The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-20
wHaro THE FORCE BILL NOW ?


seated resolve in the minds and hearts o
all Northern Republicans to enact this Iegis
Iation. which resolve has been evidenced 81
plainly that q fool ought TO be able to SOC
that it exists All Republican newspapers
of the North have been clamorlng for thi
bill for years; the last Congress, being lie
publican, was overwhelmingly for it. TX
Speaker Reid having made oil the little
reputation that he has 40 the cham
pion Of the Force bill was more
called for and honored at the Minneapolis
Convention than even Mckinley or than any
other person there. and Mr.. Harrison has
time and again declared that he regarded
the passage Of this bill as the most impor-
tant measure that the country has before II.
In spite of all these evidences which, as we
have said. ought to convince the most ln-
credulous. the leaders of the Third party
still continue to derde the measure and tell
the people il is dead Since they pretend
10 think So let them heed the following
from the New Haven Palladium of day or
two back. The Palladium ia representa-
tive Republican paper that speaks the views
Of the party as reliably as any journal pub
lished in this country. It says:
If Mr. Harrison is reelected. as We believe
| and trust he will be. there IS no doubt that
the most earnest efforts of bis administra-
ton will be extended toward the passage OF
n Federal election law by Congress similar 10
that which passed the House of Represen-
tatiVss of the last Congress. 1t is aquestionl
/ which reaches the hearts and consclences OF
voters much more strongly than any ques-
| ton Of the tariff. or silver or foreign rels-
! tons.
Hon. Thomas L. James. who was Post
master General under President Garfield, IN
/ an interview last week gave several sufficient
| reasons for supporting President Harrison
| for reelection, and his fifth reason Is in the
! following words 81 am in favor Of what IS
called the Force bill because 1t gusran-
tees to every citizen Of the United States.
white and black rich and poor, the rght
which is his under the Constitution under
which we live, 10 vote as be sees nj and 10
have bis vote counted"
The views of MIR. James are those that are
shared by the present HARRISON administra-
ton. by Connectcut's Republican repre-
sentatives in Congress and by large ma
ority Of the Republicans of Connecticut.
The Palladium has no quarrel with those
Democrats who believe that the rights OF
free suffrage can be best secured by state
action. IL is a question of policy under our
Constitution. but the Republican party
stands committed 10 that which 1t believes
10 be the better pollcy-tO-wit. Federal
election laws and a thorough enforcement
of them by the executive department at
Washington.
How. after this. can blind man refuse to
see?
Since we know so well the purpose Of the
Republican party it may be we'll to point
out some Of tho atrocous features of the
measures they propose to pass.
The crucial aud vital feature of the meas
ure is that il causes all the officers who hold
the election and certify the result to be APP
pointed by the United States Judges who
hold these offices for life. The election
officers are, therefore. not responsible to the
people who vote in the election, and that
fact alone is sufficient 10 condemn the
bill as one which ends freedom and pu-
rily of elections and makes them whatever
these appointees of Federal power choose
TO certify them to be. We know perfectly
we'll that here in the South those persons
would be declared elected whom the carpet
baggers and negroes voted for. Let us look
for a moment at the proposed machinery of
the law.
1t provides that in making up the roll of
members of the House of Representatives
the clerk shall place on the list the names
Of all persons certified as elected by the
cauvassing board appointed by Republican
Federal Judges holding Office for life. (All |
the United States Judges are Republican |
except two.) The House, it is true, under
the Constitution is the judge ofthe election. /
qualifications and virtues of its own men,
bers. and in theory it would have the right |
after it Was organized to unseat person /
falsely certified by such canvasslng |
boards. but these persons would be
on the rolls taking part in
the organization of the House and IN its |
general business What hope is there that
8 partisan body is going 10 overthrow the
work of It's own creatures in order that they
may thereby destroy their own majority?
When once a House has been formed by
such proceedings it will perpetuate itself
forever.
After taking from the States the ultimate
control of the registration of voters it pro-
vides for an army of hirelings, spies and
hangers on to be appointed by election
officers appointed by United States Judges
1t provides that the United States marshal
may appoint as many special deputy mar
shals as he chooses at pay of s5 per day.
There may be 100000 of these if the marshal
chooses to appoint 80 many. and all Of them
lre at the polls 10 obey the orders Of the
partisan managers of the elections. and it
makes provision by permanent appropria-
ion of a great sum of money to carry out
he purposes of the act
One of the most odious features Of the bill
s a provision for house 70 house canvass
1y Federal officers to investigate the do
nestle surroundings of the voter and
hereby discover whether he is rightly a
Ioter. and this house TO house canvass is
o be thorough and effective" Let every
Iirgnian ask himself what hisf feelings would
,e if one of these Republican deputy mar.
has should invade the privacy of his house
cutting insolent questions TO bis wife and
daughters nominally to ascertain whether
re WAS a lawful voter. really to insult and
lumiliate them This provision was in
he original bill as drafted by Johnny Dav-
IMPORT. and as that bill passed the House
f Representatives. IL is of course
liable TO appear in the bill when il