New-York tribune., 1890-06-28
THE ELECTION LII ".

The debate on the National Election bill
will be lue between fact and an cplthet
The irrefra cable fact is that elections are apt
10 be carried by fraud wherever Democratic
officials have their way. Having no better an
swcr, Democrats reply that any attempt to stop
this sort of thing is sectionalism 1t means,
they assert, that the North wants TO override
the will of the people at tho South by intiu>t-
ing practically despotic power to Federal OIL
cials who will be the instruments OF party
Even while the frantic speeches of Democratic
orators are going on at Washington, court
at jersey City will be hearing the evidence
which has seemed to Grand Jury To cntitle
scores of Democratic officials and workers to
entertainment at public expense IN penal IN
situations. Are election raScalitios so pccullar-
" Southern, then, that an attempt to stop or
punish them even III Northern state Is Sec
tonal?
The epthct involves falschood. An act to
prevent the election frauds which have long
prevailed in many Southern districts ought TO
have been passed years ago, but has not been
only because sundry Northern men were fool
ishly sensitive about doing anything that might
be called sectional. Within the last few years
Northern States that even the dulest and most
timid have to admit the necessity of National
law appcablc TO all States alike. The bill
pcndng is direct result and product of crimes
in jersey City, for which Democrats arc now
being tried. and similar crimes in Camden OF
that State, Troy and other cities of Ncw-l ork,
and in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and
MARYLAND. 1t is diScreditablc fact u North
err patriotism but still a fact that 50 long as
such infamous deeds were pclpotratod almost
exclusively in Southern states Northern men
and papers were afraid To suggest a remedy, lest
they should be stigInatized a. sectional.
Argument about the correctness Of the
multiplication table is usually considered super
huotS in intelligent society. But discussion
about the existence OF frauds, 50 numerous and
extensive as to justify legislation to prevent
them. will 60 on for several days. because DEM
ocratic members OF Congress feel the need of
making some answer to notorious facts. Their
replies will differ widely, for some men shrink
from iying ana others think it unaI ailing and
bad policy. Others still Will refrain from
DENYING that crimes have been perpctratcd,
but will consider it smart to gather up all the
campaign stories for the last ten years against
Repubcans-as if it were enough for a criminal
at the bar. when accused of being a thief, to
say 70 Judge or prosecuting attorney. "lou
are another" The disadvantage of this reply
is that it virtually admits that the crimes OF
Democrats against sclf-goVernmcnt nave been
50 many and 50 infamous it has no other plea
except that others have Sinncd also.
But if 50. what S0it oi reason is that for lc-
flsing to prevent or ID punish all crimes alike
whether by one party or the other? When
Republicans are charged with offences OF this
nature their sufficient answer is Though
individuals have at times been guilty OF wrong
the entire party stands ready and anxious to
prevent election crimes at all times as far as
possible, to bring to punishment any men who
can be proved guilty, and to secure honest cleo
tionS and an honest count in every State alike"
The Democratic party, on the contrary, vlrtu-
ally avOws that every measure 10 secure hon
est elections is measure ID insure Democratic
defeat, ard sets itself solidly, and fighting as
for its very life, t. block every measure for
that purpose. In the light OF thi, one con-
tlast all argument in Congress is futile. When
the Democrats haze spent in vitupcsatlon what
time the courtesy Of the majority has given
them, it is to be hoped that the bill will be
promptly passed, proving to the country that
the Republican party is ready to suppress and
10 punish frauds