The sun., 1891-01-20

the temutation to fraud under the presont
system will bo made more evident; and 1t
will not DO many years before the people OF
Connecticut will DO ashamed Of having tho
representatives OF rotten boroughs elect
State officers defeated at the polls.
A Memorable Battle Senator German
as the Democratic Leader.
The mastery way in which the minority's
resistance to the passage OF the Force Dill
has been managed In the Senate should be
the admiration of the country. Never were
political strategy, physical endurance. and
patriotic eloquence exercised In creator
or noblcr cause.
Yesterday was the iwenty-eiahth day OF
tho long struggle in defence of American in
stitutions and free and honest suffrage.
On the evening Of Monday. Dec. !, the Re-
publican caucus decided that the Force bill
should be passed at any cost, and at the
earliest day possible. On Tuesday the
odious measure took the first place on the
calendar as unfinished business, and on
Wednesday, Dec. 8, the great debate opened
with long speech in opposition by Senator
TURp1E of Indiana, particularly devoted to
an exposition Of the proposed Republican
outrage against the white voters Of the
Southern States. THE result Of recent
Presidential election" said Judge TURP1E,
"has given a new edge to sectional ven-
Reance, and these zealots come forward
under q new pretence. but with no change
Of purpose, seeking the control Of national
legislation
The next day was mainly occupied by
Senator PUaH OF Alabama. He pointed out
that since the Union began each State has
been left to the full and free exercise Of the
power to regulate the Congress elections,
and that each State has exercised that power
judiciously and in good faith, 30 as to secure
free and fair elections. Tho entire bill and
the sole object to be accomplished by it,"
said Mr.. PUaH, "is to secure two things,
namely, supervision and final certifcation
by the Republican party of the election Of
members Of Congress in States and districts
heretoforerepresentedb by Democrats. These
two objects were publicly declared by Speaker
REED to be the sole purpose to be secured to
the Republican party by the proposed bill to
regulate Federal elections"
On the next day Senator GRAY Of Delaware
began o remarkably acute and comprehen-
sive argument against the Force bill, which
occupied In the delivery the better part Of
three days. He took up the bill section by
J. section, exhibited its enormity in gross and
| in detail answered with consummate skill
the arguments with which he was inter-
rupted almost constantly by the defenders
Of fraud and force during the three days'
speech, and concluded on the third day one
| Of the ablest pleas for the conservation Of
American institutions and democratic prin.
clples that was ever uttered by statesman
| in either House Of Congress. Our estimate
OF the Importance Of Senator GRAY's over
whelming speech is not exaggerated by the
width Of q single line.
Next on the Democratic side came Senator
BERRY OF Arkansas. Senator DANIEL Of Vir-
| ginia, and Senator GEORGE Of Mississippi.
They attacked the bill from different points,
Senator DANIEL dwelling especially on the
| past operations OF JOHN I. DAVENPORT In
| this State. In q speech more than four
hours long, Senator GEORGE recited the
action of each of the original States In rati-
flying the Constitution, showing that no
State has surrendered Its right to regulate
Its own elections, and that up to the present
day such Federal interference as the Force
bill contemplates had neither been exercised
nor attempted. except in the two or three
fragrant instances Of usurpation that dis
grace the history Of the Republican party.
Mr. GEORGE was followed In turn by Mr..
| MORGAN OF Alabama. who declared that no
measure was ever brought into the Senate
| that 80 seriously threatened the equilibrium
OF our Institutions; by INVEST OF Missouri,
Mr.. BLoDGErT OF New Jersey, Mr.WALTHALL
OF Mississippi. and Mr.. BUTLER Of South
Carolina in incidental remarks upon specific
aspects OF the bill, and MIR. JONES OF Arkan-
sas who prophesied that II by nero phys
ical forco tho majority OF the Senate should
force this measure through then tho rcbuke
received by the Republican party In Novem-
ber last would be a Zephyr as compared to
a cyclone with what would follow the pas
sage OF this bill"
Then came Mr.. CoLouITT Of Georgia. with
q powerful appeal for true nationality as
against sectlonalsm; Mr. WILSON of Mary
land. who earnestly protested against the
| Napoleonic sentiment that the ballot and
bayonet should 60 hand In hand. thus be-
coming tit emblems OF Imperialism and
absolutism; and Mr. VANCE Of North Caro-
lina, who impressively said: Nobody calls
for this bill. North or South save desperate
and extreme partisans who prefer their
| hope OF party's success TO their country's
peace. Peace and progress all over the land
protest against your bill. Most Of all, the
welfare Of the black people, In whose inter-
est and for whose sake you profess TO act
imperatively demand the defeat Of the bill
1t is admitted that there is growing good
will between them and the whites, and that
they arc participating fully and fairly In
the prosperity Of the South. The man who
would disturb these conditions Is an enemy
to both races"
Mr.. REAGAN OF Texas. Mr.. MORGAN OF Ala
bama again. and Mr.. KKNNA OF West Vir.
glnia carried the great debate to its four.
teenth day. This vast machinery OF parti
san merceuaries," said Mr.. REAGAN. ito bs
paid out of the public Treasury. would un
doubtedly do more to debauGh voters and e
corrupt the ballot and to defeat the will o.
1 ;v,A -.