The Portland daily press., 1890-08-16
John D. Small.
The Election Bill.
IN. Y. TrIbune.l

Republican voters throughout the country
have one request to make, which their repre-
sentatives in the Senate win surely not re-
fuse. They ask that the yeas and nays may
show exactly which Senators are willing TO
abandon the bill to prevent fraud In the cleo
tion OF Congressman. and to give the prefer
ence to the river and harbor and other bills
with money in them" The names Of such
Senators will be carefully preserved for fu-
ture reference. When they want RepublI-
can confidence and support hereafter, they
may be sure that some voters, who are Re-
publicans from conviction and not "for reye-
nue. only" will refer to the record and con-
scientiously vote against them.
Mr.. Hamilton Dlsston and other Pennsyl-
Vania manufacturers, who have large pecu-
MARY interest in the South, having Invested
millions in lands or works in that section.
are credited with responsibility for Senator
Quay's combination with Democrats to de-
feat the Election bill Whether this be true
or not, 1t brings before the country sharply
the question whether personal and pecuniary
interests shall prevail to prevent govern
ment by the people.
For the election bill means governments by
the people themselves, and not government
by the corrupt agencies which money can
buy. In the Camden election fraud, seat
IN the New Jersey Legislature was stolen by
hiring scoundrel to open ballot-box and
change the votes. In Hudson county other
members OF the legislature and a Congress-
man were elected by hiring bands Of repeat
ers and by forged returns. Thus a sum Of
money set In motion crimes which placed
Democrat in the United States Senate and
and another Democrat In the House. SImi-
lar crimes at Albany and Troy elected
Democrat to the House, and such crimes at
indianapolis elected another and also Sem
ator, and thus all over the land the use Of
money in buying scoundrels has been elect
ing Senators and Congressman. The people
are tired Of this, and want to elect their
rulers themselves. The election bill Is in
tended to.give them a chance.
But certain rich men, and all the election
| scoundrels In the land, want the bill de-
feated. The reason Is obvious. Their
power In public affairs would be greatly d.
| minished II honest voters should rule in
stead Of dollars and crimes.
Senator Quay's resolution surrenders the
election bill In consideration Of a withdrawal
OF Democratic opposition to the passage OF
the tariff Dill. Pr0fessedly, 1t Is prompted
by anxiety that the tariff bill should not be
beaten by delay. II Senator Quay had not
been absent from his seat much Of the time,
part of the delay would have been prevented.
The bill cannot be beaten or long delayed
without the assent of some Republican Sem
ators. But Is it expedient to force honest
voters to ask themselves whether the inter-
est OF certain Pennsylvania manufacturers
or capitalists must set aside the effort 10 Sc
cere honest elections?
:, The Republican patty has no higher duty
than to reform elections, so that the will Of
the people may be clearly expressed and
faithfully recorded. Measures Of that char
acter are never pleasing to the corruption
lists and rascals OF either party. who make a
living by their adroitness In dishonest polltl-
nTnptInQa ~ Atsfa9 oil q
political prominence or consideration to his
faculty OF handling Tepeaters or buying
Vetes In ward or town, AID who Is happy
when the other party nOminates for Con-
gress In his district man OF large means
and no scTuples, quite naturally eonsldeIsa
Federal election bill particularly obJecton-
able. Itis equally natural that any Senator
who has obtained his seat by 1udlclyuS use
Of money, and who has no 9thet eIain n 70
public consideration, should shrink from re-
form Of election methods, ana the country
will note whether any such senator votes
with the Democrats to defeat the election
bill. -. -. 49,.
convictions in regard TO this matter-c0nvic-
tions which the conduct OF aIeW senators
does not tend to weaken. Ihey teel that
government by the people VIII ere long be-
Come impossible, unless the prominence and
mower III the corruptlOnists In politics can be
iiw;tad They care for this reform because
n means the preservation OF their own rights
and powers, their freedom and their soyer-
siSntv. ii seems to them that government
by a ling or an aristOcracy wonld be prefer
sble to government by briber or baliot-box
suffer They have faith that honest voters
can be trusted to govern themselves wisely
i'm the long run, but they have no faith what
ever that political rascals can be trusted TO
govern the country wisely, and they want
laws which are not the product Of bribed
voters or forged returns. Senators may be-
sure that the honest voters will watch the
action Of every Senator with deep interest.
This subject will not cease to be aqitated bv
the people until honesty shall prevail In the
elections OF Representatives and Senators
also.