The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-10
THE REPEAL OF THE ELEcTIoNLAws

THE REPEAL or THE ELECIIONLAW
When the bill TO repeal the Fedora
election laws was brought forward, Tn
Times promptly expressed the opinio
that It was most unwise to inject a con
troversy about that subject into the con
test over the repeal Of the Sherman act
the repeal Of which being the all-import
ant subject for immediate action. Tit
Times thought then. as 1t thinks now
that attention should have been kept cen
| tired on that, and on that alone. 1t Is
/ gratifying. however. to note the apathy
| with which the proposal 10 repeal the
election laws has been received by the
country at large, and this argues well
for the hope that sectionallsm is dying
/ out in the North. But we have not pass
ed the danger line in the possibility Of
the election repeal bill seriously compli-
| eating the Sherman bill still. The repeal
| Of the election laws will probably be made
! by the House to-day, and the Washing
| ton correspondent OF the Baltimore Sun
writes his paper that some Of the Repub-
lican silver men propose to move that
| it be made a substitute for the bill re-
pealing the Sherman act in the Senate.
! There is the possibility of infinite mis-
chief in this. and no Southern senator
should vote for the proposition, however
important to the South the repeal of
the election laws may be. Repeal of the
Sherman law is OF far greater impor-
lance now to the South, as well as TO
all other parts Of the country, than any
other conceivable proposition. We APP
peal most earnestly, therefore, TO South
ern senator's to vote against PROPOSE
ton TO complicate the repeal Of the Sher-
man act with anything whatever. Re
peal the Sherman act first, and we will
take up the election laws next. But,
whilst we deprecate any movement in
connection with these election laws, until
not have it thought for a moment that
we are wanting in detestation Of them.
They are travesty on government. They
are the expression Of a purpose on the
late the affairs of another part. There
IS no sound government where the neigh
borhood does not select all its represent
tatives according to the predominant
sentiment Of that neighborhood If that
sentiment is bad the way TO cure the
evil is to preach sound doctrine in the
neghborhood, and change the minds and
hearts Of the individuals from evil opin-
rected-no advance is made towards cor
recting it-when you coerce the predomi-
nant sentiment Of a neighborhood by
force into a course which 1t refuses TO
adopt voluntarily. Amongst a number OF
good speeches which have been made in
the House of Representatives upon the
election law repeal bill, one made by a Mr..
Champ Clark, Of Missouri, who is. we
believe. and entirely new and unknown |
is among the best.
The negro member from South Carroll |
IA, Murray, interrupted him to say that |
ne, Murray, had frequently been a United |
States marshal and supervisor Of cleo
ions. AID he did not understand how |
hese officers could cheat candidate |
Tor Congress, Mr.. Clark, speaking Of |
/ Missouri case, made his reply TO him. |
"Well, l will explain how It was done |
hat time. They arrested several hun |
lred citizens of good standing I'm the city /
Of st. Louis, who would have voted the |
Democratic ticket If they had not been |
lrrested They kept them locked up |
IN election day under arrest. until after |
he polls were closed. OF course they |
ould not vote. / Will not undertake 10 |
tate the precise number so arrested, |
'ut there were several hundred.
II want TO say 10 the gentleman and |
10 all other gentlemen. that this thing of /
lrresting men Is a very serious matter |
Il such time. and ! want to show how
he arresting Of people on election day
works. If deputy United States mar
hal were TO arrest my friend. General |
Slack, here, or myself, or any other
member OF this House IL would not
care us q particle because we under
tand the law. We would go straight
way, give bond and then go 10 the
election and vote. We can afford 10
10 IT. We have either good friends
nough, or money enough TO fight the
/
iine-tenths of the men in the great
titles have not the money. have not the
cquaintances. have not the friends. or
he time TO undertake TO contest with
lection judges. A day or two lost from
heir work throws them out OF employ
nent. IL frightens such men. Weak
men are bulldozed in this way by
he marshals ana supervisors, and the
rrcst of one man nj the polls while IN
ertaking 70 exercise the right Of suf-
rage. will intmidate and terrorize per
APPS a dozen others. and they will give
10 the right 10 vote rather than to take
hances Of being prosecuted and drag
ed around by United States marshals.
hat is the way II is done"
There has been nothing truer or more
ointed said in Congress in a long time
aon this. The country can oe instant
2 reused from centre to circum-
renee by any talk Of controlling cleo
ons with the bayonet Yet the bayonet
nothing like so terrorizing to the av-
rage citizen as courts writ Writs
re the true intimdations In elections.
he bayonet rouses the citizens man.
God, aud prompts him TO resistance TO the
,ath. But the writ suggests TO his mind
ne idea Of secret conclaves, subtle un-
OF his rights. conhscation of
is property, land a dungeon at the
M. The bayonet has no terror for the
norant mans mind compared with this
e will fight the bayonet. but he cow
S before the writ These election laws