Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1892-01-28
Political Theft as a Fine Art.

The most artistic political theft of
| modern times was that conceived and
| consummated by Governor Hill, of New
York, under color of law. as declared
by the highest judicial tribunal of the
State. The Republicans elected 1s SEN
ators and the Democrats IA at the last
November election, and the House was
regarded as in doubt for some days af-
| ter the election, when both parties be-
gan to study the art of political theft.
! The Legislature organized on Tuesday
last with 16 Democrats, IA Republicans,
one Independent and one vacancy, and
| the first thing done after the organiza-
ton was to admit Senator Walker, who
had been beaten 1,6O0 by a Republican
| whose ineligibility was declared by the
Court. The House organized with 81
Democrats and 81 Republicans. With
these assured Democratic majorities in
both branches there are several Demo-
cratic contestants in each body, and it
goes without saying that they will be
admitted to their seats as speedily as
possible. Having stolen the Legisla-
ture for the Democrats, Governor Hill
is too wise politician to allow his ma
jority to depend upon the accident of
i,ia Of
bers. 1t is significant fact that of S3
Democratic Senators and Representa-
tives who publicly declared their Pres
idential preference, SO are for Hill and
i for Cleveland.
Closely following on the heels of this
political theft of New York by the
Democrats, comes the consummation of
an equally artistic theft of the Govern
orship of Connecticut by the Republi-
cans, and with like color of law under
the decision of the Supreme Court of
the State. Judge Morris, Democratic
candidate for Governor of Connecticut,
was elected at the November election
of 1890, having a plurality of some
1000 over the Republican candidate,
and a majority of 26 of the entire vote
polled as officially declared by the State
Returning Board, composed entirely of
Republican State officials. The per-
functOry duty of declaring a State Off
GER elected in Connecticut is imposed
upon the two branches of the Legisla-
ture. The Senate, being Democratic,
promptly declared Judge Morris elect
ed in accordance with the unanimous
return of the Republican State Board.
The House, being Republican, how
ever, refused to declare him elected or
to declare anybody elected, and upon
that technicality Governor Bulkley,
who was not a candidate at all and
whose term expired in 1890, claimed
and held the Office in difiance of a very
large popular majority. He is now
sustained in that claim by the highest
court and will continue to serve
throughout the entire two years term
to which Judge Morris was elected by
the people. This strictly technical Re-
publican theft in Connecticut, like the
Democratic theft in New York, is simp-
ly naked theft; but political theft seems
to have been reduced to a fine art late
ly and honesty in elections is now en-.
tirely subordinate to the success of
might over right.
A like theft of the Governorship of
Nebraska was perpetrated by the Re-
publicans in ousting Governor Boyd,
the Democratic candidate, who had
been elected by the people. He was
turned out of his Office by a partisan
Court upon a technicality relating to
his eligibility. If ineligible, the next
highest candidate for Governor was un-
doubtedly elected, but as the second
highest candidate was the Farmers
Alliance nominee, Boyd was turned out
and Governor Thayer, who was not
candidate at all, has usurped the place
for year. 1t is believed that the SUI
preme Court of the United States will
soon deliver its judgment, restoring
Boyd to the Office to which the people
elected him. but until that shall have
been done, the usurpation of the Cub
ernatorial office of Nebraska by the
Republicans stands out as an unmiti-
gated political theft.
When to these distinct illustrations
of political theft as a fine art, studied |
and practiced by the leaders of both |
parties, are added the recent theft of a |
Governor, Legislature and United States
Senator by the Republicans of New
Hampshire, a like theft by the same
party of Legislature and two United |
States Senators in Montana, the ques-