Huntsville gazette., 1891-02-28
THE ELECTION BILL.
Errors and Misrepresentation of Oppos-
ing Forces.


election bill could be classed under the
four DIS. First, the Democrat pure and
simple; second, the Dough-face of the
North who always sides with the South
ern wing of his party; third the Dema-
gogue who, in the form of the mug
wump, always seeks to have peace at
any price, and fourth Dives, the rich
New York grocer, who thinks
that if the election bill were passed
he might not be able to sell as
much tea and sugar in the South as be-
fore.
The Senator was asked: "What is the
real reason Of the tremendous opposi
ton the South has made to the election
bill?''
He replied: 'History has habit of
repeating itself. We are now encoun-
tering the same situation, in some re-
spects, that we had thirty years age.
We had then in politics small-slave-
holding oligarchy, whose power in poll
tics depended entirely upon the exist
ence Of slavery. Their power was
threatened through the attempt to
abolish slavery. There were people in
the country, however, who regarded
slavery as crime and, without any
thought of loss, actuated by an adher-
ence to principle, moved against this
great wrong. Then the Democrat, the
Dough-face, the Demagogue and Dives
advanced the same arguments against
any agitation of the subject, against
any thing which would impair the
f,,1 .o1n - \,
the South, that are heard now. To-day
the situation is similar, in that this
same oligarchy has now begun to build
| up similar system of power in the
| South. This system contemplates
placing the absolute control of its
| political affairs in the hands of a few
| men, the descendants of the former
slave-holding aristocracy. This is
shown in the adoption of the Missis-
sippi constitution. This constitution
will undoubtedly be copied by all of
| the other Southern States.
| ''The declaration that we have for a
moment thought Of trying to control
the local affairs in the Southern States
is, to use plain language, lie. Such
misrepresentation is part of the hue
and cry raised against this measure.
| 1t is said that we are offering measure
| which shall give the negro supremacy
| in the South, and that the white people
are therefore to be sympathized with
because they will not submit to such
| domination. T!.iS bill relates strictly
to National affairs. 1t provides simply
for an inspection and supervision Of
| this Southern oligarchical machine in
the election of members to Congress.
| On the floor to-day the South has twice
| the strength of the North in proper
| ton to the votes cast"
The Senator was asked if there was
any thing in the bill which would justi-
| fly the use of the army or the bayonet
| at the polls
| He replied that this was another of
| the lies told concerning the measure.
| The army was now so restricted in its
uses that if mob were tomorrow to
| attack the Treasury of the United
| States to sack it, the President would
have no real authority to call to its pro-
| lection the troops from Fort Myer.
Undoubtedly the President would ex-
ercise doubtful authority under such
circumstances, and be fully justified,
but the fact remains that he would
have no real authority. The army was
| thus restricted by the Democrats when
they came into power following the
election of Mr.. Hayes. During the year
1878 they made just such fight as they
| have made now on the election laws
| which were then on the statute books
| These election laws were repealed in
all Of their essential provisions, and to
| secure the approval of the Republican
| President, were placed in the appropri-
| alton bills. The Democrats then
| threatened the country then as they do
now with the possibilities Of an extra
session. The Democrats adhered to
| their plan and the President vetoed
| the appropriation bills. This re-
| suited in the adjournment of
Congress without providing for a
proper maintenance of the Gov
ernment. An extra session was called,
| and in that extra session such conces-
| sions were made as to result practically
| in triumph for the Democrats. The
| election laws were nullified. And prac-
| tically with such notification went the
| constitutional amendments following
| the war, passed for the protection Of the
colored man in his newly-acquired
| rights"
''Then, in your Judgment, the war
was practically fought in vain?"
| ''It practically was, SO far as the
| breaking down of the unrepublican sys-
| tenn of acquiring political power built
up by these slave-holding oligarchies is
| concerned. This association of political
conspirators threatened before the war
| that they would wreck the Government
| and divide the country if they could not
| have their own way. They were ready
| to go to war then when their political
| power was threatened, and Judging by
| their threats and their demonstrations,
| they are to-day as ready for similar
situation, if they can not retain absolute
power. Whether it is good policy to
| contest the claims of these gentlemen
| is a subject do not care to discuss. It
| is question of principle higher than
any question of policy. It is situation
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