Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-01-30
Plain Talk from Mr. Edmunds
oN run ELECTIONS BILL


And the Secret Of the Democratic oppo.
sition TO that Measure.
81, Report of an interview with Mr. Edmuuds ON
] Monday of this week 10y r g. Crawford the .t..o'
] Tribune. " wv" '"'N
Senator Edmunds, Of Vermont. talked
| frankly about the election bill last evening
! lie presented a clear view Of the measure
and indicated plainly what he Thought was
the duty Of every Republican regarding il
| lie said that the opposition IN the election
| bill could he cassed under the rour Ds
| first, the Democrat pure and simple seq
ond, the Dough-face Of the North who al
ways sides with the southern wing of his
party third, the Demagogue who. in the
form OF the Mugwump, always seeks to have
peace at any price, and fourth, Dives the
rlch New York grocer, who thinks that IL
the election bill were passed he might not
De aole TO sell as much tea and sugar in the
South rs before
The Senator was asked "Wbat il the
real reason OF the tremendous opposition
the South has made to the election Hill ~
lie replied History has a habit of re-
peating itself. We are now encountering
the same situation in some respects. that
we had 30 years ago We had then in
politics small slave-hoding oligarchv.
whose power in politics depended entirely
upon the existence 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 adherence to princinle
moved against this great wrong. Then the
Democrat, the Dough-face, the Demagogue
and Dives advanced the same argument
against any agitation of the subject, against
anything which would impair the peaceful
relations of the North and the South. that
are heard now Today the situation is sim
liar, in that this same oligarchy has now
begun to build up a 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 de-
scendants of the former slave-holding arts
tocracy This is shown in the adoption of
the Mississippi constitution. This constitu-
ton will undoubtedly be copied by all of the
other southern states
asked the senator to give some expla.
nation Of the workings of the Mississippi
In reply he said that the pol |
ltlcians had secured there the adoption of |
a constitution which placed practically the |
administration of all the affairs of the state
These selections are nominally made by the
legislature, but the legislature is absolutely
by set of managers whose head
S the governor. This constitution regu-
ates suffrage in that state upon the alleged
oasis OF intelligence. No man can vote in
nat state who cannot, first, read the con
tltution of the state, and, second. be able
o explain otf-hand any of its provisions
The board of examiners are always Demo
rats. The law provides for no selections
rom the opposite party These inspectors
an throw out by this process the vote of
ny Republican who has not special knowl.
dye, They can be careful to ask easy
uestlons of Democrats and to propound
uestlons to Republicans which would give
hem absolute control of the ballot boxes. ,
would not be necessary to refuse to count
otes cast, but under this improved ma
nlnery a Democratic result could be re
orded without any apparent fraud or dis =
onesty, Such a system left the power in
lie state in the hands of few people. but
lie Senator believed that although the mills :
the gods grind slowly tb9I;o,-,,,,..,e I week.