Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-05

pressing necessity of throwing about the
ballot box and about the elector further
safeguards. in order that our elections might
not only be free and pure, but might clearly
appear to be so, will welcome the accession
of any who did not so soon discover the
need of reform. The National Congress has
not as yet 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. pro-
vided penalties for their violation and a
method of supervision. Only the inefti-
cheney of the State laws, or an unfair or
partisan administration of them, could sug-
gest 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.
BALLOT PURITY NECESSARY.
The freedom of the ballot is a condition of
our national life, and no power vested in
Congress or in the Executive, to secure or
perpetuate it, should remain unused upon
occasion. The people of all the, Congress
ional districts have an equal interest that
the election in each shall truly express the
views and wishes of majority of the quail
fed electors residing within it. The results
sistence of electors residing in other dis
tricts, that they shall be pure and free, does
not SAVIOR at all of impertinence. If, in any
of the States, the public security is thought
to be threatened by ignorance among the
electors, the obvious remedy is education.
The sympathy and help of our people will
not be withheld from any community strug
Cling with special embarrassments of diff
culties connected with the suffrage, if the
remedies proposed proceed upon lawful
lines and are promoted by Just and honor
able methods. How shall those who prac-
tice election frauds recover that respect for
the sanctity of the ballot which is the first
condition and obligation of good citizen
ship? The man who has come to regard the
ballot box as juggler's hat has renouneed
his allegiance.
Let us exalt patriotism and moderate our
party contentious. Let those who would
die for the flag on the field of battle give
better proof of their patriotism, and
higher glory to their country by promoting
fraternity and justice. A party success
that is achieved by unfair methods, or by
practices that partake of revolution, is hurt
ful and evanescent, even from a party stand
point. We should hold our differing opinions
in mutual respect and, having submitted them
to the arbitrament of the ballot, should &C.
cept an adverse judgment with the same re.
spect that we should have demanded of our
opponents, if the decision had been in our
favor.
BEST GOVERNMENT ON EARTH.
No other people have government more
worthy of their respect and love, or a land
so magnificent in extent, so pleasant to
look upon, and so full of generous sugges-
tion to enterprise and labor. God has
placed on our head diadem, and has laid
at our feet power and wealth beyond defni-
tion or calculation. But we must not for
get that we take these gifts upon the con-
dition that justice and mercy shall hold the
reins of power, and that the upward ave-
nues of hope shall be free to all the people.
I do not mistrust the future. Dangers
have been in frequent ambush along our
path, but we have uncovered and van
quished them all. Passion has swept some
of our communities, but only to give us
new demonstration that the great body of
our people are stable, patriotic and law
abiding. No political party can long pur-
sue advantage at the expense of public
honor, or by rude and indecent methods
without protest and fatal disaffection in its
own body.
The peaceful agencies of commerce are
more fully revealing the necessary unity of
all our communities and the increasing in
tercourse of our people is promoting mutual
respect. We shall lind unalloyed pleasure
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 contribution
to the great aggregate of the nations in
crease. And, when the harvests from the
fields, the cattle from the hills, and the ores
from 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 peo-
ple