The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-08-03
OHIO DEMOCRATS PROTEST.
Letters Prom Cleveland. Thurman an
Others on the Force Bill.

Of people assembled in the state-House
gro unds this evening To hear the speeches
made at the meeting 10 protest against the
passage OF the Lodge Federal Election bill.
and enjoy the cool breezes OF the park after
one of the hottest days ever endured here.
| \. G.. Thurman found. at the last moment.
| that he could not DE present, and Mayor
| Bruck who presided i'm his stead read the
following letter from him:
II much regret that severe illness. that
confines me closely TO my house, prevents
my acceptance Of YOUR polite inyi-
tation to attend and speak at the meeting
OF citizens Of Columbus. tO be held at the
state House tonight, to give expression to
their views Of the Lodge bill so-called, that
was passed by the House of Representa-
tiycs in Congress. aud il now second
in the senate. ! would esteem IL a
great privilege TO be present and tell
my fcllOw-citizens what think Of that bill.
and am sincerely sorry that ! am prevented
| from doing 80. either orally on by writing.
I must content myself by debating to my
amanuenss a few brief sentences and hope
iJr more favorable opportunity here
after 10 speak mere fully. ! have
cndeayOrcd 10 study the bill care
fully and impartially, and the mOre have
studied it the more obnoxious il seems 10
measure on the subject of elections that was
ever introduced in an American iegisla-
ture. | nder the protenSe Of purifying the
elections, it provides an elaborate machine
~ by which the will Of the people may be
oyerthrOwn and the choice OF their So
called representatives be- made by set
Ot hired and irresponsible Federal oliicials,
chosen without any agency OF the peop @
and acting under the order Of superior
set Of dictltOr-, whose terms Of Office will
practically be without limitation as to time,
and. who will Of necessity. be body Of
irresponsible partisans, and & support this
machinery an immense fur0. which, II Is
said, may amount go millions. Is 10 be
created 10 Doe drawn from the public treas
ury. that j.. from the pockets Of the people.
aud 20 be- used Il, a lribery or cunupiion
tnnd to Ierpetuate the rule OF the party IN
power.
"1hcn The Blk. il enacted into law. will
serve TO intensity and perpetuate sectional
ism and race prcjudices aud 20 undo much
that may have been done 10 put an end 10
these evils. The doubtful, 10 say the least
If them. cOnst,utiOnality Of the most i'm
portaGt provisions Of the bill, and the i'm
meuso and unprecedented stretch Of Federal
power involved in it, cannot fail to strike
every student ofth Constitution aud alarm
all who believe in the teachings and the
practice of the fathers. | am not without
horc that the bill viii ian in the Senate. |
sincerely pray TIA thus a baneiul reyolu-
lion in our Government be aNerteG.'
GROVER CLEVELAND.
Grover Cleveland wrote: "Your letter in
yiiing me 90 attend mass-moeting to Ice
held N the city "a Columbus. sior the pur-
pose OF publicly protesting against the pas
sage Of the Federal Election law, now
pending in Congress. mas been forwarded To
me- here. have made positive engage
On Mt, which prevent my acceptance Of your
Invitation. desire however. to be enter
cd as one Of the pr0testanis. wish the III
dicatiOus were not 80 numerous that we
have reached q stage Of Congressional reck-
lessncss in which the protests OF the people
have ittlo weight"
CALVIN :. RRiCE.
Calvin :. Brice wrote: II have the honor
90 acknowledge the receipt OF your favor Of
the 10Th instant. inviting me to - present at
a ma5s-mcctng Of citizens. 10 be held AT the
east front IL the capitol, Saturday evening,
August ., 1899. under the auspices Of the
Thurman Club. fer the purpose Of protesting
against the passage Cf the Federal Election
law nON pending la ihe nited stttes SEN
ate. While | regret that ! cannOt be pres
ent, | heartily approve the object Of the
meeting, ana beg 10 assure you and your
associates that | share your Indignation,
and regard ihe proposed law as repugnant
to Democratic ideas and full of danger to
the republic"
REsOLI GIONs.
4 long series of resolutions were adopted
denunciatory of the lodge bll and protest
in against ifs passage. Hon. NeOrgc l..
tOnycrae was the first speaker. lie made a
careful analysis of tGe bill, reading il 10y
sections ard explaining the provisions OF
each. He WIS strong in his denuns
citation OF the measure, which he
characterized rs one Oi the most
insldious attempts - control Federal elec-
tiOns ever attempted by any party in the
history Of the country. He was followed by
Captain \. l.. Lee, prominent Republican,
who opposes the hili, and Govemor Camp
bell, both Of WHOM spoke in strohg Ian
euaee against 'ac proposed law.
Governor Campbell had not prepared an
elaborate argument on the Force bill, but
his speech was brief. concise and pointed.
lie began 10y stating that the first step in
the scheme tO take the elections
away from the people VAS the en-
actmont Of the iaw t. rcOrganiZe
the entire ,udioial system Of the country in
o..,er that the United states Circuit
judges might be- men who would id the Fed
prIl election suue., .-Ors in the corruption
methods proposed. lie then made an eXpla-
n ltiOn Of the Lodge bin SO far as ils most
important provisions are concerned, charac-
tcrizing il a. thc fore, ,UEner Of a revolution.
lie predicted that IN the event Of it,
enactment Republicans and Democrats
alike would drive the tederal officials con-
ducting the elections away from the polls
The Governor, in conclusion, denied .lat he
had threatened 10 cail ogt tge ,tate militia
10 resist the enforcement Of the measure.