The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-05-17
FORCE AND FRAUD IN ELECTIONS.

I'VE are unalterably opposed to force
and fraud in the conduct of elections. or e
any interference with them by extraneous
powers or means. The constitution of the
United States should not be vitiated by
makeshift legislation to facilitate party ad
vantages. "-DemocrGtic Platform.
1t IS not extravagant to assert that the
defeat of that revolutionary measure
known as the force bill was the only con.
dltion of national peace This bill was, in
the language of its supporters, intended to
put "a bayonet behind every ballot,n and
TO enable the Republican party to do its
own registration, counting and certifica-
tion.''
Let me make the ballads of nation -
said FLETCHER, land care not who makes
the laws" The Republican version is, let
US do the registration, counting and certi-
bcation of votes, and we care not who does
the voting
The creation of 100000 federal officials to
oversee the elections for Congressman,
that Is, to deny to the people of state the
right of conducting their own elections, to
strangle the liberties OF the people at the
1890
nome rule, these were objects to the con
with one most important phase of
summation of which the Republican party
bent the whole of its power
The desperate attempt made to pass this
"bayonet bill'' has every appearance Of the
last struggle Of waning power. Feeling
That the people were leaving them, the
Republican leaders did not hesitate to
make an attack upon the rights of the
state, which would prevent the
people from choosing their own
representatives, and prevent their
governor from certifying to the
result of the election. returning board
with absolute power, judges appointed for
life, irresponsible deputy marshals, and
other officials beyond the reach of the bal
lots OF the people and beyond the reach of
the state courts, were the means for the
accomplishment of the overthrow of popu-
lar liberty by the conspirators armed with
the power of the government.
The rules for conducting elections in
Utah, were sliced and improved upon, so
that every Democratic state in the union
would be subjected to the registration and
election farces common in Utah.
The constitution was in danger of being
Vitiated, under the plea that the power of
Congress to make or alter state regulations
concerning the times, places or manner of
choosing representatives, meant that Con-
gress might in effect take away from the
people the power to choose their represen
tations. 1.-THE House of Representatives
shall be composed of members chosen every
second year by the people of the several
states" And this does not admit the promo
sition that Congress may so abridge this
right Of the people that federal officials and
not the people themselves shall elect and de-
clare the election of their representatives.
The question of the force bill is still a
live one. A Republican Congress may be
expected TO enact such a measure at the
earliest opportunity. The Democratic duty
is TO maintain the right of the people
against every assumption of divine right
TO rule" on the part of the Republican
leaders, and TO teach the people the true
significance of "a bayonet behind every
hallct