The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-11-12
Chr Democratic Atrueate.
WESTMINSTER, MD.
SATURDAY. NOVEMBER II, 1892,
The Danger Averted.

most important during the century. Self
government was in the scale and the result
is reassuring in the patriotism of the people
The dangers threatening from another
lease of power 10 the men in control OF the
Republican party were greater than ever
before since the people elected Thomas
Jefferson President in 1900. Had they
been successful. Federal control of elections
would have been made complete, and moth
ing short Of revolution would have driven
them from power.
In 1876 Mr.. Tilden, the sage OF Gra-
mercy Park, said that it would require
two-thirds vote to dislodge the Republican
party. In that year majority Of aquarter
of million did not suffice, and four years
later the millionaire bcneficiaries Of Pro
lection bought the election. In 1884 the
Democrats won a partial victory, electlng
their candidate for President and the lower
house of Congress An adverse Senate
harrasscd and blocked attempted reform,
defeated Il bill to equalize tax burdens, and
stood as ii bar to economy i'll expenditures.
Harmed at the awakening of the people to
Il realization of the unequal burdens of
taxation, the tariff lords made Il contract
with the Republican managers to put up
money to buy the election i'll return for Il
tax bill made at their dictation. Cleveland
was defeated for reelection by the corrup-
ton fund raised by the sanity Wanamakcr
and Quay. and disbursed by Blocksof-Fi
Dudley. Gar Reed was chosen Speaker
of the House. and, in the absence OF rules
and in violation of all parliamentary proce-
dure, and backed by subservient majorl-
ty. he ousted number of duly-elected
Democrats from their seats and filled their
places with repudiated Republican candi-
dates. including several Negroes from the
South. until he had an absolutely safe ma
iority to do the bidding Of the tariff lords
who had bought the election for the Re
publican party.
Rules were then formulated and adopted
that completely denied all rights Of the
minority, and under whip and spur, and
almost without debate the Mckinley bill
was passed. hurried over to the Senate and
passed by that body substantially as made
up by the protected manufacturers in the
room of the House committee on ways and
means.
Although the effects of the bill were
scarcely felt before the election of 1890,
the campaign of education begun in 1883
had been continued The coming storm
of public condemnation was realized, and
to make Republican ascendancy secure, Il
Force bill was designed by the infamous
Davenport of New York. 1t was fathered
in the House by Lodge, of Massachusetts,
and in the Senate by Hoar, of the same
state. The bill was rushed through the
House in quick order, but the liberal rules
of the Senate delayed action until after the
election of 1890. The returns from that
election showed great change i'll public
sentiment. 1t was revolution, and at the
reassembling of Congress few weeks later
the Republicans made haste to take up the
Force bill and carry it through the Senate.
The situation was desperate. Without
such law the history of the Republican
party was written. Mr.. Harrison urged his
partisans on, and used all the patronage
and power of his Office 10 carry the bill
through. 1t failed. thanks to the matchIess
leadership of Maryland's senior Senator,
The elections of 1891 showed that the
tide Of public Indignation against unjust
taxation had not rcceded and that the at
tempted control of state elections had ere
ated fear that the right of self-govern-
ment was seriously threatened.
When the campaign of 1892 came on
another purchase of the election was dc,
liberately planned. The protected manu-
facturers contributed largely Of their un-
earned millions. The most INSCRIPTIONS
of election manipulatOrs, schemers, planners
aud bribers, were called to the aid of the
Republican machine, but the secret system
of voting, commonly known as the Austria
lian system, was very effective bar to
successful bribery. Ii was also bar tC
intimidation. and under it the thousands OF
mechanics and laborers who heretofore
voted under surveillance by agents of the
protected manufacturers, with threat OF
discharge hanging over them if they did
not vote the Republican ticket, could vote
their honest sentiments Hnmolested and ii
secresy But for the secret ballot law We
doubt not that the election of Harriser
might have been accomplished by fraud
bribery and intimidation, in spite of thu
overwhelming public sentiment agains
him and his policy of high protection ant
federal control Of elections.
The people have won. They have Spoken
in thunder tones. and the death-knell o
Force bills and unjust taxation has beef
sounded. The dangers threatening self
government have been averted, and unde
Democratic policy of equal and exac
avs, equal blessings and burdens, honest
and competency in the public service an
economy in expenses the government wi
soon be what its founders intended goV
eminent by the people for the people.
If Inc New York upstart, John
Davenport. who ''drest in little brief ap
thority plays such fantastic tricks beior
high heaven as afass egea the angels weep,
Is not n wiser and a better man from Tues