Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-10-29
Great Speech by Gov. Hill of N. Y.

OOV. I'LL, OF NEW 1Oih, uoAfOA0u 6iOAo
speech at Canton, Ohio, on Tuesday, Oct.
21st, from which we make the following
extracts
An important political campaign is that
upon which our country has entered. No
more important has been held within gen.
Grafton. The contest is not merely between
men or parties and not only between gov
ernmental policies. The question present.
ed to our voters is not whether the next
House of Representatives will be republic
can or democratic, but whether the nature
of our federal government is to be radical
" modified and the integrity of our institu-
tions successfully threatened. The great
issue Is the record of the republican party
in it's brief control of Congress.
No party has more recklessly defed pre-
cedents, more hagrantly disregarded prin-
ciples, more boastfully overturned tradi-
lions, more seriously invaded private rights,
more arbitrarily encroached upon preroga-
tives of States or more tyranically used the
power of partisan majority. The animal
ing motive of it's acts seems to have been
only the perpetuation of its own power. 1t
has cared nothing for the constitution,
nothing for the Treasury, nothing for the
people. Its chief desire has been to get
such firm grip or control of govern ment
that for generations to come its politicians
may feed upon the spoils of power.
''To accomplish this the party has in
creased it's majority in the House of Repre-
sentatives by arbitrarily ejecting democrats
from their seats; has stolen representation
of one State in the Senate; has admitted to
the Union States whose only claim to ad-
mission is that they will swell the republi-
can majorities; has denied representation to
democratic Territories much better qualified
for Statehood in point of population and re-
sources; has ignored the rights of majority
by the tyrannical methods and ruling of the
Speaker of the House; has squandered the
Treasury surplus by extravagaut appropria-
tions to concilitate particular interests; has
enacted tariff bill which will supply cor
ruptiou funds for election; has conducted a
census denounced everywhere as worthless
and manipulated for counting the republi-
can population up and the democratic pop
ulation down, and has threatened the enact
ment of force bill which will put an end to
State authority in the certification of fed
eral elections and make Congress not repre-
sentative of the people but the creature of
whatever men federal officials may choose
to count in.
"When the present Congress convened in
December last the republicans had major.
tives, which was soon increased to eight By
the admission of the representatives of the
new States Notwithstanding this major.
ity it was difficult for the party in control
to retain quorum present, and the leaders
Immediately took arbitrary measures to
carry out policy previously agreed upon
namely, to GUST enough democrats and seat
enough republicans to give good working
majority. Eighteen contested election
cases we're submitted to the Committee Oh
Elections, ell but one brought by repubii-
cans, and that one by a man who after
wards acted with The republicans as the
condition of his being seated. Ia order TO
facilitate the process of counting democrats
out and republicans In no rules were adopt
ed foI space of three months, and then
only when the loud protest of the country
made it impolitic to outrage public senti-
ment longer.
SCORING THE SPEAKER.
ssThe House proceedings were conducted
on what the Speaker called general paria.
mentary law, but what in fact was his own
arbitrary will. The saoredest parliament
ary rights guaranteed to tho minority dur
ing century of government were ignored
With the brute force of majority and
without any show of reason, nine democra-
ais from their States that they we're legally
and properly elected, were turned out to
make room for republicans. Here is the
list of martyrs to republican tyranny
Pendleton, of West Virginia, elected by a
plurality Of 100; Jackson, of West Virginia,
elected by plurality of %; Compton, of
Virginia, elected by plurality of 1871; Wise,
of Virginia, elected by plurality of 361;
Breckenridge, of Arkansas, elected by a
plurality of SAG; Venable, of Virginia, elect
ed by plurality of e42; Gate, of Arkansas,
elected by plurality Of 1,34S; Elliott, of
South Carolina, elected by a plurality of
1855, aud Turpin, of Alabama. elected by
plurality of Is, 1853.
-Four other democratic members whose
pluralities were 3, 60lO 100 and S,419 res
pectively are awaiting decapitation by
these political assassins at the next session
Of Congress. Is it any wonder that having
accomplished this Czar-like purpose Speak
er Reed exclains Thank God, the House
Of Representatives is no longer delibera
tive bodyP"
THE TARIFF ISSUE.