Year: 1879

questions now before Congress, principally
for the reason that it is unnecessary and use
less, for reasons heretofore urged. The dis
cussion of the questions involved can shed
no new light upon the subject in controversy.
It can only enforce arguments heretofore
employed. But it has been determined by
the assembled wisdom of the nation to enter
upon full debate of questions that require
no debate, and therefore we must agree to
take cognizance of it.


The Republican members had the floor of
the House on Tuesday. They presented their
case fully through the media of Belford and
Frye, and presented it we'll. Those gentle
men covered the whole ground of objections
to the political legislation comprised in the
amendments to the appropriation bills.
There was nothing new, however, in their
arguments. The same ground had been Gov
cred by those who announced the Republican
policy at the last session. There has been
no change, and the public is just as wise to-
day on the subject as it was three months
ago.





two parties as to the fundamental principle
involved in thelegislation contemplated. The
| only difference that exists is as to the means
| to be employed. The Republican party is
interested in maintaining the purity of the
ballot, but esteems force-and military
force-as the only means of securing that
end. Tho Democratic party thinks differ
entity. It adheres to the traditions that have
came down through decades, that the people
are competent TO govern themselves and are
entitled to that privilege. 1t insists that the
laws framed for the protection of citizens in
their rights be restricted to the limits pre-
scribed by the organic law of the land. DEM
ocrats have confidence that the laws of the
States are all-suf6cient for every emergency,
and ought to be respected, and that the en-
actment of laws by the central government
for the purpose of controlling affairs legiti-
mately within the cognizance of the Stat ea
is dangerous and pernicious doctrine.
It is alleged by the Republican press that
the question of State rights enters into the
penling questions. We admit it, while in
|
come before the public than that of the
rights of the States. It has been the aim OF
the Republican party to obliterate oil indi.
cations of State boundaries, and to create on
this continent strong central government
that shall possess all the powers of the veri
est despotism of Europe. To prevent the
consummation of such a scheme is the pur
pose of the Democracy. They insist that
the government established more
; than a century ago be not pervert
ed, but retained; that the right o.
the people to judge measures in which the,
have direct interest be not infringed. Th'
question of State rights is most essentia
, one in the present discussion. Upon tn,
outcome will depend to great extent tn


question of whether this government will re
main as it was intended to be, confedera
tion of States or government patterne
upon monarchial ideas, with central hea
and central notion, that the people are no


competent to govern themselves, but requir
: a strong arm and an invincible power to hol


them in check. It is about time that thj
illusion was dispelled, and we are convince
. that nothing will more completely dispel
than the approval by Congress that th
3 federal government has nothing to do wit
Il the management of elections, and must r,


frain from interference. That will be tt
,, effect of the passage of pending Legislation
- and for that reason We are most decidedly j
. favor of it.