Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-10-23
FEDERAL COERCION.


Tho E1ypocritical Bargain Made To En-
slave the American People.
It has been the policy of the Repub-
lican press in Western States opposed to
Federal coercion in State elections to as
sert that the force bill has finally been
disposed of; that its postponement
means its death. and that it will never
be taken up again
Senator Vests disclosure of the agree
ment under which the bill was post
poned shows how false is this pre-
tense. THE agreement was made" he
said, in his ST. Louis speech, ''but mark
you, on this condition:
Mr. Hoar OF Massachusetts. who claims TO be
the father Of the force bill in the Senate, ex-
acted of his colleagues in the Republican eau
Gus that agreement in writing should be
signed by them, majority Of them, to the
effect that on the first Monday in December
the force bill should be taken up and pressed to
a final disposition in exclusion OF every other
bill or resolution upon the calendar. Forty-four
Republican Senators. majority Of the Repub-
lican caucus. signed that agreement, and to-day
the people Of the United States are confronted
with that agreement and unless they interfere
with their sovereign votes ut the coming No
yember election, with the certainty that this
force bill, with all its enormity. win be placed
upon the statute books as the law OF the land :"
This is the first full statement of the
agreement under which the Republicans
postponed the force bill Mr.. Hoar de-
| manded and received the signatures of
| a of them to pledge that, from the
| very opening of the second session, the
bill should be pressed to passage.
The present intention is undoubtedly
| to refuse to recognize the majority; to
put Ingalls, in the chair; thrust aside
| the constitutional requirement of roll
call, allow the floor only to Republicans,
and pass the bill for use in controlling
the general elections Of 1892.
Unless the country speaks with de-
cisive effect in November, popular gov
eminent in the United States will end
at the opening of the polls in 1892. From
on and after the date of the passage OF
the force bill majorities in the electo-
raj college and in Congress will be
made up by secret caucuses of Washing.
ton politicians, from whose decisions
there will be no appeal. With an army
of mercenaries, employed by tLrem and
paid from the Treasury, to carry out
their orders, as supervisors, return
ing boards and deputy marshals in
armed possession OF the polls
any President who pleases may re
elect himself; any partisan majority il
| congress may perpeGuato 1CSelI. NOtn
ing will remain of the free Government
of equal States and free people. Tit
money of the combined corporations O
the Northeast will have a hold on thu
Government. against which no majorit,
of the people can prevail in elections
The creatures of the plutocracy will 81
in the White House and in Congress
the will of the plutocracy Will be regis
tered in laws which ''bind on mem
backs burdens too heavy to be borne.
If this power of incorporated money
30 all-pervading, so audacious now
what limit could be set to its audacit
when the reformatory force of the pee
pie had been taken from them; whe
the control of the ballot had bee
usurped, and power to loose and to bin
, given to a few office-holding politician
in the District of Columbia, remove
from the people. with the army at thei
call, and no responsibility to any powe
except that of their own faction?
The people have the power Of San
!. son. Will they suffer their strength t
.. BE- shorn from them that they may
!. made a mock to the chief men and lord
' of the plutocracy, assembled to max
sport with blind Samson grinding
, their mills?-St. Louis Republic.