Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-04
listed and their honest entries confirmed by

jrsted and their honest entries confirmed BY
patent
IT Is very gratifying to observe the general
interest now being manifested in the reform Of
our election laws. Those who have been for
years calling attention to the pressing necessity
OF throwing about the ballot box and about the
e,ector further safeguards in order that our
elections might not only be free and pure, but
might clearly appear to be 90, will well
come the accession of any who did
not so soon discover the need of
reform The national Congress has not as vet
taken control of elections in that case over
which the Constitution gives it Jurisdiction, but
has accepted and adopted the election laws of
the several states, provided penalties
for their violation, and method of
supervision. Only the inefficiency of the
state laws, or an unfair or par
tisan administration of them could suggest a
departure from this policy. 1t was clearly.
however, in the contemplation OF the trainers
OF the Constitution that such an exigency might
arise, and provision was wisely made for it.
The freedom of the ballot is con-
dition OF our national life, and no power
vested in Congress or in the executive
to secure or perpetuate itshould remain unused
upon occasion. The people of all the congress-
ional districts have an equal interest that the
election in each case shall truly express the
views and wishes Of majority Of the qualified
electors residing within it. The results of
such elections not local. and the insistence of
electors residing within it. The results of such
elections are not local, and the insistence of
electors residing in other districts that they
shall be pure and free does not SAVIOR at all of
impertinence. IT, in any of the states the public
security is thought to be threatened by igno-
rance among the electors, the obvious remedy
Is education. The sympathy and help of our
people will not be withheld from any community
struggling with special endorsements or
difficulties connected with the suffrage if the
remedies proposed proceed upon lawful lines
and are promoted by just and honorable
methods. How shall those who practice elec-
ton frauds recover that respect for the sanctity
OF the ballot which is the first condition and
obligation of good citizenship? The man who
has come to regard the ballot-box as juggiers
hat has renounced his allegiance.
Let us exalt patriotism and moderate our
party contentious. Let those who would die
for the flag on the field give better proof of
their patriotism and a higher glory to their
country by promoting fraternity and justice. A
party success that is achieved by unfair
methods or by practices that par
take of revolution is hurtfnl and
evanescent. even from party standpoint. We
should hold our differing opinions in mutual
respect, and, having submitted them to the
arbitrament of the ballot should accept an ad-
verse judgment with the same respect that we
would have demanded of our opponents, if the
decision had been in our favor.
No other people have a government more
worthy of their respect and love, or land 80
magnificent in extent, so pleasant to look upon,
and SO full Of generous suggestions to enter
prise and labor. God has placed upon our
head a diadem and has laid at our
feet power and wealth beyond defini-
ton or calculation. But we must not
forget that we take these gifts upon the condi-
ton that justice and mercy shall hold the reins
of power, and that the upward avenues Of hope
shall be free to all the people,
do not mistrust the future. Dangers have
been in frequent ambush along our path, but
we have uncovered and vanquished them all.
Passion has swept some of our communities,
but only to give us q new demon
stration that the great body of our
people are stable, patriotic and law
abiding. No political party can long pursue adj
vantage at the expense of public honor, or by
rude and indecent methods. without protest and
fatal disaffection in its own body. The peace
full agencies Of commerce are more fully re-
vealing the necessary unit of all our COM
munities, and the increasing inter-
course of our people is promoting
mutual respect. We shall find unalloyed pleas
ure in the revelation, which our next census
will make, of the swift development Of the
great resources Of some of the states. Each
state will bring its generous contri-
button to the great aggregate of
the nations increase And, when the
harvests from the fields, the cattle from the
hills, and the ores of the earth shall have been
weighed, counted and valued, we will turn
from them all to crown with the highest honor
the state that has most promoted education,
virtue, justice and patriotism among its
people.