The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-09-23


will carry the country by million ma ority
1--WE should not, however, permit our po-
sition. to be misunderstood. We arc not
seeking power on the calamity" issue, but
with all good citizens we rejoice in the pros.
perity of the country and trust that it may
continue, but we insist that the country has
been prosperous not because ofthe Mckinley
law but in spite of it. The plain truth is
that this policy Of protection cannot much
longer stand against the tremendous
PRESSURE OF THE PUBLIC SENTIMENT.
for its abandonment. The cause Of indus.
trial emancipation is pushing on.
There is another issue in this campaign of
equal, it not greater, importance than the
tariff, which effects the rights and liberty of
every citizen. The Republican party seems
to be rrevocably committed to thu. passage
Of the federal elections bill, generally known
as the "Force bill," and although i, must be
evident to the most patriotic and thoughtful
members Of that organization, that Il is a
piece Of political foolshness only equaled
by its mendacity, there has appeared for
them no escape from its advocacy.
cit is an impeachment of the good sense
of the Republican leaders that they should
| press the consideration Of so offensive and
unwise measure at this or any other time,
especially in view of the fact, now apparent
to every one that it absolutely prevents their
party receiving a single electoral vote in a
| third OF the states OF the union, and although
as partisans we rejoice at their folly, yet as
citizens, we deplorc their attack upon the
free institutions Of our country, never before
imperilled The bill has been well described
as 'menacc to liberty"-,he liberty of the
north as well as the south, the liberty of the
black as well as the white, the liberty Of
every citizen, no matter to what party he
may happen to belong.
PURPOSE OF THE FORCE BILL.
'sIt is conceded that the measure is with.
out precedent in the history of the country.
For over hundred years the government
had been successfully conducted, yet no such
measure as this had ever been proposed.
The Republican party in the days Of its
greatest success and glory had never ventured
to suggest a scheme Of this kind to perpeiu
ate its power. In those days Of its prestige
and honor, under honest leadership and with
patriotic methods, It appealed toithe inielli.
gence. loyalty and emotions Of its followers
10 sustain its supremacy, but not to fraud,
force, federal bayonets or arbitrary proceed.
ures against its opponents.
81 have not time ,o.nigh, to enter into any
elaborate presentation of the details of this
bill. 1t is sufficient for US to know that the
only purpose of the measure is to control for
partisan advantage our elections, state and
federal. The chief supervisors are author.
lied to employ whatever Uuted States troops
they may deem necessary at the polls or else.
where for the purpose Of carrying the law in.
to effect. The homes OF citizens may be
ruthlessly invaded and swarms of officials,
strangers TO the people of the locality, may
be employed. arbitrary arrests without war.
rant may follow, old men may be
DRAGGED TO DISTANT COURTS
upon technical charges to be rated under
this law; the decisions Of state and local
courts may be set aside, federal officials are
to take part in the count and may handle the
ballots, land reign Of terror may be insttu.
ted whereby the legitimate and honest elec.
tors may be inundated by a we'll concerted
and obnoxious display of governmental power.
This is an epitome Of what may be at,emp.
ted, and accomplished under the Davenport
scheme to promote the purity of the ballot
box" in the several states Of the union The
law would be expensive in its operation,
dangerous in its enforcement, and is Of doubt.
full constitutionally. 1t would drag judges
into politics, degrade the army, weaken re.
spect for federal authorities, provoke con.
flicts between races as well as between the
people and the military and the present era
of Cancellation and good feeling would be su.
perceded by the prevalence of spiri, of bit.
terness and hate.
''rhe bill is a desperate attempt to prop
up the failing fortunes Of once great polit.
cal party it was conceived in animosity, 10
urged from the narrowest and worst of
motives. ls worthy place amnnu
STATUTES OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC.
The Democratic party desires free, hon.
est and fair election everywhere. 1t desires
them not merely because it would inure to
its benefit, but upon the unsefsh and high
ground that they are essential TO the preser.
vation OF our free institutions. Our party
has suffered much in the past from the cor.
rupt and tyrannical methods of our adversar.
les.
The Republican party is the party of
wealth, piutocracy, or corporate influence
and OF protected monopolies. Ours is a party
OF the plain people, the men of moderate
means, the bone and sinew of the country.
We have neither the disposition nor the
means to corrupt our elections, and our party
has been foremost in all the laudable efforts
OF recent years to place upon our statute
books those reform election laws under which
corruption, bribery, and intimidation are
rendered difficult if: not impossible. There
has been no such condition of affairs at the
South as to justify the enactment of the
Davenport measure 1t is true that the col.
ored people in large numbers there are
VOTING THE DEMOCRATIC TICKET,
but this affords no sufficient reason for taking
away from them or from US the control Of
their or our elections The colored people were
not freed from slavery to become the slaves of
the Republican party. The South is loyal,
honest and capable, and if permitted, as it
should be, it will work out its social and
other problems in its own way without in.
jury to the colored race, injustice to the
North or to the Republican party or danger
to the elective franchise.
SIN any event the majority Of the Ameri.
can people will never approve measure
which threatens their liberties, egalzes un-
fairness and absolutely guarantees partisan
victories to the unscrupulous party that
dares TO enact it.
"Fellow citizens, need not urge you to
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