The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1892-11-03

!
/ congress Tor a long period while present issue
between parties prevail. but nevertheless &C
4 cldeats are incident to politics, and therefor
| the danger OF the enactment Of this most mr.
| wise and offensive measure IS always present
always threatened, and always to be guarde
lance 80
The people of the several states will hesitat
long before they consent TO the adoption O
tive localities. They have read for wears i
our New York journals of his tyrannical an,
arbitrary proceedings in New York city; of hi
unlawful incarceration of unoffendine Cit
Zens; or lis confinement of them in his iro
cage: OF his appointment of thugs and cut
ttnGo ,s aevoia OF character and principle, t
browDeat and intimldate honest electors; o
MS wholesale arrest and detention of tho,
sands OF voters on the eve Of election and re
fusal OF bail tor their appearance; of his act
ing in a dual capacity of judge and prosecute
at the same time; of his acceptance in a publ,
capacity Of private political funds for politica
purposes; OF bis prodigality in the expenditure
OF congressional appropriations and the PEG
pie recoliectInS all these shameful actions can
not De made to believe that any measur
"nicn eihaha!eS from Mr.. Davenport is safe
good. ''' 'N' po'''
have not the time tonight to enter into an,
elaborate presentation Of the details of thi
bill. 1t Is sufficient for US TO know that IN,
only purpose Of the measure is to control TO
partisan advantage our elections-sta ant
ulated and controlled without interference,
with state elections-they are almost insena
a1ple Mhtfe they are held at the same time
ne existing federal election law, bad as il.
provisions are, together with the danger of tn,
enactment of the force bill, have already com
PEELED several states to separate their state
elections from congressional and president il,
elections at large expense and great iucon.
venlence to the people. Our election nachin.
cry Is costly enough already, and our election,
should not be needlessly multiplied.
The bill contemplates the appointment of ar
army OF federal supervisors who to assume
the charge Of our elections at every pGIIinr
place. These officials, under the terms of til,
bill. have the right to dictate what persons
shall register; they may require the local
strike off one already on the register. Tier
Is but one perfected registry list at state e.ec-
tions, and il a voters name is stricken off IN
der the direction Of federal official he came,
vote for q state candidate or any other candi.
date because Of the omission of his name, The
same rule applies to voting on election day
. because the federal officials are permitted IL
themselves receive and deposit any ballot It.
!ectcd by the local officers, aud as or ballot
reform law ana The laws Of most IF tue sta; :
require the names of all candidates to be upon
one ballot, the bill gives the power to the fed
eral officials absolutely to determine who may
vote for state and county officers.
The proposed bill usurps the rights and pre-
negatives of the state, breaks down all the
safeguards which have existed for a century
and places all our elections at the mercy Of
fec erai officials who hold their offices for life
The certificates of the federal election officers
as to the election of congressman are to be
conclusive upon the clerk Of the house, not
withstanding they may differ from the certif-
cate of the local inspectors. A house to house
canvass is to be made by these federal super
vlsors, and they may be accompanied by den
uty United States marshals, and thus it is ap-
parent that, as these officials are all Republic
ans, the Republican campaign, national and
state is to be really conducted at the expense
OF the general government.
The chief supervisors are authorized to en-
poy whatever United States troops they NAV
deem necessary at the polls or elsewhere for
tn the purpose OF carrying the law into effect
a nf nit H..
Vaded and swarms of officials-strangers to
the people of the locality-may be EMPLOYED:
arbitrary arrests without warrant may follow
Old men may be dragged to distant courts
upon technical charges tolerated 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
ana reign OF terror may be instituted where
by the legitimate and honest electors NAV he
lntlmldated by a we'll concerted and obnoxious
DISPLAY OF governmental power.
This is an epitume of what may be attempted
and accomplished under the Davenport scheme
TO promote the purity of the ballot box in
would be expensive in its operation, dangerous
IN its enforcement and is of doubtful constitu-
tlonality::, 1t would drag judges into politics,
authority, provoke conflicts between races as
Wen as between the people and the military
and the present era of Cancellation and good
feeling would be superseded by the prevalence
of a spirit of bitterness and hate. The bin i
desperate attempt to prop up the failing for
tunes OF once great political party; it YVES
conceived in political luminosity, is urged frc,n
the narrowest and worst of motives ard is ull-
worthy place among the statutes of the
American republic.
