Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-12-30


over.
Coekrell--Then the Senator offers th,
resolution. then obi cts to il, asking thu
il 80 over?
Aldrieh--Thst 10 the practical eject.
Ccck-eli--All right
The resolution went over.
Stewart gave notice that tomorrow morn
ing, Immediately after the morning hour
he would move to take up the Ssnste bill
reported from the committee on finance, q
provide sgsinst the contraction Of cur
rency.
The Senate at = o'clock resumed the con
si6eraton Of the elections bill. Hoai
Yielded the floor to Hiscock, who addressed
the Senate in support Of the bill. He said
the republican party here had been charged
With attempting 10 subverl the rights and
liberties of the people for the proposition
Of a measure tending only TO preserve III, il
free voice in the government of the country
Crest crimes committed against the slscs
I've franchise bsve be ignorsd or psllisted
(not denied). and practices that In the ra.,
had nuifed. ard. IL continued 10 the fu-
ture, would nulIify the will of the peopl,
did not receive serious confederation from
the other side. Those who would provide
rgsins, them were aryaigDed as wanting In
respect for the consti.utioua al rights of the
people. es eonsri-a,ors against the will OF
the people. Ms selfish. wilfui par,isans, leg
isla;ing for unlawful political supremacy.
Upon what page Of the political history Of
The ccurtry for the LAST forty years, he
ssked, could be found a warrant for the
virtue, patriotism, noD-paftisanship and
respect for the constitution assumed
in ibis controversy by the democratic
party, in or out of Congress
Whist laws or provisions of the corstitu-
ton. in their devotion to the country o'
national progress. were 90 peculiarly ihe
property Of the Democracy as to JUSTLY
the claim of superior craftsmanship or re.
gard for the personal lib.rtie. of citzeus
or the rights Of Ststesr H. would rot in.
wade he jurisdiction Of Stats to oppress
or disfrsnchise her people, but where Con
gress had the constitutional power, NJ il
this case, to aileyi ate their wrongs or more
perfectly secure their rights in co opera.
ton With the State authority. the Senats
should not hesitate 10 accomplish IT,
1t was notorious. ami had been for years.
In the israe Nor hern cities crimes egsips,
free and lawful suffrage had been both
common and monstrous in proportions and
affect; that legal ro ing and homes, can
vsss of ballots under State laws were ex
ce ptions to the rules, that frauds equal "a
the defest of the will of the majority were
praotised, not corrected; thst per2e.rator.
were even rewarded, not punished; that
members Of the StNe legislature, repre-
- al nf.
tors, judges and governors had held and
exercised the bigh functions oi
their Offices by titles resting
upon ille sal votes and fraudulent canvssses
The most remarkable is that in the con
struetion Of the election laws it vas con
tended thst there should be that lsxi'y
absence of cireumspection and ffilcia
supervision that would guarantee safety tC
Illegal voters, repeaters and dishonest can
vsssers frem detection ard punishment
and guarantee immunity to trsmps, thieve'
and the criminal population of the grea
States. Il Is also remarkable that ever,
ct. of progress in the other direction wa,
6eeiaimed against and disputed IS an in
vasion Of tie liberties of the people. Who
he asked, were the people? Wer,
only the vicious. evil minded. ant
criminals of high and low degree
to be counted in that distinction
II hiss been urged that the States had power
to prevent the crimes complained Of. Tha
was grsn'ed. but was not msterisl 9ues
ton. Did the States always exercise thsi
poweTr Even il the States inside an effor
honestly snd succeeded. was ths, any reas
90 why the nation, within her jurisdiction
should rot wa'ch elections and contribute
10 the defense sqsinst criminal ssssults
Il has been said thst the pending measure
is partisan in the provisions, and az far A.
possible hat features have been eliminated
but in those large cities where the chic
magistrate il ntuaily democratic. State of
fcisi. democratic, ard police democratic
the REPUBLICANS elec'ors were entitled to lss
ana officers that would guard their Interests
Referring 20 the colored men in the South
ern States, Bisceek asserted that il was the
opeu and undi-suisei purpose of the dem
ocrstic party. by violence and discrin mat
irg lar., 70 disenfranchise these people
TIE American P pople recognized that nan
hcod franchise vas an armor and d. feuc,
TO the poor against the arrogance. selfish
ness ard oppression of the rich, lcarnet
and sroag Political rights AID equsItis
we're esse1iizl 10 prevent the blscl
man from beirg degraded, brn.aiizet
and relegsted practically 70 slavery
Not long would Injustice prevail il
counting f1r representation in Congress art
in electoral coli-ge. Nine rillious, t<elv'
millions, twenty millions Of people rho ar'
denied the exercise Of political rights snd
full cifixsnshi2: are srssing more degra
dsd and hsrharous through operations dis
criuinating laws and prartice of violsu
methods sasinst them.
Hosr addressed the Ssnste II the pend
ing bill should become q Law and provs
effee.n a. it ould be the last Of the gres
measures that bad anything Of the legs
resraius By which changes is the coussitu
tion ars, made necessary. Another measure
would have to follow IL; measure to Sc
cure tor every child on American soil 81
education which ~ uld ct hin 10 read sns
understani the constitution of bis country
when these two things we're broughs q
pass, the era OF the Republic would b
real. The ssYsSple for the peniini
bill vas struggle for the las
step tors-d establishing doctrine Il
which the American people we're pledges
+
Interests uhieh they could 10. kn9w il
their citiz sr ship, - slaves. vss.als, serfs o
tie inferior races. He re jecsed And re
pelied vi,h ali indignation ssd caiumny De
serre,i zspsrsioa thst the bill Vas pzssi
san measure or that ssy wan vho support
I'd it vas acsusted by partisan pup ~ :
It's supporters undou5tediy believed " sru
ths: uen we're so- deprived Of their cen
satutonal rights. deprived of them be
cause Of their political OPINIONS
TIE bill 10 ore TO exclude psrtisaa sh;
frum the determination Of tstie 70 psae
on the raj! of the Hau.e Of Representative
a. shsoI7sely ~ the les Of bu sanity ~oli
admit. The commit &c reported it ne-sl,
undertaken TO aes on the advice Of s
Cox and oshe, leading democrats sud Fl
sen5 the beBefeen; system Of electoral 81
pervi-ioa enforced ia New York 10 oshs
parts Of the eounlfy. rhe Senator's vos'
pat fsrsh be shsie military poser Of Ii
government 10 defend he set lers again
he IrasxBs though the is-sr we're pr
voksi BY hundred years Of zrona