Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-05-05
CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS.
Representative Crisp, of Georgia, Gives
His Views on the Proposed Change.

His views on tnc IEopoHeu
WAsmNGToN. May 2.-The proposed
legislation to put the control of Con-
gressional elections into the hands Of
Federal officers is one Of the most i'm
portant propositions now pending be
fore Congress. Probably no man in
Congress is better qualified to express
the Southern opinion on the subject
than Representative Crisp, Of Georgia.
He was Chairman Of the Committee on
Elections in the last llonsc. He is the
/ leading Democratic member OF the Com
mittee in the present House, and he is
| indisdutably prominent among the DEM
ocratic leaders in the popular branch OF
Congress. In an interview with a New
York World correspondent, he spoke as
/ follows:
For some months past the Republican
politicians have sought-through the
newspapers, by statements on the floor
of the House and by every other way in
which they could reach the people of
/ NOrth-to create the impression that in
that section of the country there existed
a sentiment which justified and excused
fraud at elections, murders for political
purposes and generally everything that
would defeat the right Of the cOlOred
man to vote. The truth is that in the
South elections are rs fairly conducted
and the votes as honestly counted and
returned rs ia other sections Ot the
country.
The real cause of quarrel that these
/ Republican politicians have against the
South is that il is Democratic. They
are much more anxious 10 retain power
than they are To see prosperity there.
| They are anxious to lead the minds OF
the people Of the North away from the
economical and financial questions that
are now at issue between the parties.
and they hope and believe that the SIAN
dcrS and falschoodS that they have cir
culatcd against the people of the South
have created in the North sentiment
which will Justify or excuse them in the
lcnactment of laws ostensibly to protect
! the purity of the ballot. but really to
enable corrupt Republican returning
boards 10 certify rs elected from many
districts Of the South the candidates of
| their party. whether in fact they are
elected or not.
The Republicans proceed on the idea
that all colorcd men belong 10 their
party. and hence they argue that in
every district where the negroes are in
| the majority a fair election would return
/ a Republican. This is not true. Very
many colorcd people take no interest
whntcyer in elections While they were
| inclined soon after the war TO be Rcpub-
IlicanS. they have found out that their
/ best friends are the people among whom
they live.
"Thc laws of every Southern State Se-
cure to the colOrcd man every right
/ they give to the white man. The laws
are a correct expression Of the public
sentiment existing where they are made.
They are enforced In the courts, and are
no more violated in that section than all
| laws are at times violated by bad men
i'm every country.
a system of returning boards, APP
pointed or orcontroled by Federal author
ity. is odouS to the people. Each State
should regulate for itself the manner of
all elections therein. The States should
be permitted To choose officers in whom
they have confidence. our experience
i'm 1876 teaches us that such returning
boards can be improperly nfu-
encrd. Everybody knows that in
Louisiana and Florida. and in South
/ Carolina a false result was certified and
on that certificate Mr.. Hayes was de-
clarcd President. To take Federal con-
trol of elections implies 4 want Of con-
idcncc i'm the honesty and integrity OF
] 81 ,.f fIhArg /.
nothing TO Justify this. Not one Of
those gentlemen now 50 anXiOuSdOr the
passage of Federal election law will
admit that it is necessary for the pro-
lection of the ballot in his own State.
They assume that in States other than
those of thcirrcsidcncc such lawlcSSncSs
exists as To demand Federal iutcrfer-
Icnce.'.
The present Republican leaders un-
dcrstand the efficacy of the party lash,
and WELD il unheSitatingly. have no
doubt there are many Republican MEM
1 bcrS Of Congress who would. if acting i'm
accord with their Judgment and sense
of Justice, oppose the passage Of Fed
eral election law: but with the caucus.
dominated and controlled by active and
Ioftcn INSCRIPTIONS politicians. de-
| tcrmincs that it is necessary for the sue
cess Of their party to pass such bill,
/ it requires an unusual amount of per-
sonal independence and manhood
on the part Of Republican members
OF Congress TO refuse to conform to eau
Gus dictation. fear, therefore, that
they will pass law. They have the
majority in the House and in the Sen
ate. hope and believe the people Of
country will not approve such law.
and if they will understand the purpose