Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-07-10
THE BILL EXPLAINED.
Benefits TO be Derived by the Passage OF
the Federal Election Blll-The Pledge
of the Republican Party FULFILLED In
the House-Democratic Assaults to
be Made Against the Bill In tho Sen.

ate.
WASHINGTON, July 9.-Representative
Belden of New York, chairman of the repub.
lican congressional committee, has issued
the following address to the republican ed
itors Of the country:
The republican party in its several national
platforms has pledged the country that as
one of its fundamental planks it
provision of the constitution which
guaranteed to every lawful voter in federal
elections his right to deposit his bal
lot and have it counted for the candidate of
his choice. That pledge based on Justice
involves merely the exercise of an unques-
tionable constitutional right of every Ameri-
can citizen. Nevertheless the gravest cleo
ton abuses in large section of our country
have deprived vast masses of their lawful
franchise, have by fraudulent agencies i'm
posed an unlawful representation in the
national house of representatives and have
thus practically eubverted the constitution
in some of its most important and valuable
provisions. The strict enforcement of this
inalienable right Is demanded as q solemn
duty.
No question of negro supremacy, no
usurpation of federal power, is involved in
the issue. The national elections bill which
recently passed the house deals only with
national elections. It does not NEEDLE, di-
rectly or indirectly, with state elections, state
officers or state organizations. The states
are very properly left to work out their own
destiny through their own agencies. Why,
then, should the bill not become a lswi As
declared by Hon. William Mckinley 10 his
recent speech In the house, "the passage of
the federal election bill Is the supreme duty
of the hour"
The passage cannot longer be reasonably
| evaded. The house, faithful and active in
the fulflment of party pledges, Jealous in
| the performance of great public trust and
| undsunted by the diabolical threats and
assaults of the democratic party, has prompt
| ly performed its duty by the passage OF the
bill. Now it only remains for the republican
majority in the senate to emulate the house
and permit the president, by his signature, to
ratify the will of the nation. Will the senate
promptly perform this imperative obligation
The committee IL in possession of informa.
ton showing a concentrated effort on the
part of the democratic party to change the
trend of public thought by poisoning the
| minds of the people to the end that a eenti.
ment may be manufactured that would deter
congress from passing national election Law
at this session. 1t is believed a favorable
expression of opinion at this juncture from
the republican press all along the line would
be as forcible. as timely, and would exert
wholesome influence and inspire Legislators te
house has performed its part of the work u
which the party was pledged. Will you dc
| your duty in urging that the senate shall re
spond promptly by the passage of the meas
ure which the house deems essential, abso
lutely essential, to the purity of the elections
of its own members
(SigAed) ]. j. BKLDEN, Chairman.