The state chronicle., 1892-08-21
He Cannot Dodge the Force Bill


dollars were coined.
He Cannot Dodge the Force Bill.
Baltimore Sun.
The long delay in the appearance of Mr.
Harrlson's letter of acceptance is said by
those who are supposed to know to be
due to an effort either to throw over
board the force bill or to dodge it il
such way as to aid and unite some di
vision Of the Southern white vote in this
campaign. This statement is confirmed
by the speech of Secretary Elkins at the
congressional convention at Terra Alta,
W. Va. last week. He went so far as tc
claim that the republicans deserved the
credit of defeating the force bill. "We
don't want force bill," he said. "We
Will use moral suasion to insure purity OF
the ballot" Such a declaration NAV
come from politician of Mr.. Elkin's
school without exciting surprise or com.
ment. Indeed, if he had fatty affirmed
that the force bill was wicked demo
cratic measure that was fought to its
death by the republicans he would not
nave venVured more upon the credulitv
or the ignorance of his hearers than he
did venture in some of his assertions
about the tariff.
But the case is different with Presi
dent Harrison. Recognized everywhere
as narrow partisan and bigoted sec
tlonallst, he has, to large degree, en-
Joyed whatever respect goes with the be-
lief that he was sincere in his partisan
ship and his sectionalism. When, there
fore, he began to plead for Federal
election law with his first official utter
ance, and to persist in its advocacy at
every subsequent opportunity, he was at
least credited with believing that such a
law was just and was necessary, however
untenable from the broad plane of a
national patriotism such belief might be.
Indeed, it is the simple truth that but
for the suggestion and the persistent ad
vocacy Of the president the shadow of
the force bill would never have fallen
upon the land. He opened the matter
IN his inaugural address He said: 1T
is very gratifying to observe the general
interest now being manifested in the re-
form of our election laws" Those who
for years had been calling attention to
the pressing necessity Of such reform
would, be affirmed, welcome the acces-
sion of any who did not so soon discover
the need of reform. The national Con-
gress has not Us get taken control or elec-
tons IN that case over which the consti-
tuition gives it jurisdiction. It
was clearly, however, in the contempla-
tlon OF the trainers of the constitution
that such an exigency might arise. )"
The freedom of the ballot is condi-
tlon OF our national life, and no poacer
oested IN Congress or IN the erecutioe to
secure or Pe1petuate 1t should remain anus
Ell upon occasaOn."
Such were the words addressed to all
the people which came from his lips lust
as the oath of Office was about to be
pressed upon those lips. In his first com
munlcatlon to Congress he dwelt at
length and with thinly yelled feeling of
passionate advocacy on his pet policy
federal control of elections After a very
rhetorical eulogium upon the worth and
patriotism of the colored people, and an
assertion that in many parts of our coun-
try they were deprived of their political
and OF many OF their civil rights, he de-
manded to know when and under what
conditions is the black man to have a
oallot| He earnestly invoked the at
tentlon OF Congress to the consideration
OF such measures, within its we'll ascer-
tanned constitutional powers, to secure
to all our people free exercise of the
right OF suffrage"
Admitting that no evil could Justify
the assumption by the President or Con.
gress of powers not granted. he said
but both will be highly blamable If ali
a Iee po"ers granted are not aoisely but
tr"'ty used to correct these eeils.' and.
that there might be no doubt of his
view of the constitutional power he
added: "7he po,cer to take the rh0le d;.
rect1on md coatrol Of the elections Of men,
'ers Of the House Of Representatives. is
'tearly g10en to the general government.
Out OF these two utterances sprano the
!orce bill, prepared by that virtuous de-
lenoer OF pure elections, Mr.. John Day-
export, and introduced into Congress by
the equally eminent promoter of fair
Mr.. Cabot Lodge.
The force bill passed the House durino
me i hrst session of that Congress. With
The beginning of the second session he.
gan the great struggle over it in the
senate. Notwithstanding the terrible
1e1eat OF his party at the polls meantime,
me President returned to this measure
md gave to its advocacy more of his
message than in the previous year. He
vet forth the alleged abuses, and said:
I'm my last annual message l suggested
hat the development of the EXISTING
a" )" providing Federal supervision Of
congressional elections offered an effec-
'uai .n,i method of reforming these abuses,
The need of such a law has manifested
.sei1 IN many parts of the country, and
y wholesome restraint and penalties
VIII be useful in ALL" and in a snirit of