The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-04
The Fourth OF July-An American
Grafton.

The dominant will In the Republican party
is the will Of Speaker REED. The master In
telligence OF the party at present Is REEDS
mind. His purposeisthe party's purpose, and
tits clearly defined. Secondary Issues, subor-
dinate measures. unesscntial differences OF
opinion and projects OF policy, are swept
aside by the magnificent audacity which
does not hesitate to challenge the united
Democracy to new struggle for the pres
eryation OF the Government whose birthday
IL to-day.
Tho course Of political events is not
difficult to foresee. The Man on Horse
back will ride across the Senate chamber
just as he has overrdden the House OF
REPRESENTATIVES After an indignant pro-
test on the part of the Democratic Senator'S
and an earnest but futile endeavor to check
the career OF Federal aggression, the
LODGE bill will be forced through by
narrow but sufficient majority OF votes.
Then 1t will go to the President. 1t will
only remain for the feeble but obstinate
gentleman who occupies the White House
to af1lx his signature. He will sign the bill,
and the approval written at the foot OF the
new measure OF Capitalization and usurpa-
ton will count for as much as II the name
were ULYSSES s. GRANT.
The LODGE bill having become law. the
Congress elections Of this fall will be held
under its provisions. The desperate pur-
pose OF the party Of Capitalization will man
fest itself at q hundred points, and In
thousand ways. Tho local elections OF the
peopIes representatives in Congress will be
held with Federal spies posted at our house.
doors, with Federal bayonets In sight In the
background, and the beat Of Federal drums
within easy hearing. The meaning OF the
new scheme OF Federal interference at the
polls will become plainly apparent. The
fog bank of verbiage in the law, said to have
been drafted by JOHN DAVENPORT. will melt
away, and the Republican outrage of 1890
will stand forth In its naked outlines and
full Dimensions.
Thus, the first attempt at the enforcement
of the Republican election law will be the
beginning OF tho great Democratic cam
paign for its repeal. Tho eternal issue OF
home rule, Of State rights, OF freedom from
tho illegtimate interference of q central
Government described BY THOMAS JEFFER-
SON as a Government charged only with
tho external and mutual relations OF these
States" will be sharply defined. Once again
the Democracy will be found contending in
patriotic unison for tho glorious American
principle which has been for a hundred
years the handspring of It's energy, the very
heartbeat of its existence.
How small, then, will seem all differences
of opinion concerning tariff rates, or COM
petitive examinations for clerkships, or cur
rency and coinage, or ballot booths and
pencil scratchesl How paItry the preten-
sions of any individual Who in the presence
Of danger threatening tho life OF the re-
public, assumes to say what question shall
be the issue of the next Presidential cam
paign and what questions shall not enter
into public discussion among our si1ty-five
million peoplel
Such Is the programme laid out for the
immediate political future by Speaker REED
and the Republican centralzers. The
Democracy is ready for the contest. Every
where that the Declaration Of Independence
is read to-day, it will sound like cam
paign document and call to duty.