The sun., 1891-01-24
How the Force Bill Affects New York.


How the Force Bill Affects New York.
Tho enactment of the Force bill would tako
from the Empire State power and right
which 1t has exercised for hundred years,
namely. the right and power to supervise its
own elections OF Congressman and to certify
the results.
The destruction Of local self-government
having been to this extent effected, the con-
troll OF our elections would pass into the
hands Of political Judges and partisan adven-
turers, irresponsible to the people of New
York and beyond the reach Of our ballots,
cur courts, and our processes OF law.
The name Of Returning Board has become
edious enough, in all conscience. to liberty
loving people; but the Returning Boards Of
the 1875 type In Louisiana and Florida were
respectable and legitimate as compared
with tho Federal despotism which tho Force
bill seeks to establish. Tho former. In
famous 80 they were In their operations.
selves and under the control Of tho people
of the States. Tho new Federal Returning
Board in New York could no more be reach
Cd by tho votes OF tho citizens on whom the
Force bill flxes its tyranny than the Third
eection OF the Administration Of the Bus
sian Gear.
The principal Federal despot thus estab-
lished In New York would be JOHN l.
DAVENPORT. He would control the entire
machinery Of the Congress elections in this
State. He would be responsible to no
authority on earth save tho secret caucus Of
the Republican party managers, and. to a
certain extent tho Republican Judges in
vested with political authority by tho Force
BILL He would hold office for life. No
power In New York could remove hio. To
render him still moro independent Of the
ireemen over whom he Is to be set, he Is
provided with unlimited funds from the
national Treasury by permanent appro-
priation, like the appropriation for the in
terest on the public debt. His acquisitions
for cash must be paid on demand without
delay, so long as he has secured for his ac-
count the approval Of n partisan Republican
Judge, like himself appointed for life.
So Federal despotism In New York would
be self-sustaining, self-renewing, self-per-
petuating. It would be an autonomy, vested
In JOHN I. DAVENPORT. Once fastened upon
whelming, could shake him off. New York
might return majority OF two hundred
Thousand for the Democratic candidate
for President her electoral votes might
send Democrat after Democrat to the
White House, her Legislature might
elect Democratic Senator after Senator,
and still JOHN /. DAVENPORT would
be there, with his iron cage, his
house to house searches, his arbitrary
arrests Of Democrats on any pretext, how
ever Aimsy. that might prevent the casting
OF . Democratic vote for Congressman on
election day.. DAVENPORT would be there to
SEQ to 1t that tho House Of Representatives
remained Republican, no matter what else
might change; and there he would remain
In the despotic exercise Of his powers, unre-
stricted save by the limits Of his own par-
ttsan audaclty and capacity for evil. until 1t
pleased GOD. in His infinite mercy, to re-
move him from the face OF the earth.
Such is the direct concern which the peo-
pie OF New York have with the gallant re-
sistance which the Democrats OF Congress-
are making to the attempt to pass the Force
bill. The Republican scheme Of revolution
and usurpation threatens the South direly;
but 1t threatens Manhattan Island also. and
not the less; and every Democrat in New
York should understand the importance OF
upholding the Democratic Senators in their
patriotic light, under Senator GoRMAN's
leadership. against heavy present odds.