New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-12-30
UNFOLDING FAIR ELECTlt NS
SENATOR HISCOCKS EFFECTIVE ARGUMENT
II SUPPORT OF TIE LODGE BILL
THE ADVANTAGE OF FEDERAL CoNTEoL OF
ELECTIONS ABLY POINTED QUITO"
NETWORK HAS SCFFERED-THE
ICY TELEGRAPH 10 TIE ThIrCSE.I

Oh obl. and efrective sDerch on tie Election bill
deiverod in the Senate to-day by the junior SEN
ator from NeN-YOri:, MIR. lii>cocE As c'dI
and satisfactory argument in support OF the pend
inp measure TO extend and enlarge the super
visorv nowers of the Federal Government over
Congressional elections, it will repay caTciui
reading on the part of both the friends ana OPP
ponents of frcer and farer suffrage Inc WORK
ing of the present supervisory system IN New
York City is explained in practical way an" I'>
advantages are made As apparent as rlcy "Ic
definite and decided. The inference Is then nat
urally drawn that Federal control, which has been
50 great bcnei. in one former hotDed OF Ta"d'
will he of equal Importance in securing honest
elections IN other parts Of the country where I'M
proper and indefcnsible political practices pre-
vail But the general argument will speak lof
itself Mr. HiscoclI's speech, which lasted about
an hour and a half, follows:
It is remarkable that Senators should hesitate in their
support OF measures that tend 10 secure honest
elections promote public virtue and exact conformity
of administration to the Will Of the people Nauoid
health and perpetuity, In conformity to those pf'pc
upon which We hope form of government securely
rests alike require that none but legal voters SHAH
participate in elections, that each legal voter sh"h
exercise that unconstrained privilege, and all ballots
Shall be honestly counted and certified, each one 10
have It's Just weight in the determination OF inc MA"
result. Who opposes thsl The gravity OF the matter
surpaSses that of all other questions that press upon
our consideration. Human skill would be unab' 70
conceive method too perfect fog the preservation OF
the purity of our elections. All safeguards against
illegal voting and fraudulent canvas,cs should be es'aD
lisled and every conceivable defence Of the voters Ill
the exercise OF their suffrage however weak or humble
they may be- should be provided.
sir honest electors Will never be constrained IN ther
highest privilege and chicest DUTY citizens by laws
;r.t a. ip
government Of their country. We have heard here some
thing of the eNpe.sc, incident TO the proposed law"
sum of money that can honestly be expended should
always he appropriated 10 secure lar eicc'iohS' IN
ccpt for the gravity of The situation. mir'h CT contempt
alon. would be excited by the dcences of the liberties
of the people We hear, and which are maF'llahed
s.ainst IN, passage Of the pending measure. Has Il
occurred TO senators that they might be pleading Tor
License TO criminals, and immunity Tor crinIes rather
tnau fr the national and political rights W 'ie people,
III the light of tie history Of the Democratic party
IL must be confusing TO dSintcre>lcd obNeNcI-uh'
Gc5atc. ! mean--with an assumption o. N-1ue ana a
DISREGARD If the frauds pract-ed at elections ana an
Intolerance extreme, not a. violent a. the method
which have been employed 70 terrorizc voters Inc
EcpLbican rtrty here has been CHARGED viii, atteHP
nE To >.bycit the right, and liberties OF the lt9ph
frSc y'lCe In The government Of the country. The
great crimes committed against the elective HihcIi't
have been ignored or pallated. not denied practices
viii nulli;v the sill OF TIE people. do not receive
sarons cons dcIation from the ODcr eide OF THIS cham
her and those who would provide agan, Them are ar
ra.ucd'as wanting in respect for (On>utUti0al I-h7'
a. cosp.rai0s against the will of the people elf s
wIilul pdrtSans, leg!sdtlnS Tor unlawful P'nuodi
supremacy.
