The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-08-14
THE FORCE BILL ISSUE.

~ dAS VI COlFbe Tue question o. tSEAh ID
the foremost and most pronounced issue
between the TWO great parties IN the
pending election the Republican measure
known as the Force bill must not be
entirely lost sight Of The Republican
party, usually so boastful of Its splendid
courage" and which speaks so glibly about
possessing the courage OF its convictions,
experienced a wonderful contraction of
that same courage at Minneapolis Ia
respect 70 the subject OF the Force bill, in
that 1t failed TO make any straightforward
utterance in the platform. Still, whatit
did ssy, while lacking clearness In its
phraseology, when read in the light of the
late attempt on the part OF the party
adopting it to pass the infamous LODGE
bill, declares the plain intent of the party
to place elections under federal control.
II may not be amiss 10 here put down what
the Repu blicaus said 90 this point. and
what the Democratic party understands it
10 mean. First then, as to what the Re
publicans say:
We demand that every citizen OF the United
States shall be allowed 70 cast one free and
unrestricted ballot In all pubic elections, and
N--NAN -'-A Dd-abNc oLcAll &c tyulttl duA
as cast. that such laws shall be enacted and en-
forced as VIII secure to every citizen be he rich
or poor. native or foreign born, white Or black,
this sovereign r. ght guaranteed 10y she constiiu-
ton. The free and honest popular ballot the
Just and equal representation OF all the people,
as well as their just and equal protection under
he laws, are the foundation of our republican
institutions, and the party VIII never relent its
Efforts until the integrity OF the ballot and the
purity Of elections shal be fully guaranteed
and protected in every state.
This would all be as sounding brass or a
tinkling cymbal If it were not for thu pre-
vious efforts OF the Republican party TO
take control of federal elections IN every
state for the purpose OF perpetuating itself
in power. II it were not for that it might
be taken for a general declaration favoring
the purity OF elections and pledging the
party TO work for that end; and 80
Tar could be endorsed by Dem
ocrat and Republican alike But IN view
Of the late efforts of the Republican party
to write their Views on that subject in the
general statute books of the United States,
the country knows there is a heap OF mis-
chief concealed by that harmless looking
plank in the platform. The Republican
party would doubtless have been very glad
to glide by the force bill Issue with this
general but covert declaration, as it has not
yet forgotten the storm Of indignation that
the legislation on the subject provoked
throughout the country. But the party is
not to be let OF so easily What it failed
to make clear the Democrats, in convention
at Chicago, made plain. That body of men
were not to be blinded by the smoothly
worded plank IN the Minneapolis platform.
They knew their opponents aud put them
more plainly on record than they seem to
relish. They said;
The Republican party has denantly declared
IN its latest authoritative utterance that its
success in the coming ele stions VIII mean the
enactment OF the Force bill and the usurpation
OF despotic control over elections il all the
states. Believing that the preservation OF re-
publican government in the United States is
dependent upon the defeat Of this legalzed
force and fraud, we invite the support of all
citizens who desire TO see the constitution
maintained in its integrity with the laws pur
suant thereto which have given our country
hundred years Of unexampled prosperity; and
We pledge the Democratic party if it be en-
trusted with power not only to the defeat OF
the Force bill, but also TO relentless opposition
to the Republican policy Of prohigate expendi
lure
OF course Republican apologists find
plenty Of reasons plausible ones too at
first glance, why the Force bill should be
enacted and "a bsyonet placed behind
every BALLOT in order that it may be
properly cast But what despotic scheme
was ever concocted which didn't have
good reasons" for its enactment and en-
forcementg Why, even the numbering of
the first born among all the Israelites in
Egypt was good policy in the eyes of the
Egyptian rulers. The Israelites were In
creasing too rapidly, aud as the Egyptians
desired to keep them in bondage they
feared that in the event Of war with for
eign nation they might be plagued with
servile insurrection if the male Israelites
became too numerous. What better or
more effectual policy could be adopted than
that of numbering the infant malesl And
from that day TO this, ali down through
the ages, despotism has never lacked for
justification for the exercise or augmenta-
ton OF its ty-annical powers. 1t has ever
had a specious plea, and most generally
''reasonsn more plausible than Republi-
cans urge for the despotic powers to be
granted to the general government in the
Force bill
Let there be no mistake; It is plainly the
intention of the Republican party under
the plea of establishing purity at elections,
enabling every man to cast his vote as he
pIeases and have it counted as cast, to SO
entrench itself in power that nothing but
revolution would throw them out Of Office.
Fortunately the country knows the mean
ing already of election boards and electoral
commissions. The people are jealous Of
their liberties and cannot be hood winked
by high-sounding platitudes about insuring
the purity of elections. The experience Of
hundred years demonstrates that the PEG
pie Of the respective states can be trusted
TO manage the elections Of a free people
without returning boards appointed by a
foreign or distant power, aud backed by q
troop OF marshals or a company Of soldiers
to shield them in their trlckery and fraud.
Democrats favor free ballot and a fair
count, and, moreover they can trust the
people Of the states to insure both without
the interposition Of federal returning cleo
ton boards, or federal troops.
-
SAUCE FOR THE GANDER.