The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-15
rnn szDzRAL zLEor1os BILL.

The reported action OF Senator Quay,
"a agreeing. after consultation with Sem
etor German, the recognized leader of
HE Democrats side Of the Senate, to
course Of procedure which viii effectually
bbeivs The federal election bill until the
next session Of congress, il not perma-
nsnfy, must have shocked every Republic
can who values the partys pledges, or
who believes IN honest elections, or who
has besn disposed to apply the principles
of justics TO the choice Of congressman and
electors.
The national platform. on which the
party attained power. has to say upon this
subject I'VE AFFIRM" says that docu-
ment, 'sour answering devotion .
70 the personal rights and liberties of citi-
rsns In Ill the states and terri
cries Of the Union. and especially
to the supreme and sovereign right OF
svsry oitisen, rich or poor, native or for
eign born, white or black. to cast one free
ballot In public elections, and to have that
ballet duly counted. We hold the free and
honest popular ballot and the Just and
equal representation Of all the people TO be
the foundation of our republican govern
ment. and demand Effective legislation to ~
cxss tie integrity and purity Of elections,
which are tho foundations of all authority"
This Is plain and emphatic language. It
ID not open TO misconstruction. II is the
Law Of the Republican party. Until the
next national convention meets there can
b no authority anywhere to repeal or
amend 1t. No representative of that party
in either branch Of congress can in good
faith disregard 1t.
Nothing has happened since that declara-
ton was made 1t Chicago to lessen the
need for the legislation which that con-
vention demanded and by clear implication
promised. On the contrary, at frequent
intervals, and even in the past week. evil
dsnces of the wisdom of that declaration
hare constantly multiplied. and the neces-
sity that it indicated has been strongly
emphasized. By abuses sthe most fragrant
and monstrous the fulfllment of that
pledge has been defantiy challenged.
The path of honor and Of duty is plain.
There ID no room for mistake There
cere effort to redeem that pledge. No
matter though here and there q timid
or time-serving individual or newspaper
may have been swerved by the guilt
eonfessing outcry of the opposition;
even II all such instances had been multi
piled q thonsand-fold. justice and honor
alike demand good faith in this matter.
Republicans who value the reputation of
their party for good faith, and who are
firmly grounded in its principles. would be
much better satisfied with the postpone
ment of the tariff bill than that this one
shall be sacrificed or postponed, which
amounts to the same thing. The tariff bill
merely affects pecuniary interests; this re-
lates to the sacred rights OF citizenship and
che purity OF elections. The one is a mere
matter of interest: the other involves a
fundamental principle.
Il is great mistake 10 suppose that
3 compromise In this connection is
ehrewd or polite. The American peo-
pie do not approve OF compromises. The
fate Of Henry Clay, one of the ablest, most
eloquent. most magnetic and beloved of
American statesman, bears eloquent testi-
mony on this head. Nothing is so sure to
win in this country as is bravery, straight
forwardness and strict fidelity to principles
and pledges. II q surrender has been ar
ranged BY Quay it is to be hoped that there
remains enough Of integrity among his
Republican colleagues TO repudiste the
arrangement