New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-25

family.
TO PRESERVE NATIONAL SENTIMENT.
Mr. LODGES STRONG APPEAL FOR THE PER-
PETUATIoN OF THE FEDERAL
ELECTION LAWS
Washington. Jan. "a GSpec!aD.-The ansIishng
debate on the Federal Election Laws Rcpeal Bill
was somewhat enlivcned this afternoon by a speech
from Senator Lodge. I'm which the author of the
defeated bill of 1890 restatod to the Senate with
pertinent additions the reasons which had led him.
three years ago. to attempt TO reinforce the pres
ent statutes. and which impel him now to defend
the existing laws valued safeguard Of free
manhood suffrage. Nh Lodge had pile OF printed
slips before hIn at which he glanced occasionally,
but his easy mastery Of the subject matter OF his
speech and his clear and graceful style Of oratory
gave almost all the pleasing effects of extcmpore
delivery
The Junior Massachusetts Senator Is beginning
to be recognized of the most agreeable and
finished speakers in public life here and what
he has TO say is always listened to- not only for Its
argumentative merit. but because of the ciearness
and force of the speakers style. Mr.. Lodges ad-
vocacy of just and equal suffrage ard OF the
use of the Federal power t. insure fairness in
elections for members Of Congress is as earnest
as 1t was three years ago, and though his
appeal for equal political rights to all classes of
citizens falls on deaf ears in this Congress it will
evils growing of the abolition of Federal super
vision become fragrant enough to recall to Congress
majority just and courageous enough TO enforce
effectively all the guarantees Of an honest suffrage
in National elections embodied in the Constitution.
This bill proposes" he said, TO repeal all exist
Ing laws Of the United States intended for the pro-
lection Of National elections. Only TWO reasons
avowed in behalf Of this policy. one is the uncon-
stutionality of National Election laws and the
other is that these laws in way interfere with
local elections and with the rights of local self
government. So far as the first proposition goes
1t seems unnecessary to waste much time upon II.
If there could ever have been any doubts upon this
point the decisions of tn Supreme Court have really
made them impossible"
tie then gave history Of the origin of the Election
laws saying they grew OFT of certain gigantic
frauds in New-York in 1870. He briefly quoted from
the official returns of reg!stra-on and balloting on
that sion and analyzed the figures TO show the
irregularities. and continued:
There was another feature Of the New-York
elections at that time known the naturalization
frauds of 1863. Under the Supervisors law, which
came in 1870 and 1871. many Of the men who par
tcipate ted In those frauds brought TO justice.
and most OF them gave up naturalization papers
which they had obtained illegally in 1868"
Mr.. Lodge cited number of instances or loose
naturalization some where the papers had been left
at the houses Of the immigrants after they had been
but a few days in New-York. and said:
"Thc passage Of the laws which it is now proposed
TO repeal and the appointment OF Supervisors N ac
cordance with their provisions. put stop III large
measure to the frauds which have just been de-
scribea Whatever the defects were In this legis-
lation-and they were many-at the time, they at
least produced this result. These frauds. thus
brought 80 an end were the work of that eminent
Democrat. the late William NJ. Tweed. But al
though he was driven from the neld Of his political
activity and died in obscurity his throne has not
ME
had both successors and imitators. VIII take only
one very recent example 10 prove this ana 70 sho"
that IL these laws needed 10 repress MI
Tweeds activity they just as necessary to-day
TO curb the zeal Of thosc who would rival MN III Ill"
chosen sphere of public usefulness
Here Mr. Lodge gave summarized history o. the
dongs of John Y. McKane, Of GTavesead' l.. Is al
the last election. and said in part;
80 long however, as thc3e election frauus 'ou0''
only municipal and State elections. they concern
only the people Of the State or city in which they
occur Pit when these election frauds touch the
election of a member OF Congress they become the
Immediate concern. not mercy OF tAos" VINO o"e'!
within the borders of that particular state but OF
every American citizen In the United States Tor
the wrong done in electing one Congressman IL a
wrong TO every man who has right 10 Vo'e Tor
anv CONGRESSMAN anywhere. In National elections
for Congressmen. therefore Il becomes the auy OF
The Tnted States to protect It's voters against auch
crimes as those perpetrated at Gravesehd , =.
a
my mind a conclusive one-against the repesi OF tne
existing election laws ana In favor or thelr I'M
movement But there Is now ana always mas OeeeI
another side to this question much more perlcNins
,hsn that which have already stated. refer, or
course TO the application Of the national Eiecton
ior,s "a eiecons in the South. In the North eiec-
ZION frauds are the dangerous but vulgar crimes
~ o'it danserons men with criminal propenses. In
tho south the case Is widely different Tor there the
snbiect is complicated with race question ana
with sentiments which are the eVl lesacies OF
slavery and Civil War For my own part pro-
found 9s my convictions are on tAls question OF
honest elections. | have never sought 10 disSsIiHe
I've d,6ic,,l,es of that question in the Soutn ne
f,,.ure Of the negro In the United states Is one
Of The rraycsf problems 10 be met by the AAef!con
neonie II Is not problem which can be ,ettie,l
mis- YEAR or next II viii remain with us ana with
orr chi,dren's children FOR many years 10 come
NJ one doubts that the negro vOte-whether Re
nubiicar or Democratic. !! matters not-has b2en
suDDressed throughout the South. When sucA iact3
exist we should have proper election laws. Hut l
will 20 a step further. and VIII pa; tbs question
on n broader ground. am opposed 70 the repeai
81 these laws because is direc, blow TO National
sootirn.nt and 70 the right ard authority OF the
Nation II thew other purpose. except rs
an expression Of National right and authority, these
laws ought not TO be touched.
THE present attemp, IS m effort 10 Invade the
domain OF National authority. TO break down Ma
recognition Of National rights on this ground
oppose this bill And also oppose II because be-
lieve that National elections. separate from all
locs, elections should be under the control AID
duct Of United states. TO the End that citizens
OF the United States. when In that capacity they
exercise their highest right might be able to DO 80
without; fear or favor"