Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-07-28
Questions Affecting Suffrage.

GEN. HARRISON ON THE GERBYMANDERING IN INDIANA
AND THE FAILURE TO ADMIT DAKOTA AND WASH
INGToN TERRITORIES.
Another Thousand HOLSTERS paid their respects
to General Harrison at Indianapolis yesterday.
He received the delegation at University Park.
Hon. III. 5. Biggs made the congratulatory address,
to which General Harrison responded In the
course OF his speech he said: ave are not enjoying
that full equality OF civil rights In the state OF
Indiana TO which we are entitled. The apporaon-
nent OF our state for legislative and congressional
purposes is unfair ana Is known be unfair TO all
men. No candid democrat can defend IL as a fair
apportionment. Ii was framed 10 be unequal; it
was designed 10 give TO the citizens OF favored dis
tricts an undue influence. IL was intended 10 dis
crimnaLe against republicans. Ii is not RICH that
IL should be So hope the time is coming, and has
even now arrived, when the great sense OF justice
which possesses our people, will teach men OF
all parties that party success Is not to be pro-
NOTED at the expense OF an Injustice to any of
citizens lApplaus j i nope this question viii
not be forgotten py our people until we have Sc
cured In Indiana fair appOrtionment for legisla-
are some other questions affecting suffrage, to one
OF which my attention has from circumstances
been particularly attracted There are In the
Northwest several territories, organized under
pubic law, with defined boundaries. Several or
these territories have been for years possessed OF
population, wealth and all the requisites for ad-
mission as states. In the territory OF south
Dakota there are nearly half a million people.
For years they have been knocking for admission
TO the Ssterhood OF states. They are Possessed OF
all the elements Of an Organlzed and Stable COM
munity. II has more people, more miles OF rail-
road, more post-ofhces, more churches, more banks
more wealth, than any territory ever possessed
when IL was admitted 10 the Union. 1t SURPRISES
some or the states In these particulars Four
years ago, when q President was TO be chosen,
the committee on territories in the
senate, to meet the objection OF our democratic
friends that the admission OF Dakota would add a
disturbing element TO the electoral college, pro-
vded In tue Dakota bill that It's should
be postponed until after the election; now, Iour
years more nave rolled around, and our people are
called again TO take part in presidential election,
and the intelligent and patriotic Dakota people
are again TO be deprived OF any participation.
They are dsGranchiSe and deprived or their appro-
PIRATE influence In the electoral college only be-
cauS, the prevailing sentiment In the territory is
republican. The Cause or Washington Territory is
more recent, but not more nagranL IL we appro-
priately express sympathy with the cause or irish
home rule, shall we not also demand home rule for
Dakota and Washington, and insist that their dis
reimbursement shall not be prolonged? The day
wuen men can be DISTINGUISHED or shOrn or their
political power for opinions sake must have an
end In our country"
The general then stepped from the platform and
shook hands with the crowd.