New-York tribune., 1889-12-26
NATIONAL BALLOT REFORM.

Congressman Lodges appointment as chalr-
man of the House Committee on Federal Elec-
tions NAV be regarded as indicating that Con-
gress will enjoy an early opportunity of con-
siderinp measures to secure honest Congress
sional elections. Mr.. Lodge is known to en-
tertan decided views as to the necessity OF
such measures, and there can be no doubt that
he represents the sentiments OF many Congress
men and of the bulk of the American people,
The fact that ballot reform is being every
where North, South, East and west, urged
rs one of the most important OF all progressive
movements is practically a confession that In
no State is corrupt design upon the ballot-poA
absolutely lacking, or the suffrage wholly Sale
from such design. Laws furnishing guar
antee first, that no one should be permitted
to vote who did not have the legal right tc
vote. and second that those and all those
having that right should be protected in the
fplI untrammelled uninfuenced exercise OF 1t,
would be great gain for honesty in every
State.
But in addition to this general grcunu lor
legislation there is situation in the ooulh
for which remedy must be found. Inc SiU-
uation is plain and notorious. Southern news
papers no longer take the trouble to deny IT,
and many OF the bolder among them even au
tempt to Justify it. 1t is expressed IN word
the colored citizen is not allowed TO VOTE
His attempts to do so-that is in any such
number as renders him factor III ahaIfS-lS
met by forcble discussion or the stuiiing OF the
balot-b box, and against these outfaSeS Ill
neither courts of record nor of public opinion
has he any redress. The position OF the oouth
is simple. 1t affrms the essential and unalter-
able inferiority of the coored race ana de-
clares that the white man must govern. II
the Constitution be quoted to the contrary the
Southern man replies that the war amendments
were ratified by fraud and are not binding
Oh his conscience. If attempt is made to con-
vince him that the colored people have made
wonderful progress since 1868, have demon
strated their capacity to obtain and appreciate
education. to conduct business to organize IN
social and political bodies in which majorltles
successfully rule, and to do all those things
which prove his manhood, the reply is ineU-
taby that all-conclusve remark, You mean
amalgamation !" And the net result OF argu-
ment is to render him stronger than ever in his
faith.
If Mr.. Lodge and his associates can devise a
law which will solve the problem revealed In
this situation, which will preserve the Nations
peace, and at the same time save the Nations
honor, they will be entitled to an abundant
measure of gratitude and acclaim. Certainly
a solution must be found. We cannot keep up
a Congressional distribution which makes one
vote cast south of Mason and Dixon's line equal
in power in Congress to one and one-third
votes cast north of that line. The
Nations solemnly made pledges of security to
the colored citizens must be redeemed TO
say that this is purely State affair, when it
creates Presidents and decides the complexion
of Congresses, evades the question. 1t is the
right of every citizen to know that the man
who is actually the President was honestly
elected in a contest wherein every
legal voter who wanted to vote had an un-
mpeded opportunity to do so. The Sou hem
buldozer bnlldozes not merely his colored vic
tins, but every citizen in every State. Mr.
Lodge can feel confident of an attentive hear
ing when he is ready to tell us how to put an
end to this unhappy and intOlerable situation