Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-01-30

= -s'iN see lue uOWulal Of TINS system with
out any outside influences being brought Ia
bear against it. The growth of education
and intelligence in southern communities
among the whites who now do not know
| how to read or write and among the colored
/ people must in the end pull down this arti-
| fetal attempt Of the descendants of the
slave holding aristocracy to build up ex-
elusive power for themselves.
is it true that the election bill contem-
plated any interference with the local
administration of the states !"
The Senator replied in his most emphatic
way: " Most decidedly not. The declar-
alton that we have for moment thought
Of trying to control the local affairs in the
southern states is, to use plain language a
lie. such misrepresentation is part of
the hue and cry raised against this measure
1t is said that we are offering a 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
This bill relates strictly to national affairs
1t provides simply for an inspection and
supervision of this southern oligarchcal
machine in the election of members to
Congress. On the floor today the South
has twice the strength of the North in pro-
portion to the votes cast
The Senator was asked if there was any
thing in the bill which would Justify 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 a mob were tomorrow to attack the
treasury of the United States to sack it the
President would have no real authority to
N To ba =.
Myer. Undoubtedly the President would
exercise a doubtful authority under such
circumstances, and be fully justified, but
the fact remains that he would have no
real authority The army was thus re-
stricted by the Democrats when they came
into power following the election of Mr..
Hayes, During the year 1873 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repealed IN all of their essential provisions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 Republi-
can President, were placed in the apropri-
alton bills The Democrats then threatened
the country then as they do now with the
possibilities of an extra session. The Demo
Gratis adhered to their plan, and the Presi-
dent vetoed the appropriation bills This
resulted in the adjournment of Congress
without providing for proper maintenance
OF the government. An extra session was
called, and in that extra session such con
cessions were made as to result practically
in IA triumph for the Democrats. The
election laws were nullihed And practi-
cally with such notification went the con
stitutional 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
1T practically was, so far as the break
lug down of the unrepublican system 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 today as ready for
a similar situation, if they cannot retain
absolute power Whether it is good policy
to contest the claims of these gentlemen is |
a subject | do not care to discuss 1t is a /
question of principle higher than any uues-
ton of policy. 1t is a situation that will
not be permitted to endure when once the |
public realizes what the South is doing and
proposes to do. The legislation which we |
provides for nothing more or less |
than the supervision of the count of the |
votes in congressional campaign In the !
case of any dispute between federal SUPER |
visors and the local authorities as TO the |
correctness of the result this question will |
be tried before Judge who holds his place |
Tor life. In other words, United States |
circuit judge. He may be in some cases a
Democrat and in some cases a Republican. |
tie will hear simply the evidence and will |
decide the prima-facie case only. His de- |
,ision will simply determine the fact who |
shall be placed upon the rolls of the House
As a member. The House will have full
to review the case and set aside
he decision, if it so wills In England. /
where political election disputes have been
'ettled in the courts during the last twenty
Years, do not think there has been a single
'ase decided in the courts which has after
ward been reversed by the House of Com
mons. This is all that we propose to do.
The power TO decide now the prima-facie
'ase is in the hands of one man, the clerk
II the house of representatives The
'hange that we propose is certainly in the
interests of fairness and honesty Yet,
hese simple things which we have attempt
ID in the direction of honesty and against
system of absolutism based upon dis
honesty and fraud have brought from
Democratic sources cries of revolutionary
proceedings and Misrepresentation carried
o the verge of absurdity in the way of
xaggeration. What We are seeking 10 do
) to throw light upon this system of the
'outh