The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1890-12-12
The Force Bill.

The Force Bill.
The Force Bill is still the uppermest SUBJ
ject before Congress. Last Friday, when it
came up, Senator Gray of Delaware, declared
that it threatened the integrity of American
institutions, State and National; that it was
fraught. with the greatest danger to the fu-
ture prosperity of the whole country and that
1t menaced the liberties of the people of all
the States.
He denounced in burning language the
clause of the bill which provided that super
visosor of election should be appointed,
who may make house-to-house visitation, to
enquire as to the names, politics, nationality,
&C., of its inmates Mr.. Gray characterized
that official as "this Gar that is to be-this
satrap of province" and he said:
ain all the measures which provoked and
goaded our ancestors to resist the tyranny of
the British King there was none that ap-
preached the infamy of this provision, and
moderate as am in my conceptions of my
duty as a citizen and man, law-abiding as l
have always been and respectful to the pow
ers that be, say now that when this super
visor knocks at my door, pray God that l
shall be at home"
Senator Spooner declared that this domi-
ciliary clanse had been stricken out by the
committee, but Mr. Gray showed that it was
still in the bill, in two places.
Senator Hoar said it was mistake either
of the clerk or the printer, but neither of
these could be heard from.
d~.,&or Claw oval tl,ok tl, n IN,
question be stricken out, and while several
Senators expressed their willingness Senator
Edmunds urged that it ought to stand.
Mr.. German made motion to have the bill
reprinted as the committee wanted it but no
action was taken thereon.
Senator Hoar had the government printers
at work all Friday night eprinting the bill and
on Saturday morning it was presented with
the Objectionable paragraph left out. Some
of the Republican Senators, with more as
surance than honesty, tried to make it ap-
pear that the Democrats were mistaken about
seeing the Objectionable paragraph in the
bill, but without success.
On Monday Senator German made a mas
terly and patriotic speech against the bill, for
which he deserves the thanks of every good
citizen.
He declared that great crisis was con-
fronting the financial interests of the coun-
try; that in all the money centres banking
houses were toppling, and if the people be-
came alarmed and withdrew their deposits it
would precipitate the most disastrous panic
in history. While Congress ought to be
bending every energy to relieve this condi-
ton Of affairs the Republicans were blindly
pressing this violent and partisan measure,
which would result in the destruction of one
section CT the country and which had for its
object the perpetuation of the power ola po-
litical party.
IN conclusion Mr.. German said: ave stand
to-day, Mr.. President, on q volcano. We have
heard the discussion as to the starving Indians,
but we take no note, it appears, of the fact that
the farmers of the land are meeting and resolv
ing that there is danger and trouble, If not star
vation, among them. The labor of the country
appeals to Congress to stay this awful wreck.
The faces Of the bankers and merchants are
blanched with fear. No man can tell whether
tomorrow or next day every bank In the CEN
tres Of commerce will not be closed BY the sus-
such a state of affairs we, who came here flush
ed with victory, had the hope that the majority
party In the Senate would give US an opportu-
nifty to join whit in preventing the wreck which
is now impending.
"But the Senator from Massachusetts,, since
the second day OF the session, has continued to
keep this bill before the body day by day and
hour by hour, refusing even the usual time Of
adjournment from Friday till Monday. Read
the great papers OF the city OF New York to-day.
They tell you that the Secretary of the Treas
ury, taking the only action that he Is authoriz-
ed to take within the law, has come again to
the relief of commerce by buying five millions
of bonds, and that that is mere drop In the
bucket. The Secretary of the Treasury has
paid out of the Treasury hundred millions
for bonds and that hundred millions has disap-
peared. The banks have less money now than
they had before the payment Of that hundred
millions
"I would say to the Senator from Massachu-
sets, lay aside this bill, which the country has
pronounced against. Let it go, and let us take
up matters which all classes of our fellow-citi-
Zens are looking to us to consider. If you do
not, If you persist in the course which has been
marked out by the Senator from Massachusetts
the responsibility must rest with the party in
power.
''If the Senator from Massachusetts forces
the consideration of this partisan measure,
while bankruptcy and ruin are going on, he has
the power to do it, but when he goes back to
Boston, he will find that the merchants and the
bankers and the men of affairs there, as we'll as
the farmers and laborers, will tell him that
while he is attempting hostile legislation against
a section of the country, If 1t had not been
for the products of that country, If it had not
been for the moving of the cotton crop, there
would not be bank in Massachusetts able to
pay Its depositors.
"The only thing that has saved them has
been the fact that they have been able to draw
on the cotton crop and on the oil. You may
hasten the wreck, you may speed the time
when this distress shall become universal. So
be it, Mr.. President. If you will have it 80.
Again we tender to you our earnest endeavors
to stay this panic and save eur common eoun-
try"
A caucus of Republican Senators was held
Wednesday night, and when it was over
Senator Hoar, it is said, admitted that the
Force Bill is dead, but he will continue the
fight.