New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-08
RIKER'S,
9TH AVE. COR. 22D STREET.
GETTING THEIR EYES OPEN.
NORTHERN DEMOCRATS NOT ENTHUSIASTIC
FOR REPEAL OF TIE ELECTION LAWS.
THEY BEGIN TO SEE TIE TRUE MOTIVE OF
THE SOUTHERN DEMAND AND THE POLITI-
CAL BLUNDER IN WHICH THEY ARE
INVOLVED-SOME TELLING RE-
PUBLICAN SPEECHES.
my TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBrSE.


Washington oct THE fact cannot be dis
a,,ised that there is a lack of enthusiasm on the
part of many Northern Democrats In favor OF the
bill now pending in the House of Representatives,
This Is due to several causes. not least OF WHICH y
the fear of Of the thick-and-thin supporters
of the Administration that the passage OF 'le
bill by the House az this time will seriously com
pl!cate matters in the Senate and add to the
perils that menace the silver Purchase Repeal Dill
in that body It is pointed ont that the cas'-""n
programme Of the House will probably sehd 'he
bin TO annul the XVIII and NNth amendments to
the Constitution" through that body on the Same
day that Republican Senators are besousht to JOIN
Democratic Administration Senators in tes' "'
physical endurance to force through III" bill Tor
unconditional repeal Of the slver-purchase pro-
vision. and this coincidence. if it does happen WI"
he regarded ominous one by many Demo-
Gratis. Naturally. they feel that the prospect -
gloomy one and while il does not seem probable
that an Arrangement will be made in the Demo-
cratic caucus Monday night to side-track the P'h'
ing bill there is good to believe that rooi
many Democrats would favor such action.
NOT READY FOR NULLIrIc >TIoN
Another cause Of the lack Of enthusiasm In
favor Of the so-called Tucker bill IS more credabe
to the Democrats who are affected by H. ""'
they are comparatively few in number WINE
they would cheerfuy vote for the repeal OF 'he
laws relating to United States supervisors and
mort the Southern demand for the wping-out or
the last vestige Of legislation enacted to give
vitality to the XIVth and XVIII amendments 10
the Constitution 1t has been noticeable ever since
the debate began that the Democrats nave ioughl
shv of what some regard the most obnoxious ana
DANGEROUS features Of the pending bill ana nave
sought to divert attention from them by keen
ing m a mighty noise over the provisions when
relate to election supervisors and inarshals ms
plan was successful for a time. and until certain
Northern Democrats who possess the caution "i
LAWYERS began to study and analyza the bill Tor
themselves They discovered the mouae IN
the neal-tub II they vote for the provisions when
they now declare to be so obnoxious ana whlch
form no part whatever OF the National election
machinery they will be forced 10 DO so with their
eyes wide open. for the Republicans VIII DC hkeF
to demand a separate yea and nay vote on each
one Of the extraneous sections II VIII then be
seen whether these Northern Democrats will meekly
obey the orders OF the Southern leaders
COLOSSAL POLITICAL PLUNDEr
sin another reason for the lack Of enthusiasm
referred to is the strong impression among some
Southern Democrats as we'll as among a I'ol
many from the North. that the bringing forward
Of a bin to repeal any OF the laws enacted To en-
force the provisions Of the XVIII ana NNth
Amendments either now or at any future time IS
nolitlcal bunder of the first magnitude. Inc ar
e,,nent that the laws are unconstitutional, in the
face Of the decisions Of the Supreme Court to the
contrary. has fallen fat. /; stood hardly long
enough 10 be knocked down. and within the last
two or three days Democrats themselves nae
taken pains 10 sag at the outset In their speeches
that the consttuuohall'y Vi 'e Jaw"
gainsad.
Tho only other arguments, If arguments they can
be called to which Democrats have reSor'ei Dy
common consent are first, that the laws are I'M
potent or a dead letter. and second, that 'hey are
unnecessary. Thus Colonel oates, Of Alabama
oIr fff.1 pf
the laws are constitutional. but that 'hey "ls"'
hove heen necessary for the protection OF voters
when they were enacted, and he was therefore
compelled to argue that the laws are no 'o"s''
necessary in order TO insure honest ana lalr c'o'
tions This Of course amounts to confession 'hat
the pendlng bill Is unnecessary as II Is Vc'o"S'
od ,bis is q view of the case which some Demo-
crats have begun to take. They might DE ieSs
willing TO do so II IT were not FOR inc iac' ''"'
they can successfully challenge anybody 10 pro-
duce n scntla Of evidence to show tlat the De'',
ocratic National Convention demanded or faVored
the repeal OF these laws.
SPEECHES OF THE DAY
NH ao,a,. IN the House to-day marked by
the delivery Of several powerful speeches III oppoS'
,tor % the pending bill. General Grosvenor' oI
Ohio was listened to with careful at'eh.io" ann
his ant description Of the condition oil inc p"''y
in power-"ln a state Of decentralization AT o"e Gnu
NJ the Capitol and in "A state OF revolution "' Wv
other"-as well az his renchant criticisms ol a .S
Doicies pledges and extraordinary petlo,ihaIcr ,
,r,ere exceedingly interesting ana enJoyaDc 10
nodv except the Democratic members VINO WIZ
Colonel Hepburn. Of Iowa who Is one OF 'Hn i, -
elonnent and forcblc speakers In ComsreSS, W. en-
his hest to-day and made some tenihB poln . ~
reply to the speeches Of Southern soo'e With
his usual energy and earnestness. ,io .d. were
The leading speakers on the and Oates. Of
Alabama Colonel Oates's argument mas aIrsmr my
been referred to- That OF Mr.. Everett was ct VT
Cue and extraordinary plea for the removai o. ne
Visiting barriers against frauds at eections on '
ground that the body polite IN the Sou,n an" cor r.,
~ nreat cities of the North has become SO 81,
r,nt and demorallzed that these feeble Safeguards
are utterly worthless.