the people themselves and not government by
the corrupt agencies which money can buy.
New-Jersev Legislature was stolen by hiring
scOundrel to open ballOt-boX and change 'he
votes In Hudson County other members Oh
the Legislature and a Congressman were
elected by hiring bands of repeaterS ana ny
forged returns. Thus sum of money sci I'D
motion crimes which placed Democrat IN inc
United States Senate nd another Democrat III
the House. Similar crimes at Albany ana roy
elected a Democrat to the House, ana such
crimes at indianapolis elected another ana also
a Senator and thus all over the land the use OF
money in buving scoundrelS has been eleclng
senators and Congressman. The people are
tired of this, and want to elect their rulers
themselves. The Election bill is intended to
give them chance.
But certain rich men. and all the election
scoundrels in the land, want the bill deieao"d.
The reason is obvious. Their power III Pubhc
affairs would be greatly diminished II honest
voters should rule instead of dollars and crimes.
Senator Ouay'S resolution SurrcnderS the Lice
ton bill in consideration of a withdrawal OF
Democratic opposition to the passage Of the
Tariff bill. profeSsedly, it Is prompted by
anxiety that the Tariff bill should not be beaten
by delay. If Senator Quay had not been
/
the delay would have been prevented. The
! bill cannot be beaten or long delayed without
| the assent of some Republican Senators. But
/ is it expedicnt TO force honest voters to ask
themselves whether the interest of certain
! Pennsylvania manufacturers or capitalists must
set aside the effort 20 secure honest elections?
The Republican party has no higher duty
| than 10 reform elections, 50 that The VIII ol the
| people may he clearly expressed and faithfully
recorded. Measures Of that character are never
pleasing to the corruptionINts and 1-cals OF
either party. who make living by their adrOlt-
ness in dishonest political practices. The per
son who owes all his political prominence or
consideration 10 his faculty Of handling re-
pcaters or buying votes in ward or town, and
who is happy when the other party dominates
for Congress in his district man Of large
means and no scruplcS. quite naturally con-
siders Federal Election bill particularly OBJ
iectionable. 1t is equally natural that any
| Senator who has obtained his seat by JudlGouS
use OF money, and who has no other claim 10
public considerations should shrink from reform
of election methods and the country Will note
whether any such Senator votes with tho
| Democrats to defeat The Election bill.
But the Republican voters have strong con-
victions in regard to this matter-convictions
which the conduct Of few Senators does not
tend to weaken. They ico that government
BIZ III, people will ere long become impossible,
unless the prominence and power Of the cor
Iqlpton ;ts in politics can be limited. They
care for this reform because II means the preSer-
walton OF their own right, and powers, thclr
freedom and their sovereignty. 1t seems to
t6cm that government by king or an arts
)cIacy would be preferable to government by
a brber or.ballOt-box suffer. They have faith
that honest voters can be trusted TO govern
themselves wisely in the long run, but they
have no faith whatever that political rascal'
can be trusted 20 govern the country wisely, and
they want laws which are not the product OF
brbed voters or forged returns. Senators may
be sure that the honest voters will watch the
action of every Senator with deep interest
This subject will not cease to be agitated by the
people until honesty shall prevail in the cleo
tons of Representatives and Senator's also.