The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-10-25
Sound Wisdom.

l
Keokuk, Iowa, spoke as follows
concerning the "Force Bill"
His words are words of wisdom
and patriotism aud should be heed
ed by every one who loves our form
of government as it was given to us
by our fathers. Hear what he says;
'I do not believe l am II coward
but / say to you today with all the
earnestness that l am capable OF
expressing in language, that l can
not recall the proceedings of the
lower house of Congress for the
last few months without fear and
trembling.
81 do not hesitate to declare that
If the final act in the plot L have
tried to unfold is accomplished, if
the control of the ballot box in one
State of this Union is taken from
the hands of the people and put in
to the hands of agents selected by
a partisan tribunal of any kind, the
very vitals of our system of govern
ment will be torn by the shock and
from that hour it will dwindle into
decay.
at is to no one party that my
country appeals for help in this
hour of it's danger. The question
that we must settle here is above
and beyond party lines. The prec-
edent set us, if followed, would be
as dangerous with one political
majority as with another. The
cold, naked practical proposition is,
shall the ballot box remain in the
hands of the people where our
fathers left it, or shall it be taken
from them and placed in the hands
of partisan agents, selected by
tribunals in no way responsible to
those for whom such agents act.
"Who among US would go to the
polls and consent to discharge our
duties as citizens if they were in
charge of strangers in whose selec-
tion we had no choice and who
acknowledged no responsibility to
us for their conduct whatever it
might be.
"Who that in the language of the
brave Leonard Brown Ga life long
Republican of Iowa) would not take
down his rife and fight until he
dies before any man. or set of men
should take from him the control
of this safeguard of his liberties
"Who that would be guilty of the
gross injustice of forcing upon IL
sister State a system of political
surveillance against which he
would rise up in open rebellion if
it was sought to be forced upon his
own.
"To the monstrous doctrine
of that bill no class of electors in
this nation are yet committed,
and l devoutly pray they may new
er become so.
Responsibility for the acts of
representatives can never attach to
them until they indorSe such acts
at the polls"
"When the States of the South
have been shorn of their right to
control their election, suppose some
dominant political party at Wash
ington feels that it is necessary to
invade those of the North to cor
tinue its hold upon power. Is it to
be supposed that under such circum-
stances ambitious men, backed by |
a partisan Congress and President,
will be unable to find an excuse |
for such act, if under any circum-
stances the act itself is justified by |
our people?
"In considering this question we
ought not to divide on party lines.
1t is one that appeals to our judg-
ment as patriots instead of parti-
sans.
off we love this Government as
it is, we should stand by it as our
fathers made ii.
ave can not aid in the overflow
Of the liberties of other States and
remain safe in the possession of
those of our own"
There is matter in these observa-
lions of Gov. Boies which are
worthy of the profound attention
not only of the people of Iowa, but
Of every other State. He does not
)verstate the gravity of the situa-
ion. Usurpation is not so porten-
ious until the people share in it
)y giving it their Endorsement, and
he appeal of the Governor of Iowa
hat these matters receive consid-
,ration upon higher plane than
hat of party is as timely as it is
earnest.
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hunnan nj Hama