DEMOCRATIC FALSE PRETENCES OF PATRIOTISM
rpon what page Of the political history Of our
country for the last forty years can one ma 'c
warrant FOR the virtue patriotism. non part sans MP
or respect for The Constitution assumed IN this con
a., I'll. rfV In MI a
sIcss What laws, provisions Of the Constitution
devotion 70 country or national progress - the
peculiar property Of the Democracy TO justify thia
claim of superior craftsmanship. regard FOR the per
soma! liberties of citizens or the rights OF III,
States? | would not invade the jurisdiction If state
10 Cypress or dlsfranc!isc heI people BUt where
Congress has the Constitutional power, as IN thi'
oasc TO alleviate their wrongs, or more perfectly t'
secure their rights in cooperation win STATE author
itv we should not hesitate to accomplish IT, one o.
the paramount rights Of the qualified ctilen Is "
voice his choice 10 who shall represent HIN a
Congress- and, sl, that franchise l would pIo'c'
against all violence, Obstru'u ions, or anilo-"'h''
either by without the sanction Of laws Or by III
conIivance and frauds Of states officials, or th
iufanism of her citizens. If there are sen it0rs upJ
the other side who % rot deny the power ana pro
pr,etv OF doing that, with them We have toInJ
ground upon which to stand. hut 1t is To be nos"
IN This discussion that evidence ht, been d2cnnulu'
oil frauds and violence at elections - iar reaching
their effect to defeat The popular VIII. They nav
been proved by pul record, and tlc testimony OF me
Of all parties and still s., the other side does 10
propose a law to correct the ADn>tiOus evil. quli
The contrary, II l. IN ~" az iat measures ~ ob'uu
non may be Ip,orted TO- II necessary, tC continue
SENATORS u WIOD The Constitution IS dear, 80 yer
Minnie and tl jri,ndrr. al Ihe,r lbeIlc, ana reAt
a. jAcy nave tod day ate: oay-"lc o,Ttun
ron. and Who Would not AM sire they would no
WAY against tcctlN
franchise have not proposed me- ,uut 10 cue 4
evil No., they have refused to unite with H. cl'i
tLal would the more securely effect tiJt result. II
evil VIC con plain OF does exist. 1t J., a mOno;rosi
in it. propositions, ana t1nqucrlu- enemy IN
strength. We all know that majority cOmpps
from both side, of tins chamber couli tJlnOrr0
all the lawful right aud PRIVILEGES "i the cltze
fully secured that would ciiectually protco, The RICH
Of The weak and the strong, Of The black and the VIII
man alike, North, south Elst ard Wet. and
senators upon the othec side propose tins Qu
the contrary. They have contenicd themselves vi
sncers at one class OF citizens. with capuou5 or!
cisnls as they appear 10 nc Of the pending bill. Vi
volumnOus essays upon the rights and Liberties
I T, gco aRSeoa Te pG,ect t6G Tho V t.bt
liberties the Republican party has N the past IN p
will defend. The conclusion Is irresistible that
Democratic party is CONTEXT with the present or
of things. and purpose, 10 resist IS improvemc
criminal suDverslve Of the public will and danger
to our Institutions as IL Is.
GRIMES IN CITIES AGAINST ELECTION LAy
], is notoIiou, and has been for years that in Ia
Northern cities the crimes against free and law
sufElgc have been both common and monstrou,
their proportions and effect. and within the stro
holds of the criminal classes legal voting and hOf
canvass of the ballots under state laws the
ception 10 the rule that frauds equal u the defeat
The will of the majority were practiscd and not
rccted, the perpetrators rewarded even and not y
ished; members of state Legislatures, Representa-
in Congress, Presidential electors, judges and &
ernors have held and exercised the high function,
their Offices by titles resting upon illegal votes
fraudulent canvasseS.
So notorious has been the continued repetition
crime against suffrage that IT seems Il %. believed
"a great political party that Tie puJlc cons, fence
become so dulled they may moi only refuse Ia
i'm the enactment of laws that would
evil but commit them selves TO policy Of ObSruc
that il NAV be continued. IHC0lse4U ential n.stan
incOnsequental as compared with tie abuse, i.,. ,
existed-made by public officers, acting in good
and in tire discharge Of tier duty AID unluSt..,
not wantOn attacks upon an able and Efficient cl.e
officer, who has repeatedly emerged from Judicial
Congress al inVcs isaton iU-prsi partisan m
ca comuletcy NlQdiClfCa that p.liCai ODuOupIts g.