New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-16
LET THE ELECTION LAWS ALONE.

LET THE ELECTION LAWS ALONE.
Those Democrats who consider the repeal OF
the purchasing clause of the Sherman act
matter of high importance do well in seeking
to restrain the partisan activity OF their South
ern contingent in Congress in its anxiety TO
wipe from the statute books what little is there
Ct protection TO American citizens in the cast
ing and counting of their ballots For it must
be understood at once that to the Republican
marty. North. South, East or West. there is no
question that touches in importance the great
question cf an honest ballot and safe, sure
and fair return The present session Of Con-
gress was called b. the President in a partc-
ular emergency ana for specific purpose. lie
stated the emergency and explained the pur-
pose in message that was as unmstakable IN
terms as il was patriotic in tone lie sald with
great truth. that the matter with which Con-
eress had been called to deal "rose above the
plane of party politics" and in all that he said
and cspecially in what he did not say. he made
q distinct and direct appeal to Republican Con-
c,essmen and Senators that they stand by him
against the majority of his own party III de-
Gyering the country from the evils of de-
preciated currency.
what their compliance with this appeal would
mean in partisan sense. They knew that
they would be patted on the back until the
Repeal bill had passed, ard that thereafter they
would be reminded that virtue was its own re-
ward. They knew that what allied the coun-
try was a sickness from which the repeal OF
,hc purchasing act would give only slight
and m0mcntary relief. They knew that the
mills mad st ppcd. the factories shut down, that
thousands of w0rkinemon had been turned idle
into the streets and that general paralysis
had fallen upon the business OF the country, not
merely because the people were AFRAID OF
little too much silver but because the election
Of Democratic Senator's from Western States
had made the whole Chicago platform prob
ability and a menace to the prosperity of the
country Because no manufacturer could tell
what tariff changes would he made upon i'm
ports that competed with his product, or what
tho effect Of such changes would be- Because
nobody could say whether he was producing at
a proft or loss. Because trade stood in the
peril Of a revolution. Republican statesmen
knew that the success of the Presidents policy
a. t. the Sherman act would surely nave a
benofcent effect. That it would indicate to
husinqs, men. at the very least, that Congress
had some sense and was responsive to the
unanimous demand of the financial and com
mercal world They knew that REVEALS OF
business would spring up and better aspect
appear on The surface Of things And they
knew perfectly well that that change for the
better would be received by the very class OF
Democrats who were implOring them to be
natrotic and non partisan as sure proof That
the country did NOT fear change in the tarlll,
and that their own good acts would thus be
turned against them.
Nevertheless. almost with one accord i'm
pulsiyey and heartily. they determined to Sus-
tain ire President. lie was right lie de-
served TO lie sustained What he demanded
was for the sure good of the country, and they
could do no less than support him. They ala
not stop 10 inquire whose the credit would he
fer repaal nor how it would be distributed be-
tween tAcm and the Administration. Their
support enabled Mr.. Cleveland to score SPLEEN
did triumph in the House. Scores of Demo
cratic members who had come to Washington
against rcDcal seeing that it was bound to pass
ANYHOW, Topped over to the winning side and
thus gave the President the credit and advan-
tagc of having triumphed in his party rs well
as over it, What the Republicans did IN the
House they are now ready to repeat in the
Senate They will give him the victory there.
| If the business Of this special session is confined
70 the question for which it was called. if that
auction is not complicated with other ISSUES
and If Mr. Cleveland makes no mistake in his
method of handling his own forces, the Repeal
bill will pass the Senate without the shadow OF
doubt and without a drawback or a condition.
The Republicans will take their chances upon
further currency legislation, on schemes for
wildcat banking and now uses for deprecated
silver. They will take their chances as to
changes in the tariff laws. But let it be under
stood from one end of the country to the other
from the President down to the smallest page
in Congress, that they will take no chances
on the repeal of the election laws There Is
no question of dollars and cents that compares
in the mind of "A Republican with the question
of the right of every American citizen black
or white. in Texas or in Maine, in perfect free
dom to cast his one vote and to have it counted
rs cast If the Democrats are going to raise
that issue now, every other issue must be
pushed aside
But it is TO be hoped that better counsel
will prevail among the majority at Washington.