New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-28
| THE CHICAGO FAIR IND THE LOnGE ELL.

| THE CHICAGO FAIR AND THE LOnGE ELL.
The latest device Of the Democratic party, to
prevent any interruption of its power to carry
elections by swindling is the endeavor to bull
doze the Senators from Illinois, Sundly South
crn Democrats threaten that they will have
nothing to do with the Wolld's Far unless the
lllinoi, Senators defeat the Election bill. The
threat is not likely to have much influence.
Senator's Cullom and Farwell are not exactly
the right men to be driven into any course con-
trary to their own convictions of duty SEN
ator Farwcll has not been renominatcd, and
will not feel great dependence upon this par
ticular Legislature of Illinois, while Senator
Cuom has four years yet TO serve and Is prob
ably aware that the political state OF things
now existing in Illinois is not likely to exist
that long. He properly remarks that he docs
not conceive that a Senator ought 10 be lniln-
cnccd by a Legislature in that fashion, ana he
will be honorcd by everybody whose respect Is
worth having if he treats the Democratic bull
dozcrs with contempt.
| But why is it that whenever Democrats have
extraordinary need in order to save their party
from destruction they almost inevitably resort
to violence, TO Swindling. or to brow beating and
bullying? Are they conscious that they can
never appeal with confidence 10 the reason or
the patI vDtiSm of those good citizens who form
the larger part of either political party j.
their consciousness of criminality and diShon-
orablo purpose 50 keen that they realize it would
be of no Use to defend their course on lis
merits? The question is whether regulations
which secure fair elections in some Of the
States NAV not he most wisely and bcn"fGaIly
cmployed to secure honest Federal elections in
all the States What sort OF argUm Mt is 1t
on that question to reply I'VE will boNcctt
YOUR Worlds Fair unless YOU let us have our
way? Not by appeals of that sort are Ameri-
cans who are worth the name Swcrvel from
doing what they can TO protect the purity OF
the ballot box. When n citizen who honestly
hesitatcs, being not entirely clear whether the
nrODoscd measure is expcdicnt or wise. finds
such an attempt made TO cocrce his judgment
and his action the chances are that he instant
~ concludes that scoundrelS only. in the eX-
IRENE of DESPERATION would resort to such
course il is hard not to infer that men know
the infamy Of The political methods fer which
they are fighting. and are profoundly conscious
that no defence can be made for them. when
they abandon all argument and resort to fill
clustering in the Senate. and budozing outside
of that body.
The people Of Chicago are not supposed 10
he destitute OF practical sense. They doubt
less perceive that there arc millions who do not
threaten. but can be kocnlv offended, on the
other SIDE Of the question. Those who are IN
terestad in the success OF the Chicago EXpo>i-
ton undoubtedly realize that it would destroy
all chances for that undertaking if it should
come 10 be associated in the public mind with
long their power of carving elections bv fraud.
The Exposition had better 60 down a thousand
times over than TO suffer such a performance
to dictate abandonment of protection for the
right Of suffrage. No manager OF the great
enterprise, no one connected with it in any re-
sponSble capacity. will venture h give any
reason for the suppoSiton that the great show
is more precious to him than the purity of cleo
tionS in this country. When Democrats began
TO bully and threaten about the AppOrtiOnment
bill they soon discovered that they could not
afford 70 aft r0nt millions of voters in the rapid
" growing Western States. Ii is probable that
they may realize, perhaps when il is too late
that they cannot afford 10 make war on a great
National and International Exposition in which
all Americans may naturally feel a common in
terest for the sake Of defending Democratic
raSca!S in their power 70 stuff ballot-boXcS. and
Democratic Judges in their power to make false
returns.