Speech #530045270

Then. in regard to what we were speaking of. the malpractices going on in cities in spite of the law of 1871. I do not understand that either the Senator from Illinois or the Senator from Delaware. who has charge of this repeal bill. are in any condition to denywhatever the value may be we shall settle afterwards. but we will get at the factswill deny. first. that where there had been constant election contests before this law was put in operationfor in 1868 sixty thousand fraudulent naturalization papers were issued in one court in two or three dayswhen this law went into operation the election contests stopped. both State and national. for some elections afterwards. nor will either of those Senators deny that the men who were chosen by the House of Representatives as a Democratic election committee asserted that these laws were excellent. that the charges against them were mistaken. and they hoped that they would be extended to the rest of the country. As to whether that is valuable or not we may differ. but I want to get at the fact. I do not understand that anbody contradicts this statement.