Dodge City times., 1890-07-11
the satlona, Election Law.

City Star, an Independent paper, sizes
up the national election law in a way
not very aattering to the republicans:
The lodge election law passed By the
house provides for national supervision
Of the congressional election in any dis
tnct in which application shall be
made to the United States court by not
less than one hundred qualified voters.
1, is not necessary to recapitulate all
the details of the proposed supervision.
but the United States supervisors will
b. officers of the court, and as such
they will lee entitled to the assistance
OF the United States marsaa!s and all
the deputies they may choose to sum-
mon, and also to that Of the United
States troops if their interference be
deemed necessary to enforce the
authority of the supervisors. 1t is al
SO provided that the United States
judges shall have the appointment Of a
canyassing Loard, which shall make a
return to congress, and this return
shall be accepted in lieu of the re-
turn of the state officers when the two
returns differ, thus awarding any dis
puted seat in congress until congress
itself shall otherwise determine the
contested case. This is, in brief, the
operation of the proposed law.
It may be admitted that law pro-
viding for the national supervision Of
congressional elections will be held to
be constitutional. The question is,
whether it will be wise to pass such a
law.
The bare proposition Of securing
full vote and fair count in every
congressional election is one that will
meet with the approval of all honest
men. If this were the sole purpose
and the only possible result Of the bill,
party objection to it would not be
enough to warrant its rejection. Had
congress proposed to apply the Aus
tralian ballot system to all congress
sional elections the plan would prob
ably have received the approval of all
men in favor Of an honest ballot,
whether republicans or democrats.
But it may be fairly doubted whether
the intention of some Of the party
leaders is merely to assure an honest
vote, and it is certain that the ma
chinery of the bill in the hands of un-
scrupulous party manipulators will
more likely assure dishonest vote.
There is positive danger to the re-
public in the possible employment of
the army at the polls. The ph bisclte
of a French empire, under the con-
trolling influence of an army which
has no other sentiment or duty than
that of loyalty to the existing govern
ment is not suited to the interests of
free people nor calculated to perpetuate
an elective form of government. The
opportunity for force, intimidation and
improper influence rarely fails to pro-
duce men and parties who are willing
to avail themselves of it. This consid-
Grafton alone should be enough to warn
patriotic men against the adoption Of
national law which may some day be
employed to suppress the free express
ion of the people at the polls.
1t is notorious that the proposed law
is designed to reach and control GER
tain districts in southern states, where
it is charged by the republicans that
the negro vote is suppressed BY in
timidation in some cases and fraud in
others. Isn't it nearly time for the
negro, in its own interest, to cease to
be a ward of the nation? If he is
never to rise to higher degree than
this, it may we'll be doubted whether
he will ever be competent to exercise
the right Of suffrage honestly and in
tclligently. The suFest and quickest
way to elevate him as a voter is to sul-
tivate his independence and self reli
ance. There is n, more reason why
the colored nee Should vote any PARTY
ticket en- ma>>a than there is why
white mea s!.o4',i - 50. or why the
Ir.s:. ar 2 ur Scandinavians,
l'yi.g 10 tb.- .,.oe,.y should msss sneir
votes fst mere Lass Interests. the
eAse,iesee Of tlis country during shat
is known as '.earpet bag rule in the
south, when the negroes were voted in
mass by delegated leaders and large
numbers of the property owning
whites we're disfranchised, is not cal
culated to encourage a repetition Of
this policy. Do fair-Miaaea rcpubli-
cans desire to see again in the halls Of
congress the class Of men who we're re-
turned t. the house and the senate un
der the conditions of reconstruction?
The adventurer in American politics is
a common curse to north and south, to
republicans and democrats. Thus far
ali the distinction that the colored race
has enjoyed in politics has been con-
ra..o1 N <bo .outba,v .b.koc, ;f tho ro