Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-01-17
AN OPEN LETTER
To Hon. G. W. Atkinson on the Force Bill.
he Is Lectured.

he Is Lectured.
FAIRNoNT, w. Va, January 10, 'el.
Hon. g. ". Atkinson:
SIR:-You have made certain public
statements about the Force bill, which
are very wonderful If true, and If not
true should be examined-that the coun-
try may know who 10 charge with the
threatenings and Slaughter breathed
forth in the last six months.
do not presume to lecture so diStin-
guiShed man upon his views, in or ont
Of Congress. My task is simpler-be-
Ing merely to suggest that the action Of
your party (Which you applaudl as 10
that measure, is entirely of a piece
from the same kidney-with the very
worst bragadocia this government has
had, which also came from your own
party. No one opposed the tactics
openly then, and the protests Of certain
good men were too feeble To be heard
in the noisy tyranny.
Those we're the days Of the "irresiSt-
able conflict and the ''little bell" But
the conditions are not so favorable at
this time.
AR4A HhFAAANA VII Ah' AuANN oAAA NdA7
not be criticised now; for since its post
ponement in the Senate, you are upon
both sides Of that question. 1t is true,
We, the people, have very little interest
whether you are at all times consistent
with yourself or not. II that question
was under discussion, however, your
constituency might make certain com
mentS with which VIII not now shock
your polite ears.
But you did not speak for yourself.
You purpOrted TO speak for party now
in possession Of the Government, con-
corning a thing then being done, Dunn
ferret opus, and publicly, knowing your
words would go on record. We, the
people, therefore, had a right chad We
not?l TO expect that your observations
upon such an important matter would
be al least we'll considered, even il not
very weighty. admit your sanction
would not be very powerful support
OF the bill, nor your abandonment OF it,
even under party fire, a great blow to
its pectS-thOugh your personal or
political heft is not at issue. But what
shall we say when we find you both for
and against; both hot and cold; neither
willing nor obiecting-nor lair nor
feather?
II was always thought hard to run
with the hare and chase with the
hounds, but you seem TO have accom-
plished IL In this case.
Are YOU mistaken in any way?
Is that your party's position, or are
you only hating between your two sets
of masters at Washington?
You say the bill was abandoned six
months ago by the party. Hoar and
Edmunds and EvartS don't seem to
have known IL, nor does the President
but why not? They are nowiSe Shaky
/ In the faith: they have gone the full
length of tyranny ever proposed by
your party, and are its OracleS, "by
merit raised TO that bad eminence.
Are they out of touch with the crowd,
and were they guileleSS in mounting
around the capitol, marching It's cOrri-
doris, and soaring men by their big
lOokS9
To MS, the people, the whole transac-
ton looks SuSpiciously like a piece of
bluff. and especially so in the light OF
your talk in the newspapers. That is
defined TO be "a Wanting show, with
purpose 10 forestai elaboration or over
ride opposition" How can you get your
party position ON the Force bill, outside
OF that definition? How could you ever
have gotten the policy Of Seward,
Blaine, Hoar or EdmundS outside of il?
No doubt the Force bill would do all its
worst enemies claim for IL, il ii only had
free course To run and be gloriied, and
the lack OF such opportunity has
not always been TIE fault OF
the Legislature. Some Of the
most slayiSh measures have come
with its authority, as will the Force
bill. il it comes AT all. But remind
you OF power in the State above the
Legislature That power is charged
with enforcing statutes. and it has never
vet lost touch with the people, mean
the Judiciary. 1t got from its English
mother the knack OF getting around bad
statutes, and retains it TO this day.
That the courts would enforce the
Force bill in It's integrity, you cannot
dream.
But one OF two courses would remain:
IL must either be reinforced by supple
mental legislation OF the same kind, or
I il must remain a dead letter. The
| former would not be endured; the lat
ter, of course, would be fiat failure.
Yours Respectfully,
Bon GRAHAM.