The Democratic party desires free honest
and falr elections everywhere. 1t desires them
not merely because they would inure TO lis
benefit but upon the unselfsh and high ground
that they are essential to the preservation of
our free institutions. Our party has suffered
much in the last from the corrupt and tyran
meal election thods of our adversaries The
tocra9y, OF corporate influence and of pro-
tecied monopolists. 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 cor
rupt our elections. and our party has been
foremost in all the laudable efforts of recent
form 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
tho enactment of the Davenport measure
1t IS true that the colored people in large
hunters are there voting the Democratic
taking away from them, or from us, the CON
troll of their or our elections. The colored peo-
pie were not freed from slavery to become the
slaves OF the Republican party. The south is
loyal, honest and capable, and if permitted. "a
1t should be, 1t will work out its social and
other problems in its own way without injury
TO the coiored race, injustice to the north, or
TO the republican party, or danger to the
elective franchise. In any event the majority
OF the American people will never approve a
measure which threatens their liberties legal
ICES GnIalrneSs and absolutely guarantees par
tlsah victories 70 the INSCRIPTIONS party that
Ga ea to enact i.
At the approaching election there is only
one state officer to he chosen-a judge of the
court Of appeals-and it is possible that. the
once to be filled being a judicial one state
issues may hot enter largely into the cam
paign. BE that as ii may, the Democracy of
the state may we'll regard themselves as in
vlnclpie upon The issues and record which they
No !, oh1,
the promises upon which it was intrusted with
power always retains The confidence of the
people; Look at the admirable results which
have been recently accomplished, and the
manner IN which oCr party has redeemed its
pledges. Ten Years of Democratic control in
the executive department of the state, and
one year If legislative supremacy in both
bfanches, to-t her with every department of
the state in Democratic hands, have produced
may well be proud.
The state is Substantially free from debt, il
having been reduced during the past seven
able AMI ysilant administrator of Governor
Roswell i. Fi;.!er has reflected credit upon
the state and his party. The last Legislature
With commendable promptness the long nc o.
lected enumeration Of the inhabitants of the
state was Lad, which was soon followed by a
OF the senate and assembly
districts. Tie people Of Brooklyn, New York.
buiiaio aid other growing portions of the
state were awarded their just Representation,
have long been deprived by our opponents.
Iou have the Proud consciousness of knowing
that a ErCokl!n man counts as much toniont
under fair and reasonable Democratic amer
llonment as Cots u st. Lawrence county man a
tact v hlcii has net been recognized by Repub-
mean le4i>la tlOa IL fifteen Years.
he voice of the majority of the people will |
hereafter find expression in the legislative |
halls OF GGr state, and the spectacle will no
longer be witnessed of tie Democratic state
tIcket being eiect eli by 5&UGj majority and the |
legislature absolutely secured To tie Rep1lb- |
Means by laws which they refused to change,
and winch We were unable to reverse until the |
great popular Upneayai of last fall The an |
lofiionmeLt has been recently challenged il |
IS rue, by oar opponents, and lis constitutions I
AMY questioned. here is no cause for alarm |
however. Ia rly judgment there are no Just
Or Naf.d groutiis upon which it can be sue |
cessluliy aasal4"d, and our learned and as |
Iute opponents do not gree among thensel,e s |
As 10 the grounds Of their attack. The con
districts CT the state have lso been
reapportloneG il manner SO fair and satisfac-
.aCtOry that 20 one has veHtured TO assaiI il |
New YORK viii always hereafter be REPRE- |
'enled In the federal congress by a majority OF |
Who will reflect the political |
sentiments of the state.
Inc bill providing for constitutional con- |
Tentlnn was also pasSed-a measure long de- |
nandcd by the people, but refused by our adj |
'eT>arleS- The convention will he held next
gar at " hch tire i'll also occur the election |