The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1892-06-03
THE FORCE BILL.

10 the people OF the OOuth WISH
TO be subjected to horrors similar
to those experienced during the re-
construction period? 10 bring about
like state of affairs ii is only
necessary for the republican party
to get complete control of both
houses of congress.
That the only cause which pre-
vents the passage, by the republi-
can party of force bill, at the
present session of congress, is lack
of power to do so, Is evinced by the
following colIoquY, which took place
last week between Hon. Josiah
Patterson and Congressman johnson
of Indiana in regard to what is
known as the Lodge bill:
Mr.. Patterson of Tennessee. ]
ask the gentleman whether the
Republican party stands committed
to-day to what is properly known
as the "force bill?"
Mr.. Henderson OF Iowa. Impro-
perly known.
Mr.. johnson of Indiana. The
gentleman talks about the force
bilP--
Mr.. Patterson of Tennessee. /
mean the lodge bill"
Mr.. johnson of Indiana. 1t is not
'force BILL" 1t is simply a bill
for the purpose of securing fair
elections, for the purpose of Civ
| ing TO the people fair, nonpartIsan
supervision of national elections,
not local and State elections; and
the President of the United States
/ doubt not, and / believe the ma
jority of the Republicans upon the
floor of this House of Representa-
tives, and an overwhelming majors
ty of Republican Senators, backed
by the Republican sentiment of the
country, are in favor of any fair,
honest, constitutional methods where
by there may be supervision North
and South, East and West, of ma
tional elections; and no man but a
coward or a CT aven or despot, no
man but one who seeks to interfere
with the right of suffrage In this
country can honestly and conscien-
hously oppose such a measure.
Mr.. Patterson of Tennessee.
wish to know whether you still ad-
here to the ''Lodge billT'
Mr.. johnson of Indiana. l in
dorse the lodge bill" personally,
and would advocate and vote for
such a measure if it were brought
up in here to-day. l am simply ex'
pressing my belief as to the opinio u
of the President and the Republic
can party.
Mr.. Patterson of Tennessee.
Would your party do the same
thing?
Mr.. johnson of Indiana. l be-
lieve my party would do the same
thing, and If 1t were to refuse to do
1t, l should feel ashamed of it;
I should feel that it had abandoned
the high position which it has here
tofore occupied in the eyes of the
civilized world. Applause on the
Republican side.
The supporters of the bill virtual
~ conceed that there is no necessity
for the appointment of supervisors
in local and state elections to
secure fair counts. But in nation
al elections the advocates of the
measure consider 1t, imperative to
resort to heroic measures in order
to secure stair elections While
posing as votaries to the cause of
Justice the real object of the DEM
agogues who supported the bill,
was to place the South under mar
tlal rule. for the purpose of perpet-
uaiing the control of the dominant
party, in national elections, by
usurping the rights of Southern
democracy. During the pendancy
of that bill the united and gallant
fight made by democrats of the
North an South against its passage
proved their fidelity to the inter
ests of Southern democracy.
The BULLETIN truly hopes that
those who have been affiliatIng
with the democratic pasty, will not
forsake it. To do so, is to Indirect
ly strengthen the party which is
only awaiting an opportunity to cur
tail our liberties by passing what is
properly characterized as the "force
BILL" Indeed to weaken the dem,
ocratic party, is to court financial
disaster, invite republican rule and
negro supremacy.
1 T.