New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-10
THE ELECTION Law.

Republicans Of the House, having passed a
good Tariff and safe Silver BILL are now 70
consider in caucus what shall be done about
an election law Democrats represent that the
measure is intended to affect the South only !;
and that it will be mere sectional legislation
for partisan ends. But legislation TO secure
honest elections is needed at the North, in every
city or State where the machinery of voting
is in Democratic control 1t would fill an en-
tire issue Of The TRIBUNE to recount the
crimes which have been perpetrated III North
crn States within the last few years, in order
10 steal for the Democratic party power which
the people refused 10 give it. indictments by
the hundred have been found for these crimes.
Democratic managers, officials and workers
have been convicted for them in many North
crn States The frauds in these States, if not
! prevented or defeated, would turn the scale in
every Congressional election. and thus steal
from the people of the United states THEN right
10 have government representing their VIII.
If the proposed law were 10 be absolutely
imperative or void in every state south of tho
Potomac and Ohio il would be only the more
necessary. 1t ought 10 be enacted and en-
forced III Northern States, even though II were
whatever But there is no excuse for refusing
70 extend over Southern States the provisions
of law which are required 70 secure honest
elections AT the North. That would be dis
grace to the Nation. II would be formal
admission that the United States does not
mean to try to protect Southern voters in their
rights. and consents that Southern elections
should be controlled by frauds and crimes
which il does not tolerate in Northern states.
The manly and patriotic way is 70 frame a
measure which will secure an honest vote and
an honest count III Northern States. and 10
make hat the law for all states alike. II 1t
cannot be enforced at the South, or cannot be
enforced without kind Of interpoSiton which
the Government deems incXpedent, that Will
be the misfortune of Southern voters but not
the fault Of Congress. When Southern States
advance one by one so far in civilization that
laws are respected and can be enforced IN
these states also the people will recover their
right Of self government.
Bat ii is not true, as Democrats assert. that
a good election law cannot be enforced in
southern States without the support Of troops
When officials Of United states courts are
placed in charge Of registration, voting and
counting, in all the States alike, wherever
their supervision is asked according to law, the
Democratic mobS will either respect their au-
thority or will drive them away If they are
not permitted to discharge their duties, they
will officially report that no legal election was
held at such places. The proper United States
officers will cast up no returns OF the voting
there and will decide whether elections in en-
tire districts are made invalid by these Illegal
tiles 1t is possible that Democrats may thus
deprive themselves of representation year after
year. But they will not be able to claim the
election of anybody without peaceful elections
conducted according to law.
No other measure proposed at the present
session Of Congress is Of greater or more far
reaching importance than this. The duty OF
Congress to secure honest elections is one which
Republican Representatives cannot afford 70
neglect. for the result in Congressional districts
! in many Northern States may depend upon
their action.