The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1892-09-24
THE FOKCE BILL.

One of the great questions of the day
is the Force BIZ plank, which the Re-
publicans have placed in their plat
form. The object of that bill is to
centra,lze power in the hands of the
Republicans and thus perpetuate them
selves at Washington in spite of popu-
lar rights and wishes, ana trke away
from the people their sovereignty, aud
make of 1t II simple machine for voting
Hon. Josiah Patterson, in his speech
delivered in the House Of Representa-
tives on the 18th of July, 1892, said in
substance:
Il Use to speak in favor.of the rep
resentatlon OF TIE South. for the blow
which the Republican party wishes to
strike, Is a blow Intended against the
people of the South OF the Union.
Leaving aside the constitutional as
pect OF the question, | will treat this
subject IN 50 tar as it affects the people
who are supposed to be directly inter
ested.
:lhe different states. united togeth-
er, form but one people, and Il blow
struck at one part ct the Union. is a
blow struck at the whole of the Union.
We prop ourselves on the constitution,
and if ever this p'opgivesw way, in order
TO allow the government to intervene
ana interfere III the affairs of the states
OF the South, rest assured that the day
IS not far off when the constitutional
barriers Of tie North Will fall to pieces
like those OF the South.
Then the Federal elections, instead
of being the free expression Of the SOW
eleIsn will Of the sovereign States, will
become a simple form to record the
wishes Of the sovereign administration,
and the people would be its TOOL.
Congress has the power to decide,
ana to judge Of the elections and Of tha
qualifications OF its members, and by
this means, it protects itself from, all
intrusion iii excluding all persons not
entitled to participate in their deliber-
ations.
according to the constitution and
customs, since the very foundation of
the government, the members of Con-
gress arc elected and receive their ere
dentials from their respective States
When the Federal government Will
have nsurped These prerogatives, when
the officers appointed by the govern
ment and upheld by the police of the
United States, will hold in their hands
the election machinery, and make the
deductions IN the votes, then will
burst forth civil disorders and terrible
connections; the American people, pow
eriess before the usurpatory W en-
trenched behind federal bayonets, VIII
he .t tha nlntrv nt thAIp mas ~ ,,,i a.
dav will come when ii yenal army like
the PretOridR Guards, will advance to
the foot of the monument of Washing
ton and under the portico of the CAPT
tol, will sell tie croWR and the sceptre
to the highest bidder. \
"Such a political measure, sanctioned
by the people, would be equal to an
ollgarchy perpetuating itself by the aid
OF the holders of pnhlic offices. The
political party first clothed in such a
power, could not be displaced except
through an appeal to the people to re-
sist the autocracY Of the government.
''Two years ago, this revolutionary
Measure was condemned by the people
at the polls, but in spite Of the popular
verdict. the Republican party anluun-
ces that if II be victorious i'll the com
ing elections, the Force Bin will be-
come a law, and the PEG, le will cease
to be soveltigns."
In order to preserve intact the GOV
eminent OF the Republic, we believe it
is nee :ssary by ali means {, defeat the
arty of fraud and usurpation. We
ask OF every ,iberty-loying citizen to
put forth his every effort aud energy
to maintain intact the Constitution II
our Republic which to-day enio,s al
unparalleled prosperity for over one
hundred years, and " e believe that .c
ca"not continue 10 be hapyy except uit-
der Il Democratic form OF government.
The Force Blu passed the House of
Representatives., bus fortunately. the
honest Republicans, imbued with broad
and liberal ideas, fought against it in
the Senate where it was defeated.
The constitution is sacred, and to
touch it with polluted hands would be
sacrilegious. If the Force Bill had
been in force when Grant attempted to
be elected IA third time, the Republic
of the United States would have been
in great danger, for its ideas tend to-
wards monarchy and Capitalization.