Smyrna times., 1890-08-20
The Election or Force Bill

The Election or Force Bill
At the convention in Dover last
week, ex-senator Bayard spoke forci-
bly, against the pending election bill
now before Congress, and the follow
ing resolutions which he read were
adopted:
That we earnestly protest against
the Force bill and its assumption OF
exclusive control over popular cleo
tiOns in the Congressional districts.
That the enactment of measure so
atrocious would deprive the several
states of local self government, which
from the foundation of the Union they
have invariably exercised. That the
people of Delaware Indignantly resent
the menace and insult of bayOnets at
their polls offered by the Republican
majority of the House. That we
clearly recognize the object of this
desperate aud revolutionary measure
to be the perpetuatiOn Ofsectional and
class control over the taxing powers of
the Union.
That the distrust of the intelligence
and virtue of the American peOple.is
revealed in this proposition to subject
the control of elections and counting
of votes cast to the paid instruments
of single party. Thus by coercion
and by corruption a swarm OF officials
would be created 10 eat out the sub
stance of the people and defeat their
choice That such a law would re-
kindle and intensity race animOsities
and sectional prejudices. 1t would
throw into confusion the well-Ordered
prosperity which four years of just and
equitable Democratic administration
promoted and encouraged throughout
the Union.
That the whole measure is conceived
in partisan bitterness and sectional an
imosity, is fraught with evil to the en-
tire country and can only create dis
cord and weaken the ties of brother
hood and good feeling between citizens
of a common country.
ANOTHER OPINION.
At the same time the New York
Tribune in urging the bill on the us.
Senate said:
For the Election bill interpreted
means government by the people
themselves, and not government by the
corrupt agencies which money can
buy. In the Camden Election fraud,
a seat in the New Jersey Legislature
was stolen by hiring a scoundrel to
open ballot box and change the
votes. In Hudson County other men,
bers of the Legislature and Congress
man were elected by hiring bands of
repeaters and by forged returns. Thus
sum of money set in motion crimes
which placed a Democrat in the United
States Senate and another Democrat
in the House. Similar crimes at Al
bany and Troy elected Democrat to
the House, and such crimes at Indian
apolis elected another and also Sen
atOr, aud thus all over the land the use
of money in buying scOundrels has
been electing senators and Congress
men. The people are tired of this and
want to elect their rulers themselves.
The Election bill is intended to give
them a chance.
But certain rich men and all the
election scOundrels in the land, want
the bill defeated. The reason is obVi-
Gus. Their power in public affairs
would be greatly diminished if honest
votes should rule instead of dollars and
crimes.
The Republican party has no higher
duty than to reform elections, so thai
the will of the people may be clearly
expressed and faithfully recorded
Measures of that kind are never pleas
ing to the corruptiOnists and rascal'
of either party, who make a living by
their adrOitness in dishonest pOlitica
practices. The person who owes al
his political prominence or cOnsidera
ton to his faculty in handling repeat
ers or buying votes in ward or town
and who is happy when the other par
ty nOminates for Congress in his dis
trict a man of large means and no scru
plies, quite naturally considers Fede
raj Election bill as particularly Objec
tionable. 1t is equally natural tina
any Senator who has obtained his sea
by judicious use of money, and WHIT
has no other claim to public cOnsidera
tiOn, should shrink from reform of elec
ton methods, and the country will
note whether any such Senator vote
with the Democrats to defeat the Elec
ton bill.
But the Republican voters hav,
strong convictions in regard to thi
er-convictiOns which the con
duct of a few Senators does not tenC
to weaken. They fear that govern
ment by the people will ere long be
come impossible, unless the prOmi
nence and power of the corruptionis
in politics can be limited. They car
for this reform because it means tn
preservation of their own rights ant
powers, their freedom and their sove
reignty. 1t seems to them that gov
ernment by a King or aristocrac
would be preferable to government b.
a briber or ballot-bOx stuffer. The
have faith that honest voters can
trusted to govern themselves wisel
in the long run, but they have no fait
that political rascals can lie trusted t
govern the country wisely, and the
want laws which are not the prOduC
of bribed voters or forged returns
Senators may be sure that the homes
voters will watch the action of ever
senator with deep interest. This sui
ject will not cease to be agitated by th
people until honesty shall prevail i
the election of Representatives an
/ Co,,oAo,1 IL