The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1891-01-10
TRE ELECTTOX BILL SHELVED.

-ieeaioh bll and took up The financial.
Tins aston may, we suppose, be con-
sidered to be The end ofthe Election Bin.
The Republicans voting with the Dem.
oerats were all from the West and ali
from the silver States except Wash
burn, of Minnesota. They numbered
2, and deserve to have their names in
every Southern print. The other Z are
Stewart and Jones Of Nevada, Stan
ford of California, Teller and Wolcott
OF Colorado, Shoup and Mcdonnell of
the new State Of Idaho. The irony
OF fate was vivid in the vote of the two
freshly sworn in Idaho Senators /;
which state had been created all unripe
for statehood to swell the party
majority and render the passage of
the Force Bill certain.
This failure of party measure Of
such moment, the open falling away
from its support of SO numerous a
body of Republican Senators, In effect
reaches far beyond the bill defeated.
1t is to be regarded as decisive check,
If not the overthrow, of the vicious
policy Of the Republican party, of
interference In the affairs of the South.
This bill was the elimination of that
policy, which has for 80 years past
reared itself above the Constitution,
and went 10 the very heart of the
rights Of the States. Its defeat prsc-
ticslly meaus the assurance Of home
rule, an essential feature of which Is
control of all elections by State officers.
We have said above that the Elee-
tion Bill was aimed at the heart Of the
rights of the States. How true is this,
how much farther ID would penetrate
in and subvert existing governmental
machinery than all that has preceded,
constitutional amendments and recon-
struction acts, the editor of the TINES
for one never realized until he had read
Senator Georges speech. Indeed the
inference had been drawn from the
general debate and discussion Of the
measure that though odious in effect
and contrary to all true conception Of
our form of government, II was not
plainly unconstitutional. This readi-
ness to accept as fact that any law can
be odious and subversive of popular
government, and at the same con-
sist with the Constitution, is a lament
able illustration of how far The current
of thought has been diverted from the
true channel during the past 20 years.
But Senator Georges speech, All ex-
haustive and thorough study of the
whole question, germ and root, body
and branch, was overwhelming in
proof that admission of the constitu-
tionality of the measure was crude and
unwarranted. Its unconstitutionality
was broadly assumed and conclusively
demonstrated in this great argument,
which none ofthe eminent lawyers on
the Republican side ever attempted TO
confute or reply to.
Previous references TO Senator
Georges speech have been made in the
TINES upon such knowledge of II only
as were furnished by press comments
and meagre, disconnected, extracts
from 1t. These do it the very scantiesI
Justice. After close reading of the
speech we feel constrained to express
the impressions it has left. Without
the slightest exaggeration of words
the speech is to be pronounced grca'
one. 1t is not eloquent, as the term Il
commonly applied, for there is ne
effort at this, no appeal to The
emotional. But great in historica
research and grouping of facts
in clearness aud closeness of reason
in its irresistible force of logic. L
is as an argument, and because of th'
momentous issues that hang upon SC
profound a step in constitutional gov
ernment, entitled TO rank not only al
the chief incident in the contest ovel
this Election Bill, but as worthy ofplac'
among the greatest efforts OF The
greatest debaters in the past history o
the Senate. Perhaps the most striking
if not the most admirable, feature o.
Senator Georges speech is its absolute
freedom from partisanship. Its chic
and lasting value is that ii has Profound
ly and powerfully recalled the states
men and the people of the day, to The
true and high understanding and csti
mate of the nations fundamental law
which il commanded in former and
better days from all men, regardless ol
party. II is high time that patriotic
effort should bo bestowed in this dlrec
tion--to winning men back to the old
time allegiance. 1t is our hope ano
faith that this election bill marked the
flood tide of the "higher law" doctrine
which was the ultimate cause ofthe ma
tion,s long "noctes triste"-certainly
that no party can ever again pass al
unconstitutional measure.
It's to be deplored that the speech o
their Senior Senator has not been glvel
general circulation among the people
of Mississippi. 1t is cause of deep re
oret that it is not within our facilities
to afford this. Though a Conslltu
tional argument, It would be found o
absorbing common interest.
The Lie Direct.
When Mr.. Clarkson says that MIS-
sissippi has, through a Constitutions
IL