Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-09-15
THE FORCE MEASURE
THAT THE REPUBLICANS WOULD
INACCURATE
When They Say That the People
snail Ballot at tire Point OF
the Bayonet They Say
That the Negro Shall
Rule the South,

The Republican platform demands,
says the New York Sun, "that such
awe shall be enacted and enforced as
will secure to every citizen, be he rich
or poor, native or foreign born, this
sovereign right 1.-THE right to vote)
guaranteed by the Constitution;
the free and honest popular ballot, the
just and equal represent alton OF all
the people as vel as the just and equal
protection under the laws as the
foundation of our republican institu-
tions, and the party will never re-
lax it's efforts until the integrity of
the ballot and the purity of elections
shall be fully guaranteed and protected
in every State" And then the plat
form goes on to "denounce the con-
tinued outrages perpetrated on Amer
lean citizens for political reasons in
certain States of the Union"
Eliminate the can't and buncombe,
and this is demand for force bill;
force bill fastening upon the South
the whole system OF arbitrary inter-
ference, arbitrary arrests, Federal
bayonets at the polls, Republican
otficeholders managing the count, and
all the other odious details OF the
darling scheme OF Benjamin Harri-
son Tor the demolition OF the South's
solidity and the perpetuation OF Re
publican rule This is the road that
leads back to negro domination, the
bloody shirt, the carpet bag, the
Federal lieutenant OF infantry dispers~
ing, under orders from Washington,
the Legislature elected by the sover-
eisn voters OF a free State, visiting
statesmen, fraud, force legislation for
plumber taxation for confscation,
disaster and ruin to the new prospect
ty OF the new South. The blaokest
ink IS not black enough to describe the
consequence OF the force bill policy,
once successfully put into operation
by the politicians who have devised
back to the South's midnight.
On the very day when the Minnea-
polls convention was adopting the
resolution quoted above, Senator
David Bennett Hill was cross-examin
ing at WASHINGTON Mr.. John l. Dav-
export and was compelling him to ad-
nit for the first time under oath that
he, Davenport, was the author OF the
force bill which passed the Republican
House OF Representatives during the
Fifty-fir Congress. The incident
has attracted less attention than it
deserved, and less than it would have
received but for the overshadowing
interest of the Republican National
convention.
The notorious Davenport went
to Washington to present to the Sem
ate IL petition purporating to be
signed by 'twenty-four eminent citi-
zens OF New York without distinction
as to party" The petition asked for
further legislation in the way OF Fed
eral interference in the New York cleo
tions. Davenport appeared be-
lore q subcommittee of the
Senate committee on immigration,
of which Senator Hill is q
member, and thus subjected himself
to the searching questions OF Demo-
craft who is never asleep when the Wit
al principles Of the Democracy are as
sailed. Among other interesting facts
brought out by Senator Hill Is the
square admission by Davenport that
he devised the measure of force and
Federal interference to which the
Hon. Henry Cabot Lodge lent his
name two years ago. care you the
author of the force bill, and do you
favor it," asked Senator Hill. II do
not know what you mean by the force
BILL" replied Davenport. II drafted
the Federal Election bill, and favored
it.. Davenport volunteered the furth-
er information that he would renew
the bill at some future time and urge
its passage.
It is we'll that Senator Hill brought
out in the shape of positive testimony
fact which has been generally sus-
pected. 1t is we'll that he has put on
record for the benefit OF Democrats
during this campaign both Daven-
ports confession and his threat. The
South should understand the mercen.
airy interest that inspired the infamous
measure OF oppression which it barely
escaped during the last Congress, and
which will be renewed at the first OPP
portunity under the Platforms pre-
tence of solicitude for "tha integrity
of the ballot and the purity OF cleo
tions." It is well that the Democracy
of the Empire State should under
stand that it's interests of the South
in this momentous campaign OF re-
sistance to Federal aggression and
partisan Observation-Disclosures sentl-
mel.