Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-02-20
TroublOus Times Threatening.

The bills introduced in congress with
reference to state districting are but the
beginning of desperate Republican eff
forts to control the country. That par
ty is in the minority in the United
States. II realizes that fact and will at
tempt to maintain itself in power by
distorted federal legislation and by per
version of the whole authority of the
government. The Leader throws off
the ''majority rule" mask and defiantly
declares that the bills introduced by
Senator Hoar and Representative Wick
ham are but "the Introduction to fed
eral nonpartisan CD districting of all
1891 and the conduct of federal elections
thereafter By nonpartisan (D election
boards.n Ben Butterworth, remarking
that the Wickham bill, following SO
swiftly upon the heels of the recent
rulings of the speaker, causes special
wonder and anxious inquiry" says it is
clear to his mind that "any legislation
which looks to taking charge of or su-
pervising congressional elections must
20 to the root of the matter and not
only supervise to the extent of redis-
tricting the state but to taking charge
of the elections The revolutionary
plans Of the Republicans are gradually
unfolding.
Under the constitutional clause CIV
ing the congress power to make or alter
regulations affecting 1.-THE times, places
and manner of holding elections of
representatives and senators that body
would have just as much authority to
run lines for legislative districts and
city wards as to dictate that congress
sional districts shall not be changed.
United States senators are elected by
legislatures and legislatures are COM
posed of men elected from districts.
Congress has precisely the same author
ity over the election of senators Except
resentatives. If the party in control of
congress should pretend that the cleo
ton of United States senators would
not be satisfactory it might, on the
theory of the Wickham bill, rearrange
all the legislative districts, which would
involve wards of cities. Having gone
this far it would be easy to defy the
people and with legislatures shaped to
suit the party in power the constitu-
tion of the United States might be al
tered at will. Every local election
could be brought under federal super
vision, for they all have near or remote
relation to matters bearing upon legis-
lative and congressional districts. The
suffrage and the property and the liber-
ty of every citizen would be at the dis
posal of the central government and
the worst form of tyranny would be in
fiicted upon the people.
Perhaps the Wickham bill was, after
all, only a feeler to the public senti-
ment. If accepted by the Republican
party at large then it would be safe to
enter boldly upon the universal gerry
mander limited at in the following edi-
torial taken from the Philadelphia In
qlirer issued on the day the Wickham
bill was introduced:
The Republican plan is simple. It is
merely to hurry up the census Of popu-
lation and get report in time for use
at the coming congressional elections.
This can doubtless be done without
much effort. 1t is expected that the in
crease of the basis OF representation
will cut into the southern Democrats
but add to the Republican strength in
the west and northwest. Ifthe census
returns are received in time congress
can pass an apportionment bill before
adjournment.
Yes, the Republican plan ii simple,
very simple. It is to reduce the gov-
ernment to first principles one man
power. The Republicans have lighted
their pipes In q powder magazine.
Ever since the Democratic party sub
mitted to the great fraud of 1876 the
Republicans have been emboidaned 10
impose upon the public Disposition %
maintain peace. They have steadily
encroached upon popular liberties uEtII
they have reached . point where Ior.
bearance ceases to be q virtue hs
Democrats know their rights ar1d WfIl
maintain them. Not only that but the
recent revolutionary performances j.
1.-THE Republicans have aroused them t1