The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-01
THE FORCE BILL THE rssuE.
Hsrrieon and His Party Cannot Avoid the
RssPonsis'i'ty ortheir Position.

Cnnn0t
Responsis'isty orthe,r Position.
Prom ne Philadelphia Record
To repudiate the Forco bin now tho pros,.
dent would be obliged TO eat bis avn off,cjol
recommendations to Congress in behalf OF the
| measure Such recantation. cxtortod from,
partisan fears. would have no valuo 4, m,
estimation OF all who regard tho Force bill as
desperate anu dangerous scheme OF centrali-
cation for tho overthrow 81 tho deares. richts
Of the States and people. Having dolihera,oiv
put the threat OF Now Federal Elections hill
into their platform. 1t Is now too late for tho
Republican editors and politicians to escape
from their position.
From n, Ph,ai.,psia Dm,.
The Forco bill is distinct issue IN tho nros.
ent national contest. 1t Is not so by implIca-
ton or by construction; it is So because 10th
President Harrison and tho Convention that
nominated him have declared in Its favor with
every possible emphasis; and II no were re-
elected President he would Justly assume Tint
his position on the Force bill had been vindi
Gated by the people OF the nation. and that IL
would DO his duty to make exhaustive effort
otake Federal control OF elections In the South
by force under color Of law.
President Harrison was the inspiration OF
tho battle made In favor OF tho Force bill in
the last ConRress. 1t was known that Sccro.
OF the President were so constant and ear nest
that the bill passed the House by party vote
and was only defeated in the Senate by the
revolt OF Senator Cameron and several of tho
western Senators. The President has. there
fore. made the Force bill his own cause. and
the Convention that renominated him not
only accepted him as the champion Of tho
Force bill. but expressly declared In favor Of
1t In the party platform.
10 III
people of the country. and thoy who attempt
to mislead tho South by declaring that it is
not the vital question there. either lack in
telligencc to understand the truth or seek to
confuse Southern voters by falsehood.
Fom@e Atlanta Con,,it,aion.
1t Is significant fact that tho Peoples party
leaders in the South are disposed to sheer Mt
the possible danger OF Force bill legislation
II Harrison is reelected. They turn to their
followers with self-satsfled and complacent
dir. and declare there Is no danger that tho
Force bill will become law
The Significance OF their attitude lies In
this-that 1t is precisely the attitude Of the Re-
publican leaders. The Republicans at the
North. knowing tho temper OF the business
mon OF that section-knowing that they stand
ready to vote down any party which is threat
| ening to convulse the South with another po-
| ljtical upheaval-declare that the Force bill Ia
"a bugaboo." "a last years birds most" "a
| humbug" They say 1t is an issue that has
been sheved.
| Now. II the Peoples party lenders thus
early In the campaign have been driven into
| an attitude identical with that OF the Repub-
licans. what will be the result when the con-
test warns up a little2 They may deceive
their followers for a little while: they may de-
lude them for brief period with the idea that
a vote for the Peoples party means a vote for
| financial relief: but in the end they will be
driven into agreeing and sympathzng with
| the Republicans on other issues besides that
OF the Force bill
That Is the inevitable result OF opposition to
the Democratic party in the South. There is
no escape from It There Is no halfway
ground between the two parties In this Sec
ton where the disgrunted and dissatisfied
voter may safely stand and oppose both Of the
ly and inevitably find himself leaning toward
and finally supporting the other.
| We say naturally and inevitably. for the rea-
| son that all tho issues between the two old
| parties are subordinate to the one great and
| overwhelming Issue Of race supremacy. Of
which the Force bill Is merely one Of the man
| ifestat!ons That Is the whole truth OF the
situation.
The Force bill is dangerous because it Is a
manifestation OF Republican intentions. The
issue behind 1t is the issue Of race
supremacy. and no white voter in Georgia
should DO permitted to blink this i'm
portant fact The Force bill is merely one OF
the Republican fsngs which happens to be ex-
posed to Wow. There are others sharper and
moro poisonous that lie concealed In the heavy
jaws OF the party's purpose.
| Tho issue Is white supremacy against negro
domination. aud tho Peoples party leaders
| cannot escape It