Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-12-09
The True N tional Poncy.
New York Times. ]

TOR the pTOteCtton VI tqdaI pO4ltiCaI Rights
I'D nv The establishment OF non. osrti
ar civil service, is becoming every day
u,nry plain This Is IN realty not only !
,Tuly national policy, bur 1t is the only
nobcy which can be truly called national
+ al. Tne Republican party is July
commltted to the first branch Of this pol.
,cy luis partly committed by words and
acts, ano iuily committed Ia honor 10 the
second branch as we'll. 1t remains to be
seeD whether the party leaders will have
he wisdom 10 follow the opinion OF the
most intelligent, and, rs we believe, the
greater portion of the party.
There will be little difficulty in the wsy
NJ impartial laws for the protection of the
suffsge. Every Republican recognizes
beir Justice aud necessity. The laws rs
thew now stand on the statute book are In.
sufficient in their terms and they have
heen il efficiently enforced. This is OBJ.
vious from the results Ali Republicans
IN public life will concede that the Soulh
was as solid" and by as dis,
graceful methods, in 1880 as it
was In 1876. The election laws
did not do The work they were intended
TO do. They did not secure al citizens
the enjoyment Of their right OF suffrage
They neither prevented nor are they AIDE.
Quate to punish either fraud or violence
against the suffrage outside of cities OF
10000 inhabitants, They should be per.
eCted IN such way that all necess ex
ecutive power can be brought TO bear at
every poll where a voter, white or black
OF whatever party, is unable to cast the
ballot to which he is entitled .G1 tC get
it counted as he cast it, and whichever
either a member OF the Houso OF Repre-
sentstives or Presidential Elector is
voted tor. Ga this point, as we have said,
there Will BE- very little difference of opin
ion among Republicans.
There are some signs OF considerable
value that this principle Will also be 40.
proved by portl N OF the Democratic
party, aud particularly by the Southern
portion, which 1t is specially important
TO attach TO the Federal G )vernmept.
Thus, in a recent article Nov. 49,, The
Charleston Neos and Courier, after aleg.
Ing that the election laws were abused 10
South Carolina ia the Interes. OF the Re
publican candidates, goes on 10 say that
there csn be no remedy for this evil until
"lhe Democratic party admit in good
faith. that The National election law is
within the domain OF Congressional
power, as the Supreme Court declares it to
be,n Aud it urges the Representatives OF
it's party to concede this, and then to work
Chat the whole effect as we'll as object OF
national legislation regarding elections
shall be to secure 10 all persons whites
and blacks, Democrats and Repub.
licaus, the enjoyment OF perfect equal.
ity Of civil rights and the equal
protection OF the laws" This def.
milton Oh the proper object Of the e.ec-
ton laws is taken from the decision OF
the Supreme Court in the election law
cases, and 1t is, as may be seen, quite as
comprehensive aud uureseIved as any
that Republican statesman could have
pronounced. The concession that this
object is as once proper aud within the
domain OF Congressional power is novel
one II comes, moreover, from leading
orgsn OF the Democracy In the section
where the election laws have been most
opposed and most violated, and for the
advantage Of which their repeal was
sought by the Democratic party in Con
gress Ii marks a decided change in the
public opinion of that section, and one OF
which the new Administration Will do
well 10 take account.
But in order 10 carry out fully the idea
Of just and ample protection OF the suf-
frage by tue national Government, it will
be nece sssry that the laws for the purpose
shall be administered by non partisan
executive force. And by nom partisan
we do not mean the weak cOntrivance of
force equally divided between the two
fab ho -
ter than a dangerous make-shiit, bat q
force appointed independent OF partisan
influence or relations, the tenure OF which
is secure during the proper performance
Of their cuty, and only on that condition.
Such force, in this as in every other
branch Of the service, 1t is perfectly prac-
licsble to get by proper means, and theae
means should be employed. 1t may be
said, ana with some force, that the party
in the south represented by the Neos and
Courier, now seeks an amendment Of the
election laws for its own advantage, and
that 1t does not at heart believe IN free
elections. That may be so. Certainly il
has shown very little desire for tree cleo
tons in the past flge or six years. Bat We
have ~ wish. nor have we any right,
to question too closely the motives
for VIII Ch men seek an end which we
know 10 be right, and by means which we
knows to'be fit. 1t is enough to enc0ur sge
Us That a powerful journal in the South
ADMITS the necessity and praprieiy OF
national law for the pIOtscuon OF the
suffrsge, impartially enforced 1t would
be an absurd confession OF weakness to
say that Republican Administration
cannot psss such = law without giving an
unfair advantage to Southern p mncrsts.
Besides, We believe that the reti motive
which hes at the bottom OF this change of
position i feeling that the country mas
declared Overwhelmingly for the princi
l. l. ~ L. - ~