The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-12

cHANDLER's MOVE OK THE SOUTH.
As far as we know The Times was the
only paper 10 call attention to the fact
that the Senate Committee on Privileges
and Elections reported a resolution last
week for the appointment CT a special
committee TO investigate the State cleo
ton IN Alabama with a view 10 detormin-
ing whether the state of Alabama had
such q government as suited the prefer
once OF majority Of the United States
Senate. No information Of this resolution
was sent out TO the country by the news
correspondents at Washington, and we
only knew Of IL by casually stumbling
on it I'm going over the Congressional
Record. And set it was a fact Of prodigi-
Gus Importance. VI means that the Chan
dlers and the iIoars and the Mitchells
and the other hidc-bound Republicans are
going 20 inaugur-e another force bill
war unOn the South if they are able 10
get their party Il follow them. on Tues
day the Committee on Privileges and Elec-
tons of the Senate filed an elaborate re
port i'm support Of the resolution they had
previously .ported This report charges
the grossest frauds in Alabamas last
gubernatoriai and legislative election,
and fl argues at large for the right of the
United States Senate to investigate tina
election and unseat Senator Morgan if
The Senate shall determine that there was
craud in the Alabama election.
ia.
sltion very fully, and we have shown that
il is a negation of every principle of local
self rule upon which our own institutions
and the institutions Of al free and fair
governments must be founded. The very
cornerstone Of am institution is that the
dominating fCrcc of locality must rule
that locality, and the State is the local
ity SO far as the Federal armies or States
are concerned. If there IS fraud in the
elections Of Alabama or any other state,
that fraud Is to be exposed and corrected
in Alabama according to the laws and
regulations Of Alabama, and If they are
not equal TO the task, then Alabama must
stand before the world as a community
which has not virtue enough to suppress
her rascals ana keep them out OF author
ity. but as one in which vice is the prin-
ciplo that IS worshipped and that CON
trolls. while virtue and goodness are
forced to retire and hide themselves in
concealmcnt
Let that state OF facts arise and no |
community Of Anglo-SaXon descent will !
long remain in st. 1t may not be over |
thrown I'm a month or year. but it will !
surely be ovcrlhrown II the community |
Is left 20 itself But It must oe corrected |
BIZ the efforts Of the citizens OF that COM
munity. who prefer virtue TO vice II Will |
never be corrected IL strangers interfere |
and attempt to accomplish results by the |
use OF physical force. Mcssrs. Chandler |
and company vii never mend matters, |
therefore. IN Alabama by thrusting their
intrusive lists into the case They win |
make matters worse, but never better
The case must De lcf, 20 the operation OF |
natural Jaws set IN molon boy those peo-
pie OF Alabama VINO are unwilling TO be
paraded before the world as partners in
crime. IL not acting agents OK It.
Suppose that the Mobile McCuiros
should obtain control OF tho government
Of the State OF Pennsylvania and should
institute a local rule there that was utter
ly tyrannical and oppressive TO all men
who refused 90 join their organization.
woulc that Justify Alabama, South Caro-
lima. and Virginia in meddling with the
affairs of Pennsylvania 20 overthrow the
government Of the Mollie McGuiros and
TO bring those who did not belong 10 the
organization into control o. the State?
II such a thing were proposed tho con.-
mon sense Of the whole country would
cry out against II. Ii would be univer-
sally said thar the dominating forces in
Pennsylvania must be LEFT 10 rule the
State, and that if those who did not be-
long 10 the Mollio McGuires were dis
satisfied with their rule they must hustle
and get the cooperation of enough Penn
sylyanians 10 overthrow them.
There is no difference in principle be-
tween that case and Alabama's case
Both are cases that demand recognition
OF the all-impor;ant principle of local
self-ruie. To this principle must be left
tia correction OF all evils and abuses that