The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-16

organization OF the House. Under tho
Constitution. tho House is the judge of
the election Of it's own members. 1t
would still possess. theoretically. the
power to investigate the election and
throw out the person falsely certified to
tho Clerk. The theoretical power would
not be worth a straw. II partisan Repub-
lican canvassing boards. appointed by par
tisan and irresponsible Federal life Office
holding Judges. had falsely certified to a
sufficient number OF defeated Republican
candidates to give the Republicans q ma
iority for the purpose OF organization. the
party that invented the Force bill could
perpetuate itself In tho House Of Repre-
sentatives. For the wrong there would DO
no remedy: for the fraud no punishment.
G. To our correspondents last question
We reply that it makes no difference
whether the skilfully drawn Force bill Of
DAVENPORT. REED, and HARRISON contains
any particular word or phrase calculated
to tcrrify or intimidatc my nan frofi
attempting to exercise his right Of suffrage.
Tho question is whether tho bill Is calcn-
lated to enable partisans and rascn's to re-
verse tho honest result of IN election. anil
to defrand Democratic districts OF their
ldNlul IlShtS " l'liNsVi'upio'' ~ "o'o
that in various ways.
II takes the ultimate control OF the regis
tration mud the election from tho States.
and makes it over TO the Federal Circuit
Courts. now constituted in every case but
two by Republican Judges. Does any
Democrat ask whether there is the possi-
hiIi,y. In close and critical elections. of
danger from partisanship on the Federal
l..l % l,~, sn.J ana, tI,., s..,t,. .f
1876 and 1877. Let him reriew :he long
record Of outrages perpetrated upon tho
people Of Louisiana. South Carolina, Florida.
or Mississippi. in the name OF law and
Justice and from the bench of tho courts y!
the United States.
II provides for an army of hirelirgs. spics,
aud hangcrs-on. to be appointed By Cicc-
ton officers, designated in their turn by
Republican courts. 1t permits tho appoint
mcnt Of special deputy MARSHALL at So Il
day. to a number limited only by the
audacity OF the partisan Marshal and the
partisan Chief Supervisor in the district in
question. There mav be f. thousand or ten
Thousand Of these apecia! deputies in cach
district If the audacity or tho desperation
of Republican partisarship goes so far.
1t provides from the Treasury By per-
mnnert appropriation. beyond the reach Of
Congress to refuse or withhold. = vast cam
paign fund for the employment Of election
officers. and regular and special supcrnn-
merulies. IN the interest CT The party in
power.
II establishes Il permanent Federal in
QUESTION. in the s.a,e c. il honse-to-houso
canvass, rominally to ascertain the Legality
If tho registered voter. This od!ous Fed
cral invasion was specified with bruta! di-
r%ectncss In the bill originally drawn by
DAVENPORT. which passed the Republican
Fifty-tirst House. The house-to-housc Wis
itatiOn was to be thorough and effective
in cities Of q hundred thousand inhabitants
or upward: it was to be conducted by dis
Greet or special supervisors" in cities or
towns OF twenty thousand inhabitants or up
ward: and it was extended, at the discretion
of the partisan Chief SUPERVISOR to anytown.
or village. or country distriit. The full
text OF this offensive provision was omitted
in the Senate substitute for the Force
bill that passed the House.: but the
concession was only one of phraseology.
The power remained between the ines of
tho cnate bill. The house-to-house can
vass. as n part Of the Republican scheme.
was implied in Section 7 Of the Senate sub
%stitute. and directly. although perhaps in
advertcntly. recognized in Section 10.
Thus the Republican Force bill proposed
to equip the partisan supervisors and their
partisan deputy marshals with the right
to enter the residence OF the citizen. to in
wade his castle without due process Of law.
Behind the deputy marshal. OF his erranl
of partisanship and outrage. was the whole
power Of the Federal courts. backed in case
of resistance by the bayonets and drums Of
the Federal army. The bill once enacted,
there was no escape from Federal invasion
short Of cxpatriation: no remedy for the
hateful wrong short OF revolution.
By taking from the States the control Of
the elections and v~csting it in Federal SD
pervisors and in the Federal courts. the
Force bill. in its last analysis. meant
bayonets at tho polls. Tho word bayorct
will not be found In the measure as drafted
by JOHN l. DAVENPORT. The authorization
OF the use of United States troops Ito keep
the peace at the polls" is not the less clea.
on account OF tho absence Of military no.
inenclaturc. Tolerate the right Of central
authority to enter the States and interfere
in the local elections of Congressman. to cs-
tablish a Federal police around tho ballot
''as "ae W. ~ ' W " 'eeA'
ing board the duty OF canvsssing the vote
and certifying the result. and the gun
barrels and drums are there 30 The neces-
sary consequence. This proposition was
distinctly stated by more than one Repub'
lican advocate OF the Force bill when
it was before tho House. II am for the
bill" said Congressman BRosIUs of Penn
sylvania. for example. "0n the distinct
ground that il is II constitutional and neces.
sary measure. And when it is passed. l an
for its enforcement. North and South. II
need he. with ilrmness and effectiveness
Behind the Constitution are tho Army and
the Navy. Every sword. every bayonet
every cannon. and every dollar OF the ma
tion's wealth are pledged to the enforce
ment OF every ono of its provisions"
, The election of BENJAMIN HARRISON and
q Republican House means the enactment