Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1893-10-16
AFRAID OF A FREE VOTE AND
A FAIR COUNT.

The democratic party, since the day
it plunged this country into a civil
war. has never shown itself more the
party of injustice and fraud, than 1t
did by its representatives in the House
on Tuesday last, when it voted to de-
stroy the Election laws. The distin-
guished republican of Iowa, Repre-
sentative Deliver i'll his speech or
the bill said:
There were many who expected that
this session of Congress would pass
without an untimely display of parti-
san contention. I was not of that
number. A long study Of the origin,
history and public services OF the ex-
listing Democratic party has convinced
me that there is only one subject which
can unite the party or call forth It's
enthusiasm, and that is some project
that seeks to undermine the freedom
and fairness of elections. Ihad there
fore a we'll assured anticipation that
not even the grave responsibilities
which brought this Congress together
would hinder this effort to repeal the
laws now on the statute book to secure
the freedom of citizenship. The Ma
tionaI Election code now waiting for
the final act Of partisan malice origi-
General Grant. It's methods have had
the appreciation of the best men of all
parties, and have been Objectionable
only to the null1fers OF universal suf-
frage in the South and to the criminal
classes in the great cities of the North.
These laws are the last remaining evil
dence of the authority of the United
States in the election of it's own offic-
ers, and their repeal means that here
after an American citizen has no claim
upon the Nation for the security of it's
citizenship. It places the Govern
ment in the attitude of disowning even
the men who defend it's life, and of
leaving even the surviving veterans
of its own Army without civil rights
in their own country except by the
stroy and not to protect the right Of
suffrage, and oftentimes administered
by reckless and disorderly local au-
thorities. It is the last maneuver in a
political revolution by which within
one generation a Nation victorious
over the rebellion of turbulent States,
after losses and sacrifices almost too
great for human thought, abdicates it's
historic relation to it's citizens and
commits them for protection and jus
tiee to the very influences that deny
their rights. 1t began by open con-
spiracy to nullify the amendments of
the Constitution, and to leave a help
less and despised but loyal race with
rights as citizens, and few, if we
may believe the reports. of last. week
from Roanoke, from Birmingham ana
New Orleans, as human beings. The
success Of thai conspiracy is the most
mournful episode in the history of pop
government in the world. The
brief and pitiful struggle Of the out
cast race and their friends of our own
blood and their vain appeal for the
of the law is a story Of ma
humiliation which has in it
much to discourage the intelligent
ofrepu5lican institutions b ,sed
upon the sanctity of law.
From the day General Grant lefs the
White House the progress of the rev
has been swift. Before the
year 1880 it had changed the
of violence for the cheaper but not
less effective weapons of fraud, and
these have developed in States like
into legal machinery which
IN the excitement OF a Presidential
turns out seven Congressman
On a total poll of a ,910-a legal ma
chinery which gives US an atle man
ager of the order Of business in this
House on a total poll of 3 ,556, of which
he managed to save all but 136-a Ie-
gal machinery, in other words, which
mas in a gentlemanly way abolished
he republican form of government
We + not specially com
OF this-in truth, we prefer it
% the South Carolina method, which
obs the voter with eight ballot boxes;
% the Arkansas method, or the Geor-
sia method, which in the Lth Con
yress gave Us ten Representatives on
total poll of 81, 600, and, as if to add
% the humorous and grotesque fea-
lure of the situation, gave the Com
nlttee on Elections a chairman on an
aggregate poll Of ], 200 souls.
General News Items.
There IS some prospect that the
Worlds Fair may remain open a little
onger; this will depend on the condi-