The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-06-18


Washington for many month than the
intelligence that the House Republican
CAUCUS has unanimously y agreed upon
National election policy. The reports
from time to time have thrown doubt
upon the ability of the members to agree
upon any satisfactory bill. There was
the RoWell bill, which seemed suited
70 the Northern latitude, but nearly
worthless in the South, and the Lodge
bill, well adapted to the South but liable
TO work mischief in the North. Accord
ing TO the Washington dispatches of a
late date it was doubtful if there could be
real agreement on either, and fear was
expressed that it would be necessary to
put one or the other through under the
spur and whip of party discipline, if any
thing at all were done. That perfect
harmony prevails is a happy surprise.
The statement in regard to the bill
which will be reported is provokingly
vague. All that any of the dispatches
say on that point is that the features Of it
will be an enlargement Of the supervisory
system, SO that the supervisors shall par
ticipate in registration, voting, and can
vassing, adding:
To carry out fully the National idea, the
supervisors returns are to be prima iacic
evidence of the right of member to his seat
and TO prevail in making up the roll of the
House. In cases Of conflicting returns the
certificates of State canvassers may be used
TO allow the House 10 fo-m its Judgment Of
the qualifications of the contestant.
There can hardly be any doubt as to
the final enactment by this Congress Of
such bill as has been here foreshadowed
in outline. Not to DO it would be down.
right recreancy on the part Of the Repub-
licans in Congress. The people of the
United States had for several previous
Congressional terms decided in favor of
mixed responsibility, neither party being
Rllowei contrel Of the entire machinery
of National law making; but in iSSS
new policy was adopted, and the Repub-
licans were placed in position to put Re
publicanism in legal form. The corner
stone of Republican principles is honest
elections. Ever since the lapse of the So
called force bin during the administra-
tion of General Grant the party has been
shamefully derelict in its duty. All ef-
forts on the part of the manlier element
of the party were resisted with a sneer at
the bloody shirt
The Senate can not afford to let the
bill fail there. An attempt will be made
in that body to talk it to death, but if
necessary Congress must remain in con-
tinuous session until March, 1891. Let
the Democrats distinctly understand that
filibustering can accomplish no more ia
the Senate than in the House, and il will
be as dead in the former as it is in the
latter.
Under the Constitution each branch Of
Congress is to be judge of the qualifica-
tions and election of its own members
II. with .he aid Of the Northern Demoe-
racy, enough Congressional districts
could be captured by the bulldozers and
ballot-box criminals Of the South to make
a majority on the original roll Of the
House there would be no practicable
remedy or redress. And under the law
as it now stands it takes only a small
proportion of the North to make such a
majority. In the present Congress there
are some half dozen Southern Republi-
cans, and not one of them all would ever
have got his certificate from his Govern
or had they held the balance of power,
but finding that even with the South ab-
solutely solid the Democrats would still
lack votes enough to control the House,
these Governors laid down without show
ing their hands
While the Constitution makes each
House judge Of the election Of its own
members it does not specifically provide
for the issuance of certificates Of election,
available as prima facie evidence of title
10 "a seat IN Congress- The statutory law
leaving that matter TO the Governors of
the respective States was perfectly sat
isfactory until The open and systematic
violation of the fifteenth amendment be-
came the custom at the South. Since
then it has been iniquitous
The proposition TO subordinate the
gubernatorial certificate TO the one issued
by the supervisor is not only necessary
10 practical reform but preferable on gen
eral principles Of constitutional law. 1t
is purely National and not at all a State
election. The supervisor Of elections is
a National officer, appointed by the Fed
eral court, and far less liable 10 be sway
ed by partisan considerations than a
Governor or any other elective officer.
On the whole, it certainly looks as If the
horizon is beginning TO blush with the
dawn Of new and better day, when the
crOwning article Of the Constitution viii
be a vital part Of the organic law of the
Nation.