The sun., 1891-01-20

bayonet behind every ballot, negro behind
every beyonet, and JOHN l. DAVENPORT be-
hind every negro In the land"
Mr.. COKE OF Texas and Mr.. BATE OF Ten
nessee occupied the fifteenth day. "The
blow" said the Texan, (which strikes down
State sovereignty and the right Of local self
government, which degrades the States into
nero provinces, which strips the States OF
their power and Importance. and centralizes
all government in Washington, should not
be delivered in this hall" Tennessee"
said Mr.. BATE, "can take caro- OF her own
elections and give, as she does, a FREQ ballot
and fair count to all of her citizens entitled
to 1t, regardless Of race or COLOR And per-
haps the entire case against tho bill has not
boon summed up In better or hriefsr form
than by the Tennessee Senator In his tenn
peratcly worded peroration:
~ The Elections bill onsht to BE- abandoned in defer.
snce public sentiment s expressed st tho late cleo.
| tiona
III Tho hill IA unconstitutional, because IL conflicts
with tho Ninth Amendment
"III Tho bill isslt is constructed upon thoughts IN
| compatible with American ideas OF government in
| that
| 20. I. MAKES life tenures Of of'ies.
"b. 1t mixes the courts with politics. ana dsgadss
| the without etsvstins the other.
&C. II opens the doors the employment Of charAc-
terless adven,urers intorners. and spes and lodges
with thom doubtful dangerous and unconstitutional
powers.
I'd Its machinery wou,a be pnrsy partisan and work
| out rureiy.pnrtisan enda
e It would furnish opportunity for election frauds
through irresponsible Returning Boards and to destroy
the virtue Of the ballot By defeating the will Of the
| people,
~ IL would pin ballots bayonsts and control the
| polls
a. Under its auspices bad elements wouid b organ
ised and breed mobs; in fact 1t would bs the Govern
mont organizing mobs and leading them with is own
| officers
| N. The expenses Of It's enforcement will b snor-
| nous aud far beyond any benefits.
| ~ II would be cumbersome and dnicuis Of exsea
ton and would inveigs honest men Into technical OF
| statutory ofeuosa
| "Iy. The bill 10 sectional and partisan.
~ The time 10 past for rsvivine sectionalsn. the
election having the Of good feeling
| and opened great future Of prosperity"
The Democratic argument was next reen-
forced by Mr.. GIBSON Of Louisiana, and then
came the remarkable and important declara-
ton against 1t by Mr.. STEWART Of Nevada,
the first Republican to raise his voice In
protest. Mr.. GEORGE arose again to testify
that in Mississippi no man Is debarred Of tho
right to vote who can vote In Massachusetts,
or in Connecticut or in Wyoming. The
eighteenth day OF tho debate was distin-
guished by the very eloquent speech Of Sem
ator VOORHEES, Of Indiana. Then came Mr..
CALL Of Florida and Mr.. MCPHERSON OF
New Jersey, Mr.. GEORGE again In five
hour argument, and. on the Republican side
against the bill, Mr.. WoLooTT and Mr.. TEL
LER OF Colorado and Mr.. STEWART Of Ne
vada. Finally, on tho 5th Of January. the
Force bill was set aside for the Financial
bill by the votes Of the Democrats. aided by
eight Republican Senators.
For a few days Democrats and patriots
generally rejoiced in the belief that the peril
to free institutions had been permanently
averted by the vote Of Jan. s. On the 18th
Of the present month Senator QUAY intro
duced his substitute measure, adding to the
monstrous features OF the HoAR bill the still
more abhorrent provision for the suspension
OF habeas corpus. On the 14th Of January
Vice. President MoRToN's casting vote en-
abled Mr.. HoAR to bring his old Force bill
again to the front. The Democrats, un-
wearied and undismayed, resumed the de-
fenslve, and the new series OF protests and
arguments has brought out the eloquent
speeches Of Mr.. PAsco Of Florida. Mr.. JONES
OF Arkansas, Mr.. HAMPTON Of South Caro-
lima, Mr.. REAGAN OF Texa4, and Mr.. FAuLK-
NER OF West Virginia, the last-named orator
holding the floor for twelve hours against
the bill.
This sketch Of the contest In the Senate
over the Force bill brings the story down to
the present time. when the reckless parti-
sanship behind the measure openly declares
the intention to put the bill through this
week by the suppression OF free debate.
The narrative shows with what fidelity vigil
lance. and unremitting patriotism the Dem
ocratic Senators have performed their duty
to their party and the country. There is no
reason to suppose that they will weaken
now, or display any lack Of resources under
the changed conditions brought about by
the appearance Of the ALDR1cH gag.
Anything to beat the Force bill =! And all
honor to the Democrats Of the Senate who
have stood so gallantly for tho very first OF
Democratic principles throughout battle
Of almost unprecedented duration and oi
unsurpassed Importance. Especial honor to
one Democrat who has delivered no set
speech against the Force bill, but whose
splendid political generalship and mastery
handling Of tho Democratic column from
the first day Of the battle until the present
time have made him the acknowledged
leader Of tho minority In the Senate when
Democratic principles are at stake. We
mean ARTHUR PUR GoRMAN. who halls
from the State Of Maryland.
A Novelty in Habeas Corpus Law.
On the 22d Of December last Mr.. WILSON