The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1890-08-01


rhs nernd~nes ri the Repuh,lcan 49,. !,
umder 49, rresent Lsnd~rshlp.
u ~ generally admitted. even BY Re.
puhlicans. that the Presidents course
has not strengthened his party. Hut \
u still moro evident To every int.lli.
gent Observer that tho course 81 The Re.
publican Congress has deeply injured
tho party. Tho passage OF tho pension
bill involves an outlay 81 tho public
money which Is incalculablc Ii a 4
surrender 70 the fear OF losing mer-
cenary vote. and Is defended under
transparcntly hypocritical pretenscs.
The good scnsc Of the county measures
az their exact value the protcstations
by dcmagogucs Of their patriotic graft
tudc while the true feeling OF tho
American volunteer Is expressed by
brave veterans like senator lIawley and
President Andrews. Tho passage by
the House Of the Mckinley bill. which.
In tho face Of : surplus. raises the aver
age rate Of customs duties, mas pro-
duccd what looks now like serious
breach In the party. Mr.. Blaine's let
ter and tho reports Of his frank COM
ments upon the bill express not only the
views OF great body OF Republicans,
but Of the American intelligence which
Is not classified by party name.
But more disturbing to the public
mini thin either tho pension Or the
tariff policy OF the dominant party Is
the National election bill. which. both
in itself and in the extraordinary limi-
tation OF debate upon IL. Is startling
measure. which. tho moro IL Is UNDER
stood. can not fail to arouse profound
public amazemcnt and distrust. To Sc
cure result which can not be attained
by the enforcement OF any law. the Re-
publican party proposes to overthrow
the most vital tradition OF the Amer
lean system OF Government the local
control OF elections. The destruction
Of that cardinal condition OF our Gov
eminent would BE- an evil much more
radical and alarming than the suppress
sion Of tho vote which tho measure
processes to aim to correct The bill
commits the result OF Congressional
elections in any district where . few
persons request 1t to body large or
small Of partisan agents. and to per-
mancnt returning board, appointed by
a central authority. in whose honesty
and impartiality the public confidence
will be necessarily much less than in
the present election agencies. while the
local contcntment and acquiescence in
the result. which are considerations OF
vital Importance TO the tranquil work
ing Of any election system. will h.
wholly wanting. Opposition 70 this
extraordinary measure Is not. Is Re-
publican speakers and the Republican
press allegc, Indicative OF disposition
10 tolerate suppression OF the colored
vote, or the wholesale buying OF white
vvters in blocks OF five. Such opposi-
ton rests upon the ground that what
ever the extent OF the evil. the remedy
proposed Is much greater evil.
The bill changes essentially the pres
ent law providing for National supeB-
visors OF election. extending it to
point which supersedes altogether the
State control Of Congressional elections
The State election officers, indeed. are
nominalIy recognized but they are sub
ordinated entirely TO the United States
officers Tho result would be that the
election OF members Of Congress in New
York. for instance, upes she request OF
. few persons in every district would
be controlled not BY officers selected By
the people, but by agents appointed By
National authority. The States under
the circumstances might naturally de-
cline to take any Official part In such
elections. and the blow at the very root
Of our system Of local self-government
would be disastrous. II to these acts OF
the dominant party be added the gross
violation o. executive pledges OF reform
in the civil service. and the yarty acqui-
escence in the silence % Quay. the
chairman Of the National Republican
under criminal charges very
believed, which. IL untrue, he
could disprove at once. amid general
satisfaction and TO the i'm mense benefit
Of bis party, with the ardens support Of
the fire. silver bill by the extreme
Western Republicans. party record Is
offered 70 the country which has neces-
sarily radically weakened IL among
chose whose support Is in ltself the best
reliance Of party. and leaves 1t in the
position Of party consciouso OF the loss
Of It's moral hold upon the country. and
desperately resolved by audacious
straining Of the forms Of laas to retain
the power which Is passing away.
Those who recall the splendid days and
deeds Of the youth and primo Of the Re-
publican party can not see the spectacle
which IL now presents without rcmem-
herring Couture's powerful and pathetic
picture Of 1.-THE Decadcnce Of the Ro-
mans ---EIarper's Weekly tInd.).
SOUTHERN PROCESS