The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-12-02

carry at specified rates such communlca
tions as the senders may designate for this
method ] recommend that such leglsla.
tion be enacted as will enable the postofflce
department fairly to test by experiment
the advantages of such use or the
telegraph.
THE ELECTION LAW.
If any intelligent and loyal company OF
| American citizens were required TO cata-
lo0ue the essential humane conditions OF
national life. do not doubt that, with abb
solute unanimity, they would begin with
free and honest elections. And it is graft
fying TO know that the general desire is a
growing and non-partisan demand for
| better election laws. But against this
sign of hope and progress must be set the
depressing and undeniable fact, that elec-
| ton laws and methods are sometimes cum
uiDgly contTived while violence completes
the shortcomings of fraud. In my last
annual message | suggested that the de-
! velopment of the existing law, providing z
for "A federal supervision of congressional
I elections. afforded an effective method or
reforming these abuses. The need of such
a law has manifested itself in many parts
! of the country, and its wholesome re-
straints and penalties will be useful in all.
The constitutionality of such legislation
/ has been affirmed by the supreme court.
! Its probable effectiveness is evidenced by
/ Ile character Oh INC OppOSlIlOu Iudb -
made to it. 1t has been denounced as If IT
were a new exercise of federal power and
an invasion of the rights of the states.
! Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Congress has already fixed the time for
the election of members Of congress. III
has declared that votes for members OF
congress must be by written or printed
ballots. 1t has provided fer the appoint
ment by the circuit courts, liz certain cases
and upon the petition of a certain number
of citizens, of election supervisors, and
made it their duty to supervise the regis
tration of voters conducted by the state
officers: to challenge persons Offering 10
register: to personally inspect and scrutl-
niZe the registry lists and TO afilx their
names to the lists for the purpose OF iden-
tifcation and the prevention of frauds; to
attend elections and remain with the boxes
till the votes are counted; to attach to the
registry lists and election returns any
statement touching the accuracy and fair
ness of the registry and election, and to take
and transmit to the clerk of the house or
representatives any evidence of fraudulent
practices, which may be presented 10
them.
The same law provides for the appoint
ment of deputy United States marshals to
attend at the polls, support the supervis-
ors in the discharge of their duties, and
arrest persons violating the election laws.
The provisions of this familiar title OF the
Revised Statutes have been put into eXer-
else by both the great political parties, and
in the north, as well as the south, by the
filing with the court of the petitions re-
qured bY law It is not. therefore, a
question whether we shall have "A federal
election law. for we now have one. and
have had for nearly twenty ans; but
whether we shall have an effective law.
The present law stops just short of etfec
tn hn
thorities all control over the certifcation
which establishes the prima-facie right to
a seat in the house of representatives. This
defect should be cured. Equality of rep
resentation and the purity Of the elections
must be maintained, or everything that is
valuable in our system of government Is
lost.
Z he qualifications of electors must be |
sought in the law, not in the opinions, |
or fears of any class, however |
powerful. The path of the elector to the /
ballot-boX must be free from the ambush |
of fear and the enticemeIJ of fraud; the |
couut so true and open that none shall |
gJinsay It, Such law should be absolutely |
and impartial. lG should |
give the advantage TO honesty, and the /
control to the majorities. Surely there is
nothiug sectional about this creed, and if
shall happen that the penalties of laws in
tended to enforce these rights fall here and
not there, il is not because the law is sec
tional. but because happily crime is local
and not universal
Nor should it be forgotten that every
law, whether relating to elections or TO
any oi her subject--whether enacted by the
sta,etyr by the nation-has force behind
the courts. The marshal or constable, the
pose comitas, the prisons, are all and
always behind the law.
One cannot be Justly charged with I'M
to any section or class who
seeks only to restrain violations of law
and of personal right. No community
will find lawlessness profitable. No com
can afford to have II known that
.he officers who are charged with the
of the public peace and the
of the criminal class are them
selves the product of fraud or violence.
The magistrate is then without respect
and the law without sanction. The floods
} lawlessness can be levied and made to
run in one channel. The killing of Il
United States marshal carrying a writ of
arrest for an election otfense il full OF
and suggestions to men who
ire pursued by a city marshal for a crime
against life or property.
But il is said that this legislation will
'evive race animosities, and some have
wen suggested that when the peaceful
methods of fraud are made impossible,
hey may he supplanted by intimidation
ind violence. If the proposed law gives to
my qualified elector. by "A hairs weight
more than his equal influence, or detracts
~ so much from any other qualified elec-
or. it is fatally impeached. But if the
aw is equal, and the animositics it evokes
grow out Of the fact that some electors eX-
,rcise the franchise for others, as well as
or themselves, then these animosities
,ught not TO be confessed without shame,
md cannot be given any weight in the
discussion without dishonor No choice
; left to me but TO enforce with vigor all
Avs intended 70 secure TO the citizen his
rights. and to recommend
hat the inadequacies of such laws be
remedied.
IL 10 promote with zeal and ready inter
st every project for the development OF
Is material interests-its rivers harbors
mines and factories-and the intelligence
,eace and security, under the law, OF its
and it's homes is not accept
ii aS sufficient evidences of friendlinesS to ,
my safe or section, | cannot add conuiv-
nee at election practices that not only dis
uTb local results, but rob the electors of
ther states and sections of their most
PRICELESS political results.
PARTING ADVICE.
The preparation Of the general appropri-
Ition bills should he conducted with the
greatest care and the closest scrutiny of |
Appropriations should be
.dequate TO the needs OF the public service, |
lut they should he absolutely free from
,rodigahty | venture again to remind
'ou that the brief time remaining for the
of the important legislation
low awaiting your attention offers no
margin for waste. II the present duty is
discharged with diligence. fidelity and
the work of the Fifty-iirst con
yress may be confidently submitted to the
onsderate judgment of the people.
lSigned BENJAMIN HARRISON.
Executive Mansion. Washington, ID. C..