The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-08-06
PARTISAN LEGISLATION.
The Decadence of the Republican Pa-ty
Under Its Present leadership.

Under Its Present Leadership.
1t is generally admitted, even by Re- |
publicans, that the Presidents course
has not strengthened his party. But it
is still more evident to every intelli-
gent observer that the course of the Re-
publican Congress has deeply injured
the party. The passage Of the pension
bill involves an outlay of the public
money which is incalculable. 1t is a
surrender to the fear of losing mer-
cenary vote, and is defended under
transparently hypocritical pretenses
The good sense of the country measures
at their exact value the protestations
by demagogues Of their patriotic graft
tude, while the true feeling of the
American volunteer is expressed by
brave veterans like Senator Hawley and
President Andrews. The passage by
the House of the Mckinley bill, which,
in the face of surplus, raises the aver
age rate of customs duties, has pro-
duced what looks now like serious
breach in the party. Mr.. Blsines let
ter and the reports of his frank COM
ments upon the bill express not only the
views of great body of Republicans,
but of the American intelligence which
is not classified by party name.
But more disturbing to the public
mind than either the pension or the
tariff policy of the dominant party is
the National election bill, which, both
in itself and in the extraordinary limi-
tation of debate upon it, is startling
measure, which, the more it is under
stood, can not fail to arouse profound
public amazement and distrust. To Sc
cure result which can not be attained
by the enforcement Of any law, the Re-
publican party proposes to overthrow
the most vital tradition OF the Amer
lean system of Goyernment-the local
control of elections. The destruction
of that cardinal condition of our Gov
eminent would be an evil much more
radical and alarming than the suppress
sion of the vote which the measure
! processes to aim to correct. The bill
commits the result of Congressional
elections in any district where few
persons request it to body large or
small of partisan agents, and to per-
manent returning board, appointed by
central authority, in whose honesty
and impartiality the public confidence
will be necessarily much less than in
the present election agencies, while the
local contentment and acquiescence in
the result, which. are considerations Of
| vital Importance to the tranquil work
ing of any election system, will be
wholly wanting. Opposition to this
extraordinary measure is not, as Re-
publican speakers and the Republican
press allege, Indicative of disposition
to tolerate suppression of the colored
vote, or the wholesale buying of white
voters in blocks of five. Such opposi-
ton rests upon the ground that what
ever the extent of the evil, the remedy
proposed is much greater evil.
The bill changes essentially the pres
ent law providing for National super
visors of election, extending it to a
point which supersedes altogether the
State control of Congressional elections.
The State election officers, indeed, are
nominally recognized, but they are sub
ordinated entirely to the United States
officers. The result would be that the
election of members of Congress in New
York, for instance, upon the request of
few persons in every district, would
be controlled not by officers selected by
the people, but by agents appointed by
National authority. The States under
the circumstances might naturally de.
cline to take any official part in such
elections, and the blow at the very ROO
of our system of local self-government
would be disastrous. If to these acts O.
the dominant party be added the gros.
violation of executive pledges of reform
in the civil service, and the party acqui
escence in the silence Of Quay, thu
chairman of the National Republican
Committee, under criminal charges very
generally believed, which, If untrue, h
. could disprove at once, amid genera
|, satisfaction and to the immense beneh
of his party, with the ardent support o
the free silver bill by the extrem
! Western Republicans, a party record i
offered to the country which has neces
, sarily radically weakened it. anon!
, chose whose support is in itself the hes
reliance of party, and leaves it in tn
, position of party conscious OF the los
of it's moral hold upon the country, an
| desperately resolved by audaciou
= straining of the forms Of law to retail
the power which is passing away
5 Those who recall the splendid days an
+ deeds OF the youth and prime of the Re-
? publican party can notsee the spectacl
which it now presents without remen
bering Couture's powerful and patheti
picture of 1.-THE Decadence of the RI
mans. "-Harper's Weekly 1nd.).