The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-10-01

| bic design.
This scheme, conceded with such deliber-
alton and pressed through the House with
| snch haste, was recognized by Davenport and
those associated with him AS II useless attempt
| to snbvert the principles of our government
and smother the sentiments of the people an
less they could also preserve their power to
raid the peoples treasury TO defray the ex'
penses incident to its execution.
Fearing some accident in the suppression
of the majority sentiment in the country, and
dreading that by some miscalculations a
Democratic majority would be returned in
the House of Representatives, determine
ton to take no chances, it provided what is
known as a permanent appropriation for
| all expenditures made under the provisions
of this bill This was frank declaration of
want of confidence on their part in the de-
generacy and corruption of the American
| people 1t is one of the most extraordinary
and uniuStifable provisions contained in this
measure 1t takes from the people the right,
through their representatives, of controlling
the annual expenditures of their own govern.
ment. For so long as the Republican party
held either the Senate or Executive the ex-
penses could be paid, and the partisan work
claimed to have been done under the author
| ity of its provisions, Notwithstanding the i'm
mediate representatives of the people had
unanimously been instructed by their constit-
uents to refuse such appropriation. This
may not be taxation without representation,
which caused our forefathers to assert their
independence of British rule, but it is equally
as vicious and tyrannical, as it approprates
the peoples taxes against the instructions of
the peoples representatives.
The true intent and purpose Of this meas
ure is clearly shown in the cause which gave
! to the Federal supervisors the power TO pass
I al. I
| eept or reject his votes. This provision de-
prized the people of the last vestige of home
rule, or, in other words, of the management
of domestic or state affairs. 1t put it in the
power of strangers to elect anyone on the
| ticket from governor to constable. Is this
not true2 The name of the nominee for the
| House OF Representatives is on every State
ticket but four, believe. 1t is on the same
ballot as that of all the State, county and dis
trict officers. The rejection of the ballot
would mean, therefore, its rejection for
each person named on that ticket, and, to
make it more effectnal the bill provided that
this rejected ballot should be taken possession
of by the Federal supervisor, and by him re-
turned to the chief supervisor, thus depriv-
ing the State canvassing board from correct
ing the fraud or error of the supervisor.
In close State, with fifteen hundred to
three thousand precincts, how many ballots
of legal voters would have to be rejected to
change the majority from Democracy to Re-
publicanism? But one or two in each pre-
cinct. | charged this to be the purpose on
the floor of the Senate, and urged the major
ity, if free and fair elections for Representa-
tives was their object, and not desire to
control the State elections, that they should
offer an amendment that all Represen
tatives should be elected on the second
| Huac1au IF nninkar of tinna Nyhap Stota
election was held. This was test of Their
sincerity, and it was sufficient to demonstrate
to the most incredulous, when they refused
to do so, that the charge was well founded.
This band of conspirators were determined
to stop at nothing short of the absolute con
troll of the government of this entire country
in all its political subdivisions. This is no
only consolidation-it is not only eentraliza
ton, it is absolute imperialism. IL constitu
tional, then demonstration ofthe fathers can
, be changed by Congressional enactment; tn,
! principles of this free republic, composed o
co-equal sovereign States, resting upon uni
versal suffrage, can be transferred by evo
lutionary Congressional majority into EN-
pire, whose political power rests upon tn,
unrestrained will of a cabal Of political ma
nuipulators. The above are few of the mos
! prominent provisions in this extraordnar,
, and un-American measure. Much of tn
: legislation of the last thirty years has born
heavily upon the producing classes of on
country; it has built up in this free Reput
lie an aristocracy of wealth, and turned loos
i upon our railroads and turnpikes a continu
6 Gus stream Of unemployed labor whose mod
4, ern designation is-tramps.
+ The interests of classes have been fostere
: by Republican legislation to the injury an
Z degradation Of the great body Of our people
e,
, citizens would if the iron hand of specii
: legislation was removed from them, soon re
: store the equilibrium that formerly existed
, bat had this measure become law, or shout
its policy be Endorsed by the action of tn
people on the 9Th of November in the cleo
. ton of Benny Harrison or the desperat
e leaders of the Republican party, in Obedienc
to their platform, succeed in passing the fore
bill, the safety of our country, which resi-
. upon the untrammeled expression at the poll
: of the sentiments of the people, would be
come thing of the past.
Then the will and the interests of III
money power and monopolists of the countr
n would dictate and control as absolutely as
4 Russia the administrative policy of our GOV
, eminent. The bill is not dead, but slumber
> awaiting an opportune moment to be brougl
n before the American Congress, sustained b
, the aggressiveness ofthe Republican leader,
; and receiving in the future, as it did in tn
). past, the powerful influence of an administer
! ton whose head is pledged to its support, an
who, in my judgment, basing my opinio
I upon his past actions, would employ the va.
!. patronage of his Office to carry through r,
publican measure that met with such unqua
fled approval and Endorsement from hi
! when it was before the Fifty.hrst Congress.
! In the face of popular election, SURROUND
a ed by the frowns and distrusts of the peopl
of every section of the country, the prudenC
j of Benjamin Harrison has caused him to IT
v iterate the suggestion he made to DEM
cratic Congress. feel justified, howeve
v in questioning his sincerity when his eye
were not opened or his heart responsive
+ the 600,0 Democratic majority which ooI
demned his policy in 1890.
n Where in his message of December, l89
can there he found sentiment which col
dennis the provisions of this bill passed at Il
I previous session of that Congress, but evel
i inference from the language used by hi
. makes him an indorser of Davenport's BIZ
:. and tended to stimulate the radical wing
, his party to that unparalleled parliamenta
/ struggle which took place in the Senate, an
/. resulted in its defeat.